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in the south central portion and steep ridge slopes within the northwest portion of the survey area <br />(Exhibit 1). Mule deer were typically associated with either mountain brush or sagebrush <br />habitats. <br />The lack of deer observations during the December 1994 survey (Figure 2) was likely due <br />to poor ground conditions and the use of a fixed-wing aircraft for the survey, as significantly <br />more deer were observed in January 1995 during surveys employing a helicopter. Densities in <br />1995-2004 ranged from 0.27 to 0.76 deer/mil. Mule deer densities in the expanded area in 2005, <br />although still relatively low at 1.54 deer/mil, were the highest recorded in the 12 years of big <br />game surveys. Regional population trends and the availability of forage within the vicinity of the <br />survey area likely influence the number of deer observed during big game surveys. The previous <br />high densities of 0.75 and 0.76 deer/miZ in 1997 and 2004, respectively, may also have been <br />influenced by the combination of those variables with above-average snow depth in the vicinity. <br />However, snowfall was somewhat below average in winter 2004-2005, and should not have been <br />a factor in the doubling of deer density over that recorded the previous winter. <br />Figure 2. Mule deer density on the expanded survey area during winter aerial surveys <br />from 1994 through 2005. <br />1.8 <br />1.6 <br />1.4 <br />6 1.2 <br />d <br />a. <br />~ 1 <br />c <br />y <br />0.8 <br />d <br />0.6 <br />~ 0.4 <br />0.2 <br />0 <br />1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 <br />Year <br />Expanded survey area: 84.5 mil (1994-1995), 89.5 mil (1996-2005). <br />2005 Seneca II Mine WilAlife Monitoring Page 6 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />