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• livestock aztd big game nearing the end of the gestation cycle (spring), and during lactation (spring <br />through sutntner}. The succulent herbaceous forage in the reclaimed plant communities will provide <br />nutrient levels that meet these increased needs fox both livestock and big game better than woody <br />dominated native vegetation. Again, the large numbers of deer and elk present on reclaimed areas <br />demonstrate the utility of a herbaceous forage resource to big game and their affinitq fox such azeas at <br />various times. <br />Eazty greening spring grasses contribute significantly to mule deer diets in the Rocky Mountain and <br />Intermountain regions (Willtns and McLean, 1978). Yoakum and Dasmann (1971) also reported <br />pregnant does benefit directly from the availability of green forages during the critical early spring <br />period. If the winter has been severe, the need for succulent and nutritious spring forage is even <br />more critical. Big game select out those forages highest in nutritive quality when available and also <br />those that are greening and succulent (Mereszczak et al, 1981 and Armstrong, 1975). To a lesser <br />eaten[, these benefits will benefit other wildlife speaes. <br />Various studies show mule deer and elk prefer succulent forages more than woody specles during <br />various times of the year. Miller et aL (1981) found big game selected up to 52 percent grasses in their <br />• diets during the period of March through June. Forbs accounted for 38 percent. The big game in this <br />study also tended to congregate in azeas where palatable forage occurred. The study site was in <br />forested areas with brash understory and clear cut areas seeded with palatable herbaceous forage. <br />While these opened areas covered only 31 percent of the azea, 66 percent of the big game diet came <br />from then[. The value of forage plants available to deer and elk may be as important as structural <br />characteristics of a habitat. Carpenter et al. (1979), in a study near I{remmliug, Colorado, found mule <br />deer selected a large amount of grasses and forbs during the winter months of January and February <br />when snow cover was minimal Aver 50 percent of their diets consisted of grasses and forbs in a 30- <br />day grazing trial. In a study by Wilkins et al. (1979) on big sagebrush range in British Columbia, it was <br />found deer selected 68 percent of their early spring diet as grasses and forbs. <br />While big game and livestock will benefit from the increase in herbaceous cover, various bird spedes <br />and small mammals will also benefit from the addition of this habitat component. Food and nesting <br />cover will be increased for small mammals and some birds. Large statured herbaceous species such as <br />basin wildrye have been included in the seed mix to enhance this cover componenk Basin wildrye will <br />also provide winter grazing and cover when snowpack increases (Majerus 1992). Raptors and other <br />• predators will have increased potential for hunting success because of the more open azeas and <br />increase in the population of small mammals. <br />PR-02 4 Revised 01/06 <br />