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11 -1 ). Elk numbers in the Seneca II-W area were highest in January and decreased into <br /> March as animals began to move back into th eir summer range (Dunckley Flattops) to the <br /> south (Table 11-4). Only a few observations of elk were recorded within the Seneca II-W <br /> study area during the summer months. No elk were observed within the strip censuses as <br /> indica ted, within Table 11-5. <br />The mule deer was the only big game species observed within the strip tenses areas. <br />Mule deer were recorded in sagebrush, mixed brush, and aspen habitat types as scattered <br />individuals or small groups during these censuses. The largest of these mule deer groups <br />consisted of four bucks observed at the edge of the aspen stand sampled 6y census transect <br />S-2 (Exhibit 11-2). <br />Results of the qualitative walk-through elk surveys conducted in June 1979 indicate that a <br />small number of elk do remain on or near the study area during the summer, and that some <br />calving activity occurs within the aspen stands that are present within the area. The <br />qualitative elk transects only surveyed aspen habitat since this habitat type is the <br />predominant habitat utilized by elk for calving activity in this portion of Colorado <br />• (Hicks, 1979). As shown on Table 11-7, the areas of aspen habitat sampled by Transects 1 <br />and 5 appeared to contain the greatest number of fresh elk calving beds (see Exhibit 11-2 <br />for transect locations). Several other groups of beds were found near vegetation sample <br />sites A12 and A20 as indicated on Exhibit 10-1 within the vegetation report of this permit <br />to mine application. Most elk calving beds found within the Seneca 11-W study area <br />occurred in portions of aspen habitat where a dense secondary overstory (5 to 15 feet <br />above the ground) of chokecherry or servicebe rry was present. <br />Although numerous calving beds and three elk were observed in the aspen habitat, no calves <br />were found. The only other elk observation made during the June 1979 survey efforts was a <br />yearling bull in the southeast corner of Section 27, TSN, R88W. <br /> Studies conducted during May of 1981 within aspen stands on the Seneca II-W permit area <br /> did not show the utilization of these areas by elk for calving. No fresh elk sign was <br /> observed within these aspen stands nor were any cow elk seen within the area. It is <br /> expected that most elk calving activity occu rs to the south of the current Sencea II-W <br /> permit a rea where aspen stands are larger and more prevalent. <br />• <br /> Pellet group count data (Table 11-6) revealed slight differences in the use of various <br />15 <br />