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is relatively small and probably could not support over one pair of water- <br /> fowl in a given year. No waterfowl nests or broods were located on the <br /> study area in 1979. Due to the lack of waterfowl and riparian areas, the <br /> study area cannot be considered good waterfowl habitat. The largest perennial <br /> water body harboring waterfowl populations near the study area is the Miguel <br /> River, approximately six rides southwest of the Nucla mine. <br /> BIG GAME STUDIES <br /> Mule deer is the only resident big game species on the study area. Elk may <br /> rarely occur on habitats near the study area but none have been reported on <br /> the study area to date (personal communication, March 1980, Rich Sherman, <br /> DOW) . Elk were sighted in a pinyon-juniper area approximately two miles <br /> north and east of the study area during the winter, 1978 (personal communication, <br /> May 1979, Mr. Fritz Nylund, local resident; personal communication, May 1979, <br /> Mrs. Francis Fort, local resident) . However, winter habitat for elk moving <br /> down from the mountains to the north and east is considered marginal by the <br /> DOW (personal communication, i,Jarch 1980, Rich Sherman, DOw) . <br /> Mule deer are year-round residents of habitats in the vicinity of Nucla mine <br /> and are oom mn in pinyon-juniper woodlands east of the study area. Mule deer <br /> were heavily concentrated in these woodlands during the winter, 1980. Only <br /> three mule deer were observed in the vicinity of the study area during 1979- <br /> 1980 investigations (Map 11-2, Appendix A) although tracks and droppings were <br /> frequently encountered on the eastern boundary of the permit area. Popula- <br /> tion estimates are not available, however (personal connuucation, March 1980, <br /> Rich Sherman, DOW) . Good mule deer habitat does not exist on the study area; <br /> the habitat immediately surrounding the study area is considered only <br /> marginal. <br /> MA,Iv2v ALLkN PREDATORS <br /> The scent-station visitation te, iunique (Linhart and Knowlton 1973) was used <br /> to deterr�tine the presence and relative abundance of ma.-;znalian predators <br /> -40- <br /> J U N 1 1 1980 <br />