2012-08-14_PERMIT FILE - C1996084A (2)

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Rule 2.' Permits . area has increased from 18 in 1975 to 276 in 1994. Although the harvest has increased, the total annual harvest has decreased slightly from 4.6 percent in 1975 to 4.5 percent in 1994. Management objectives for DAU 33 aze to increase the bull:cow ratio to 79:100 and increase the total population to 26,258 animals by 1999. This represents an approximate six percent increase in the DAU each yeaz. An additional objective is to reduce the annual harvest to 3.5 percent ofthe population in DAU 33. Between February 1996 and September 1996, 47 elk were observed within the property. Thirty-two (68 percent) of the elk were recorded during the aerial survey. The roadside count surveys located elk only within the oaWpinyon habitat type and the aerial surveys located elk within all habitat types. In addition, the 1996 pellet group count data indicated that elk preferred the coniferous forest type during all seasons ofthe year. The lack ofobservations ofelk in the ponderosa pine type during the roadside counts is probably due to the limited sight distance in these areas. No special habitat features, such as calving areas, were identified during the 1996 surveys. Specific calving areas may notoccurduetotherela[ivelydispersedoccurrenceoftheanimals. However, elkthatoccupy the area year-round are likely to calve in the property because of the large area of undisturbed habitat and comparati~ a lack of human activity in and near the area. Estimatesofelkpopulationsize(densityorrelativeabundances)withinthepropertyazehighlyvariable. Small sample sizes are probably the primary reason for this variability. Relative abundances vary from 0 to 2.4 elk/mile ofroad driven during the 1996 roadside count surveys. Observations from the aerial survey could be considered minirnum population size; however, common sense, terrain and cover characteristics suggest there aze more animals present than were counted. Perhaps the best available estimate ofpopulation size is within the property provide by the pellet-count analyses. Based on these data, an average of approximately 8 to 229 elk were distributed across the property during 1996. This estimate is equivalent to a density of <1 to 8 elk/mileZ. However, the small sample size associated with this estimate tend to make this estimate somewhat questionable. The CDOW data indicate that the elk herd has been increasing since 1990. Mule Deer Mule deer occur throughout the property. The CDO W has identified the property as mule deeroverall range, mule deer winter range, and the western portion of the property as a winter concentration area. The definition of overall and winter ranges is the same as described for elk. Winter concentration areas are defined as that part of the winter range where densities are at least 200 percent greater than [he surrounding • IurencnoPmt~PMTH]Spuly3Wlwpd 2.04-52 (revised 07/25/01) ~~~