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

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Rule 2: Permits winter range density during the same period used to define winter range in the average five winters out of ten. Mute deer within the property aze part of the Trinidad herd and are contained within DAU 32. This DAU isapproximatelyl,995squaremilesofwhich88percentisprivate. However,thepropertyoccupiesabout one percent of DAU 32. Like elk, the property also is contained within Hunt Uni[ 851. The CDOW estimates 11,843 deer make up DAU 32 with a buck:doe ratio of35:100. The 1995 rifle hunter success for Hunt Unit 851 ranged from 43 to 58 percent. The management objective for DAU 32 is to increase the population by 1999 to 12,964 with a buck:doe ratio of38:100. This represents an approximate two percent increase each year. in addition, harvest rates are anticipated to remain at between six and seven percent of the herd until 1999. The 1996 surveys indicate that deer were using virtually all the habitat types available in the property. Roadside count surveys located deer in three types: oak/pinyon, coniferous forest and mountain shrub. Most ofthe deer observed during the roadside count surveys were inthe oak/pinyon habitat (65 percent). Like elk, the limited sight distance within the coniferous forest type probably reduced observation opportunities in this type. The pellet-count transect data indicted that the coniferous forest received the greatest amount ofuse during . the late winter-early spring period. The pellet-count analysis also indicates the mountain shrub type was used consistently throughout the late winter, spring, and summer. Also, grassland pellet groups were lacking over the summer. However, this may be due to the loss ofthe transects within the grassland habitat. The survey points withinthe grassland type were lost due to range improvements and the pellet groups had to be estimated in this area. Estimates were made by measuring the distance from a known starting point to the approximate location of the next point. Once this point was located the pellet groups within the 0.01 acre area were counted. During the course ofthe 1996 surveys, no special habitat features, such a fawning areas, were identified. This is not unusual because in areas occupied year-round, fawning areas are usually very dispersed occurring in areas providing security cover and limited human activity. However, it is likely fawns are bom in the property based on the observation of deer throughout the year and the comparatively large amount of undisturbed habitat within the property and the surrounding area. Estimates ofdeer population size (density or relative abundances) within the study area aze highly variable. Relative abundances vary from <0.1 deer/mile ofroad to 1.5 deer/mile. Observations from the aerial survey could be considered minimum winter population size; however, because ofterrain and cover chazacteristics,rnany more animals could be present than were counted. Perhaps the best estimate of population sizeisprovidedbythepellet-count analysis. Based on thesedata,anaverageofapproximately . ~,prc~CllOPm(-PA1T(4]SJ1u1y3001 wpd 2.04-53 (revised 07/25/01) PR-o I