2013-04-18_PERMIT FILE - C2009087A (3)

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RULE 2 - PERMITS I?Ik \\ere generally found throu-hout the big game SurwC\' area. The distribution of elk was influenced by sIlo\w depth. which varied from year to year. Within the actual permit area. elk \\cre observed along the eastern Cdoe, in the SOLIth- central portion. and the southern tip of the permit area. The elk herds appeared to be most concentrated in Section l 1 T5N R87W and Sections 13. 16, and 21 T6N R87N. Thirty percent of all herds and 37 percent of all individuals were observed in these four sections. Of the elk observed. 134 \\el'e seen in mountain brush. and one \ \as lOUlld In coniferous forest habitat. 1'11k \\cre absent froin portions of the big game survey area \\hare the predominant habitat types \\cre agricultural fields. reclaimed grasslands, and lc \'el grasslands. There were no elk observations in the proposed PSC1`7 Surface disturbance area. and the proposed disturbance Is not located In all area that would interfere with migration patterns (Map 2.0- .11 -1\11. Wildlife Information - F1k) (Exhibit 2.04.11 -E1. Fish and Wildlife Information). i111/le Deer CP\V has desigmated tile penult area as follo \ \s: the north- cclltral portion of the permit al'l'y is collsldel'ed Mille deer \\'llltel' I'all��e \ \ "It }7 a SlllallCl' 1101 "11011 as critical al1Cl Severe \\llltel' 1'ange. The entire permit area Is mule deer sllrnmer ran-c. No rnigl'ation corridors are located 111 or Ileac' the permit area. Portions of County Road 27 111 the Southern and northern portion of the permit area are mule deer high\vay crossings. The PSCM surface disturbance area has been designated by CPW as severe and critical winter range, general \winter range, and summer range (CPV1' 2008a) (Map 2.04.11- M2,'A'lldllfe InformatioIl — Mule Deer and Pronghorn). Mule deer herds were predictably located in the southwest extent of the Seneca II and Yoast Mine big game survey areas each year that the surveys were conducted. but occurred in relatively low numbers. From 2000 to 2007, biologists recorded only 1 l mule deer herds on or within two miles of the Seneca I1 and Yoast Mine permit areas. Most of the observations occurred near the southern edge of the big game survey perimeter on the sparsely - vegetated. south facing slopes north of Fish Creek (Section 32 -34 T5N R87W). The number of deer in a herd ranged from one to 17 individuals (Exhibit 2.04.11 -E1, Fish and Wildlife hlformation). During the big game survey in January 2009, one mule deer herd of 16 animals was observed. The herd was seen in the same area as previous mule deer sightings. No mule deer were observed in the PSCM surface disturbance area during the January 2009 big game survey Figure 2.04.11 -F1 shows the mule deer winter big game densities from 2000 to 2009 (Exhibit 2.04.11 -E1, Fish and Wildlife Information).. Pronghorn CPW has designated the permit area as follows: the pronghorn overall range is present in the northwest and the southeastern corners of the permit area. There is no Summer range in the PSCM permit area, but winter range occurs just outside the permit boundary to the northwest. The PSCM surface disturbance area has no designated seasonal ranges for pronghorn (CPW 2008a) (Map 2.04.11 -M2, Wildlife Information — Mule Deer and Pronghorn). Pronghorn have been relatively uncommon in the big game survey areas. During the Seneca II and Yoast Mines big game surveys, 36 pronghorn were observed just northeast of the Yoast Mine permit area in 1994. In 2005, 47 pronghorn were observed: one individual in the CRP land in Section 28 T6N R87W, and a herd of 46 individuals in Section 20 and 21 T6N R87W. Pronghorn have been observed on or within two miles of the permit area on only two occasions during the Seneca II and Yoast Mines big game surveys from 1994 through 2007. Midterm Review 2.04 -153 Revision 04/2013