Elk food habits, range use and movements, Gravelly Mountains, Montana by Ralph A Rouse A THESIS Submitted to the Graduate Faculty in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Fish and Wildlife Management Montana State University © Copyright by Ralph A Rouse (1957) Abstract: An elk (Cervus canadensis nelsoni) food habits, range use and movements study was conducted in the southern portion of the Gravelly Mountains, southeast of Dillon, Montana. Field work was conducted in the summer of 1956 and the winter of 1956-57. Food habits were determined by analyses of 14 elk rumen samples with at least one sample occurring in each month of the year and by feeding site examinations totaling 14,578 instances of plant use. Six vegetative types were described. The number of elk, the time of year observed and the vegetative type they were using at the time of observation indicated range use. Fifteen elk calves were tagged with plastic ribbons during the period, May 28 to June 12. Ten relocations of six marked calves were obtained during the summer. Overlap of area use by elk and livestock was determined by observations. ELK FOOD HABITS, . RANGE USE AND MOVEMENTS/. GRAVELLY MOUNTAINS, MONTANA

. by : -

■. RALPH A. ROUSE

A THESIS

.Submitted to the Graduate Faculty ■ L ; ■

partial fulfillment of the requirements '

for the degree of

Master .of Science in Fish and Wildlife Management

■' ' ' ' at ■■

Montana State College • ' •. ■ : ■

Approved:

Major {Department ~

Chain :amining Committee •'

Bozeman, Montana J t H ^ b r - ?

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

Abstract ...... 3

Introduction ...... h

Description of the area .... $

Vegetative types ...... I

Range use and movements .... 9

Food habits ...... Hi Summer ...... 18

Fall ...... 19

"Winter ...... 20

Spring ...... 21

Year long trends ...... 22

Area use of livestock and elk 2b

Summary ...... 26

Literature cited ...... 28

123691 -3-

ABSTRACT

An elk (Cervus canadensis nelson!) food habits, range use and move­ ments; study was conducted in the southern portion of the Gravelly Mountains, southeast of Dillon, Montana. Field work was conducted in the summer of 195)6'and the winter of 195>6-£>7 • Food habits were, determined, by analyses of llj.; .elk rumen samples with at least one sample occurring in each month 3X1(1 C e ding site examinations totaling' lli,978‘ instances. • 'jof '-pla^tnise. Six vegetative types were described.. The number of elk, ■0the .^l^;Sof. year observed and the vegetative type they were using at the iAb'.jdfobservation indicated range use;. Fifteen elk calves were tagged w!&-plastic ribbons during the period. May 28 to June 12. Ten re-. IocStrSn1S- of six marked calves were obtained during the summer. Overlap ' of :tirea::"-use by elk and livestock was determined by observations. ,-"TTare- ■ INTRODUCTION

in increase in Rocky Mountain elk (Cervus canadensis neisoni) in the "

Gravelly and Snowcrest Mountain ranges, Madison and Beaverhead counties,

Montana, has occurred in recent years. Records of the Montana Fish and '

Game Department and Yellowstone National Park indicate that elk.from

Yellowstone National Park were released in this area during the late.

1930’s, but ttie exact number is not available. local ranchers state that

■ W- some native elk were present in the area at the time of the transplants,

In spite of recent limited hunting seasons, the herd has apparently, in- = creased.. At present, it is considered one of the more important herds in the state. The build-up of numbers reportedly caused conflicts with other land uses in the area, such as depredations oh haystacks and range con­ flict with livestock. Little reliable information-was. available to evalu­ ■ -V- Vn- ate the status of the elk in this area. An investigation was initiated by the Montana Fish and Game Department, of which this study of food habits, , ' ' .V-W/.. range use and movements is one phase. Studies were conducted o n 'a full time basis in the summer and winter and on a part time basis in the spring and fall, from May 28, 19^6 to May l6 , 195>7.

The writer extends grateful thanks to the following: Dr. Don C.

Quimby, Montana State College who directed the study and gave valuable aid. in preparing the manuscript; employees of the Montana Fish and Game Depart­ ment, especially J-. E. Townsend, Jack W. Ientfer and Paul E, Duke for help during project planning and field work; the Staudenmeyer ranch for their hospitality; Walter Sperry, rancher, for information and aid in the field; Dr. W. E. Booth, Montana State College, for verification of plant identi­

fication; my wife, Barbara, for encouragement and aid in preparing the

manuscript. The writer was employed during the study by the Montana Fish

and Game Department, under Federal Aid Project W-73-R2.

DESCRiPTIOM OF THE AREA

The Gravelly and Snpwcrest Mountains are moderately rough, parallel

ranges located.in southwestern Montana, approximately IiO airline miles

southeast of the town of Dillon. The study area consisted of about four

townships in the southern portion of the Gravelly Mountains (Fig, l).

Dais area is drained by the West Fork of the Madison River, the Ruby River

and the Red Rock River. Elevations in the study - area range from 6,^00 to

10,^00 feet. Areas over 9,500 feet are rare. Weather records for 1952 to

1956 inclusive, were obtained from Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge,

10 miles south of the study area and 1,500 feet lower in elevation. These

records show an annual mean temperature of 35.08°F., with extremes of 8?°,

and -IiIi0F.., and an annual mean rainfall, of 19 inches and snowfall of 170 -

inches. z

Six vegetative types were recognized on.the study area (Fig. l).

Scientific and common names of plants used in the following sections follow those of Booth (1950) and Wright and Booth (1956). In cases where these authors did not cite common names, those given by the American Joint

Committees on Horticultural Nomenclature (l9li2) are used. -6-

L b g -F m o LEG- E N D T " 9 ) «N$ S»Tgs VEGCT A T I v E Typff (§) TVi Rougk (E) AIpiMa Sm- Re Locnrio ns Em ^c I Mx n m M 1S SyMVCB (HW) = IST ReU c RTtoN 3 = 3— RbIO^wT io N c#l4 (B> Povj I *S Si*

SommB n-RFa ------RvsU v) v M r t « ARe-A — • — N w * S*]f UatViU K i E i E v Fm eve - IvWT MT J MAiS ''••••••’ >-.\ Hspc u %

Fig. I. A map of the study area. I

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Alpine Fir-Engelmanh1s Spruce

This type occurs at elevations of 8,000 to 9,5)00 feet and consists of

either alpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa) and/or Engelmann1s spruce (Picea

engelrnanni), with some small, scattered stands of limber pine (Finns

flexilis) and lodgepole pine (Finns contorta) (Fig. 2). Where the timber

stand is sparse, an understory occurs. Bluebunch fescue (Festuca ida-

hoensis) and lupine (Lupinus spp.) ahe the most prevalent species.

Mountain brome (Bromus marginatus), wheatgrasses (Agropyron spp.), Arnica

(Arnica spp.), and alpine timothy (Fhleum alpinum) occur less frequently.

Douglas Fir

At elevations of 7,000 to 8,^00 feet, Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga taxi.- . v-<: ' folia) occurs with some lodgepole pine being present (Fig. 3). . The under- story, where present, consists most frequently of bluebunch fescue an

Sedge - Rush

This type occurs at elevations of 6,^00 to 9,^00 feet in areas kept moist by creeks, springs and seeps (Figs. 3, U). Sedges (Carex spp.) and rushes (Juncus spp.) occur most frequently. Willow (Salix spp.) and shrubby cinquefoil (Fotentilia fruiticosa) are present in lesser amounts.

Sagebrush

The drier areas, usually south or west facing slopes, at elevations of 6 ,$00 to 8,800 feet, has this type (Fig. h). Big sagebrush (Artemisia) —8—

Fig. 3. Typical elk summer rangej background, Douglas fir type; foreground, fescue-wheatgrass type; center along creek, sedge-rush type. -9- '

tridentata) and three-tip sage (Artemisia tripartita) are the major ■

species present with blnebunch fescue} Wheatgrasses5 sedges, mountain

brome, mule's ear (Wyethia spp.) occurring to a lesser degree along with

various forbs.

Fescue - Mieatgrass

This grassland occurs in dry open, areas from 6,^00 to 10,500 feet

elevation (Figs. 2, 3 ). Bluebunch fescue and the wheatgrasses are the

important species• Sedges, needle and thread grass (Stipa comata) and

rough fescue (Festuca scabrella) are of lesser importance along with a

large variety of forbs of which the lupines, cinquefoils (Potentilla spp.)

and geraniums (Geranium spp.) are the most important. Big sagebrush occurs in this type. vj

Aspen

The aspen (Populus tremuloides) occurs in groves at elevations of

7,000 to 8,5>00 feet (Fig. 5) • Mountain brome and the reed grasses compose most of the understory along with meadow rues (Thalictrum spp.) and a few other forbs.

EfflGE USE M D MOVEMENTS

Occurrence of elk on the various vegetative types was recorded during the study. Observations were made on the study area with 7 x 50 binoculars from horseback, and vehicle during IljJ days, distributed as follows: Summer

68 , fdll 26, winter 29, and spring 20 days. Eleven observation aerial flights were made over the study area as follows: July 5, July 18, Aug. 2,

i L —10—

Fig. U. Typical elk winter range; sagebrush type; center along creek, sedge-rush type.

Fig. S>. Aspen type. -11-

Augo 13, Sept, lii, Oct. 2, Oct, 12, Dec. 19, Jan. 6 , Feb. 18 , and Feb. 2£.

Approximately 3^00 elk in 162 groups ranging from 1-221 (av. 2l) were

seen from June through October. Less than one percent (7 elk; 2 obser­

vations ) were seen on the alpine fir-Engelmann1s spruce type; 36 percent

(1238 elk; lj.5 observations) on the Douglas fir type; two percent (70 elk;

16 observations) on the sedge-rush type; 17 percent (^82 elk; 38 ob­ servations) on the sagebrush type; 32 percent (1063 elk; 1*2 observations)

on the fescue-wheatgrass type and 12 percent (I|.l8 elk; 19 observations) on

the aspen type.

Approximately 1700 elk in 33 groups ranging from 1-111 (av. 32) were

seen from December through March. Less than one percent (I4 elk; 2 ob­

servations) of the observed elk were on the Douglas fir and the sedge-rush

types; 93 percent (l383 elk; lt3 observations) were on the sagebrush type; six percent (ill elk; 6 observations) on the fescue-wheatgrass type. No elk were observed on the alpine fir-Engelmann * s spruce or aspen types during this period.

From June "through October, 82 percent of the observed elk were on vegetative types that occur only at elevations above 7,300 feet (alpine fir-Engelmann * s spruce, Douglas fir) or on vegetative types that are con- ' fined mainly to areas above that elevation (aspen, fescue-wheatgrass, sedge-rush). Observations from December through March show that 93 per­ cent of the elk seen were using a vegetative type (sagebrush), most ' prevalent below 7,300 feet elevation. Movement between two and eight air­ line miles between summer and winter range is suggested. ■ 1

Fifteen elk calves were marked during the period of May 28, 1936 to

-i,. -12-

June 12 , 19^6 with standard ear tags to which plastic ribbons were attach­

ed (Fig. 6 ) to help determine elk movements. Various color combinations

or the plastic ribbons distinguished individuals• Ihese markers were

readily visible at distances of 2 # yards with 7 x £0 binoculars. The

markers had been previously used by J. Egan, Montana Fish and Game Depart­

ment, on mule deer in eastern Montana. Reports indicate that this type of

marker was superior in durability and visibility to the plastic markers

Fig. 6 . Tagged elk calf showing plastic ribbon markers in ears.

used by Johnson (l95l) and Brazda (1953) during elk studies on the

Gallatin drainage, Montana.

No winter observations of marked elk calves were obtained. Ten ob­ servations of six marked calves as recorded in Table I and Figure I indi­ cate summer movements. Distances calves were observed from the locality tagged ranged from 0 .5 to four airline miles. Table I. Dates and localities of tagging and subsequent observations on marked elk calves.

Tagging Subsequent location "Air -x- Air * Air-x- Calf . Sex Date location Date Location miles Date Location miles Date Location miles tagged moved moved moved A M 5/30 Snowshpe 10/15 Cascade -ll.O Creek Creek M B 6/2 Fox. 6/21 Fox I 6O 7/5 Fox 0*5 Creek Creek Creek C M 6/5 Fox 10/17 Westfork 1.0 . Creek Cabin x Y D M" 6/9 Eastfork 6/29 Burnt 2.5 Ruby Creek River

E F 6/9 Eastfork 6/29 Burnt 2 .5 ■; l0/l6 -Poison 1,5 Ruby Creek Creek River

F • M 6/9 Madison 7/26 Coal 2.0 8/13 Coal 1.0 10/17 Fox 1.0 Westfork Creek Creek Creek

A ir miles distance from locality marked. -Ilt-

FOOD HABITS

Sixteen (20-ft.) line transects were laid out on vegetative types

where elk were observed feeding to provide information on plant composi-■

tion. A 20-ft. cord was stretched out and the basal intercept of each

plant was measured similar to the method described by Canfield (lpltl).

Instances of animal use on the plants were also recorded. The transects

were distributed as follows: Fescue-wheatgrass type, 8$ sagebrush and.

aspen types combined, £ 5 'sagebrush and sedge-rush types combined, 3 . The

writer does not believe that sampling was extensive enough fdr quantita­

tive evaluation of plant densities in the various vegetative types, but

that the occurrence of various plants along the transect lines provides

some basis for evaluating food choices. Other elk feeding sites were

examined for instances of plant use only, similar to the methods used by

Brazda (1953), Saunders (19#), Cole (l9g6 ), and Wilkins (1957). This

involved the careful examination of plants in areas,where elk were ob­

served feeding for evidence of recent usage. A total.of instances

of plant use at Itl feeding sites was recorded (Table Ir).

Fourteen elk were collected from June 19^6 to May 19^7 for rumen

samples. One sample was secured for each month except that two were

collected in each of March and October. Samples were preserved in 10 percent formalin as soon after collection as possible. Analyses of rumen

samples were performed in the laboratory. One moderately packed quart' sample was taken from each rumen sample. These were washed on a screen

(l/8 inch mesh) with water. That portion remaining on the screen was placed with water in a tray and the recognizable plant parts were segre— Table IT. Summer plant, composition as indicated by measurements along transects and elk food preferences as determined by rumen .analyses and feeding observations.

— • SUMMER FALL WINTER SPRING Tran- Otis. sects sum- 3 'Rumeti Otis. Il Rumeti Otis. 3 Rumen Otis, Ii Rumen Plants sum- mer samples fall samples winter samples spring s armies mer use (per- use (per use (per- use (ner- - comp. freq. centage) freq. .centage) freq. centage)• freq. centage) ...... % No. 7o Vol. W t . Mo. % Vol. W t . ..No. % Vol. Wfc. No. % Vol. Wt. Artemisia tripartita 2 3 6078 k9 7 10 76 8 3 5 11 tr ident at a 2 58 tr tr tr. 78 8 tr tr 11 c ana tr tr Salix spp. h 6 I 3 3 . tr tr 15 tr tr tr Tetradymia canescens tr tr 360 3 tr tr li9 5 Mahonia repens 6 3 tr tr tr tr Cdrtius spp. tr tr Symptioricarpos occi- dentalis 3 tr 130 I Pmnus virginiana 188 2 51 5 Ribes spp. 5 tr Populus tremuloides £ tr Picea engelmanni" tr tr tr tr Pseudotsuga taxifolia tr tr tr tr Pinus spp. tr tr Unidentified browse tr tr I 2 tr tr 10 I tr tr Browse total 6 111 I 3 3 6 3 3 5 683li 55 7 10 261i 27 3 . 5 Geranium viscossissi- . V ' mum 3 I81i I? 50 li9 11 5 3 2 tr tr Potentilla spp. lb 93 9 7 7 11 5 ISyethia spp.' 2 57 5 7 6 7 6 Antennaria spp. tr I tr 2 2 2 I 2 2 I ' I Phlox tioodii tr tr l8l I tr tr I tr tr tr Achilla lanulosa tr tr tr tr tr Table XI (cont'd)

SUMMER FAIL IflXNTER SPRXNG Tran- Obs. sects sum­ 3 Rumen Qbs. it Rumen Obs. 3 Rumen Obs. Il Rumen Plants sum­ mer samples fail samples winter samples spring samples mer" use (per-' use (per-' use (per-' use (per­ comp. freq. centage) freq. centage) freq. centage) freq. centage 5 7° No.' % vol. -Wt. No. % Vol. No. W t . % Vol. W t ."Ho, % Vol. Mt. Lupinus ” spp. 2 15 I tr tr tr tr Eumex spp. 15 tr - Balsamorrhiza spp. I tr Trollus laxus tr tr Senecio spp. 2 3 tr 3 2 Thermopsis montana k Ii tr I I Mertensia alpina 2 tr tr tr tr. tr Aster spp. 3 39 I tr tr 3 I Cehtaurea spp. tr tr tr tr Lomatium spp. tr " tr tr kI Taraxacum" spp. 2 "It tr Agoseris glauca h 6? 6 Penstemon spp. I I tr Oenothera flava $ 2 tr 21 10 Myosotis aXpestris 6 51i9 52 27 13 Compositae family It tr tr Unidentifiable forb tr 10 I 21 21 2 2 I 2 7?h I, Forb'total .' • ' 5U 1029 95 91 88 73 3it lit 11 197 I 3 h I ' tr 6 5 IilOll IX Agropyron trachy- caulim 11 7 I 13 6 Agropyron sub- secundum 6 26 12 Elymus innovatus 6 3 Koeleria crlstata x h 2 x Bromus margihatus 7 x X Melica spectabilis 12 13 I Table II (cont'd)

SUMMER FALL WINTER SPRING iran- Ubs. sects sum- 3 Rumen Dbs. it Rumen Obs. 3 Rumen Obs. ■' it Rumen Plants sum- mer samples fall samples winter samples spring samples mer' use (per- use (per- use (per­ use (per­ comp, freq. centage) freq. centage) freq. centage ) freq. centage ) 7» No. % Vol. Mt. No.' Vol. W t . No. % Vbl.' W t . No. Vol. Tft. Poa spp." - X X Festuca idahoensis tr 61t 30 Carex ldhgifolia X ' " nigricans - . x " spp. 3 19 9 Unidentifiable grass -- and sedge 6 6 80 82 39lit 32 90 87 630 66 90 87 Grass and sedge total 39 20 2 6 6 132 62 80 82 £318 U3 90 87 690 72 90 87 x denotes identification of the plant in rumen sample and/or -feeding observations. -18-

gated. These were identified to species if possible, or otherwise to

genus, family, or forage class by comparison with plants collected from

the study area. Volumes of plant parts were measured to the nearest 0 .£

cc. by water displacement after the excess moisture was removed with

paper towels. The segregated portions were allowed to air dry and were

then weighed to 0 .0 1 gm. as a check against the volumes. Percentage by

weight is not used in the. discussion. A total of 1879.5 cc. of identi­

fiable material was obtained averaging 13I4..3 cc.. (ll$>) per quart sample.

Material with a volume less than 0.5 cc. was recorded as "traces". The

percentage of the stomach contents that an item constituted for a season

was computed by the aggregate percentage method (Martin, et al., I9I46).

■This involved finding the percentage an item constituted of the'total

.identifiable material in each rumen sample and then averaging the percent­

ages of all'samples for that season.

Summer (June, July, August)

Three elk rumen samples were obtained during this period as follows:

June 21, female (age 1|.5 yrs.); July 20, male (age 2.5 yrs.); August 20,

male (age 2.5 yrs.). All three were collected on the fescue-wheatgrass

vegetative type. Forbs (ll items) constituted 91 percent by volume of the

samples (Table Tl). Sticky geranium (Geranium viscossissimum) was the

most important forb for this period, constituting 50 percent by volume of the samples. Other prevalent forbs were cinquefoil, mule's ear, pussy toes

, (Antennaria spp.) and groundsel (Senecio spp.). Unidentified forbs made up 21 percent by volume of the samples. Browse made up three percent by

A -19-

.volume of the samples with willow being the major species. Grasses and sedges constituted six percent by volume of the samples.

Twenty-one feeding sites on vegetative types were examined during this period as follows; sagebrush, 7 J aspen, 3 j fescue-wheatgrass, 9 j sedge-rush, 2. Instances of plant use totaled 1063. Forbs (l!|. items) made.up 95) percent of the plant use (Table Tl). Forget-me-not (Myosotis alpestris) constituted 5>2 percent of the recorded plant-use, but was found at only one feeding site. This plant was not identified in any of ■ the rumen samples for this period. Sticky geranium, cinquefoil, mule's ear, aster (Aster spp.) and false dandelion (Agroseris glauca) were other important forbs in the feeding observations. Browse constituted one per­ cent and grasses and sedges two percent of the plant use for this period.

Fall (September, October, November)

Four rumen samples were obtained from elk during this period as follows; September 19, male (age 1.5) yrs.), on the fescue-wheatgrass type; October 15), male (age 1.3 yrs.), on the alpine fir-Engelmann1 s spruce type; October 16, female (age 0.5 yrs.), on the Douglas fir type;

November 19, male (age 1.5 yrs.), on the sagebrush type.- Forbs (? items) . constituted lit percent by volume of the samples. Mule's ear, seven percent by volume, but occurring in only two rumen samples, was the most important forb. . Sticky geranium and pussy toes were the only other prevalent forbs.

Browse (9 items) made up three percent by volume of the samples. Three- tip sage, constituting two percent by volume of the samples, was' the only browse'species that occurred in appreciable amounts and occurred only in -20-

the November’ rumen sample. Grasses and sedges made up 80 percent by-

volume of the samples.

Nine feeding sites were examined on. various vegetative types as

follows: fescue-wheatgrass, 8; Douglas fir, I. A total of 211 instances

of plant use were recorded during this period, all in September. Oregon

grape (Mahonla repens)' was the only browse species recorded and constitu­

ted three percent of the plant use. Grasses and sedges made up 62 percent

of the total plant use. Bluebunch fescue was the major species, constitu­ ting 30 percent of the usage. Forbs constituted 3h percent of the plant use. Forget-me-not, false dandelion, cinquefoil and sticky geranium being the species that occurred most frequently. Sticky geranium was the only one of these that occurred in the rumen samples for this period.

Winter (December, January, February)

Three elk rumen samples were obtained for this period as follows:

December 18, female (age adult); January 16, male (age 0.3 yrs.); Feb­ ruary 23, female (age 6.3 yrs.). All three were collected on the sage­ brush vegetative type. Browse (3 items) constituted seven percent by volume of the samples. Three tip sage was the major species. Grasses and sedges made up 90 percent by volume of the samples. Forbs were three percent by volume of the samples, with pussy t,oes being "the only important species.

Seven' feeding sites were examined on various vegetative types as follows: sagebrush, 3; fescue-wheatgrass, 2. During this period, 12,3^9 instances of plant use were recorded. Browse was 33 percent of the plant I

—21—

use. This heavy browse use, which contrasts with data from rumen samples

was recorded during a 10 day period .of severe cold weather and heavy snow

cover. A large portion of this (b9 percent)''was on three-tip sage and

consisted mostly of stripping the seeds from the seed heads. Grasses and

sedges made up b3 percent of the plant use. Blue-wild rye (Elymus

glauca), could be recognized in the feeding observations from its tall,

bunchgrass growth habit, and made up 11 percent of the plant use. Forbs

constituted one percent of the plant use, phlox (Phlox hoodii) being the

major plant.

Spring (March, April, May)

Four elk rumen samples were collected for this period as follows:

March l£, female (age 1.5 yrs.)j March '28, male (age 1.5 yrs.); April 18,

maie (age 1.5 yrs.)j May ll*, female (age I*.5 yrs.). All four were collect

ed on the. sage brush vegetative type. Browse made up three percent by

volume of the samples. Three-tip sage was the only important browse

species but did not occur in the May rumen sample. Forbs constituted six

percent by volume of the samples with pussy toes being the most important,

and not occurring in the May sample. Grasses and sedges made up 90 per­

cent by volume of the samples. In the May rumen sample, forbs were 21

percent by volume and grasses and sedges were J8 percent by volume. . Most

"kk® material in the May rumen sample consisted of new, green growth

suggesting a use of the newly sprouting plants as they emerge.

Four feeding sites were examined, all on the sagebrush vegetative type. Instances of plant use totaled 955« Plant use was recorded only -22-

during March of this period as no intensive field work was possible in

lpril and May. Forbs made up only a trace of the plant use during March.

Grasses and sedges constituted 72 percent of the recorded plant use.

Blue wild rye made up six percent of this use. Browse (6 items) was 2?

percent of the total. Three-tip sage, big sage, gray horsebrush (Tetra-

dymla canescens) and choke cherry (Prunus virginiana) were the important / browse species that occurred in the feeding observations during March of

this period.

Tear Long Trends

Certain seasonal trends in the forage class usage by elk on the study

area are indicated (Fig. 7)« Grasses and grass-like plants are the major

forage from September through May. In May, as.the new plants appear, the

use of forbs begins to increase. Forbs are the most prevalent part of the

elk diet from June through August.' Sticky geranium was present in every

rumen sample from May through September. Starting in September, the use

of forbs begins to taper off and this forage class is replaced in importance by the grasses and grass-like plants. Browse never constituted an important part of the elk diet as determined by rumen analyses, but may be quite important during winter periods of severe cold weather and heavy snow cover as indicated by feeding observations under those conditions in

January. Three-tip sage was present in all the rumen samples from Nov- • ember through April.

A review of the literature reveals marked differences in the food habits of elk in various localities. Morris and Schwartz (l95>7) found. PERCENT BY VCLUI 20 30 4o — 4o 10 50 100 60 70 —70 — 80 — 80 90 — 90 .. — — — — — —r — Jan. • ••••" i i. » oaecasueb otsa niae byindicated volume as by class use months Forage 7»Fig. e e e e • • • • • # • e • * • • e * ^LJSX Feb* •

P BROWSE % ecnae fekrmn samples.elkof rumen percentages frh ArlIe Jn uy u. et Oct. Deo. Sept. Aug.Nov.Iferoh July JuneIfey April ! O P u m VAV GRASS -23- • • • FORBS

-2 l|- by rumen analyses, a forb use of 3.5 to 32.5 percent from June through

August on the National Bison Range, Montana. They also found about 100 percent use of grass and grass-like plants during the winter period.

Bickford and Reid (19I1.3) found in observations of plant use, that elk in eastern Oregon use about 80 percent forbs during the summer. DeNio (1938) i concluded (rumen samples) that elk in the Northwestern United States use about 65 percent grasses and 25 percent browse from November through May.

Murie (l95l) stated that the Rocky Mountain elk in the Yellowstone

National Park area use mostly grasses in the winter and that■forbs are important in the summer. Brazda (1953) recorded the use of 22 forbs and nine sedges during the summer months in the Gallatin River drainage,

Montana. Two sedges were used most frequently. Young and Robbinette

(1939) in the Selway Game Preserve, Idaho, reported that elk showed a decided preference for browse during the summer even though grasses were abundant. Lommasson (1927) found that in Montana summer ranges, the elk die I)'consists mostly of grasses. Schwartz and Mitchell (1915) stated that the elk in the Olympic Peninsula, Washington, use mostly browse during the winter and browse and graze in equal proportions during the summer.

The elk appears to be a very adaptable feeder which may account for its ability to survive under adverse conditions. This may also be the reason that elk are so competitive with other big game species.

■ AREA USE BY LIVESTOCK AND ELK

Forest Service records show that about 90,000 sheep and 33*000 cattle used the entire Beaverhead National Forest during the 1956 grazing -25- season. The study area was included in this. Cattle are allowed on the spring range by June I, which is below 7*000 feet elevation. After July

15* cattle are allowed to go on the summer range which is generally be­ tween 7,000 and 8,500 feet elevation. All cattle must be off the forest by October l5« No sheep are allowed on the summer range before July 10 and must be off by September 20. The sheep grazing allotments are generally at elevations over 8,500 feet. The elk summer range overlaps that used by sheep. Apparently the only area competition during the summer months is with sheep, except for some groups of cattle that move up on the sheep grazing allotments of their own accord in late summer and early fall. During the summer, elk and sheep were observed to graze the same areas, although not at the same time. During the late fall, elk spend some time on areas used by cattle during the summer, and part of* them remain there for the winter. Private, state and Bureau of land

Management property occurring outside the Forest Service boundary . constitutes the major portion of the elk winter range. Some cattle and sheep use this area during the summer but most of the use is in the spring before the stock is allowed on the Forest Service land and in the fall after the stock has moved off the forest and before they are moved out of the area. Only two ranchers wintered cattle in this area during the winter study period and they both fed hay. No stock, except for a ' few horses, was on the range land. Forty-five horses were counted during the summer'on the lower part of the elk summer range and about the same number were using the elk winter range at the same time the elk were. -26-

Evaluation of competition between elk and livestock for the various food

plants was beyond the scope of this study. The area competition, adaptable

food habits of the elk, and food habits of sheep (Smith and Julander, 19%3}

and cattle (Kimball and Watkins, 195>l) suggests the possibility of direct

•competitiono Specific studies of sheep and cattle food habits on the area

are needed to evaluate this relationship.

SUMMARY

1. A study of elk food habits, range use, and movements was con­

ducted in the southern portion of the Gravelly Mountains, I4.0 airline miles

- southeast of Dillon, Montana, during the summer of 1956 and the winter of

1956-57.

2. The elk herd.in this area has become one of the important herds

in the state. Depredations on haystacks and range conflict with livestock

have been reported.

3. The Gravelly Mountains are moderately rough with elevations up to

'10,500 feet. The study area consisted of about four townships and is

drained by the Red Rock River, Ruby River and the West Fork of the Madison

River. Six vegetative types occurred in the study area; alpine fir-

Engelmannts spruce, Douglas fir, sedge-rush, sagebrush, fescue-wheatgrass

and aspen.

It. Observations of the number of elk, time of year when seen, and

the vegetative type they were using when observed gave an indication of

range use. From June through October, 82 percent of the elk observed

occurred on vegetative types that occurred mostly over 7?500 feet- -27- elevation. From December through March, 93 percent of the elk seen were on a vegetative type that occurred mostly below 7*300 feet elevation. A movement of two to eight airline miles between summer and winter range is suggested.

3. Fifteen elk calves were tagged with standard ear tags to which colored plastic ribbons were attached. Ten relocations of six marked calves indicated a 0 .3 to four airline miles summer movement.

6 . Food habits were determined by rumen analyses and feeding site ' examinations. Fourteen rumen samples were collected with one sample being collected for each month of the year* except for October and.March which had two for each month. Examination of Li elk feeding sites totaled lL,378 instances of plant use. Sixteen (20-ft.) line transects were used to indicate the percentages of plant species present on various vege­ tative types.

7 . During the summer, forbs were the most important (91 percent by volume) forage class. In the fall, grass and grass-like plants (80 per­ cent by volume) replaced forbs as the important forage class. Grass and grass-like plants continued to be the major forage class (90 percent by volume) through the winter period. Use of grass and grass-like plants remained high (90 percent by volume) in the spring period also, but the

May rumen sample indicated a return to forbs (21 percent by volume) as the

new vegetation began to grow. Browse was relatively unimportant, never

exceeding seven percent by volume (winter), in the rumen samples. In­

stances of plant use recorded during a 10 day period of severe cold and ■ -28- heavy snow cover in late January indicated much use of browse during that .... | time. Fifty-five percent of the winter plant use was browse, most of this being recorded during the above period of severe weather.

8. An elk-livestock (cattle, sheep, horses) area use overlap was found during the study. This use of areas may not occur at the same time of year. '

LITERATURE CITED

American Joint Committee on Horticultural Nomenclature, 19h2. Standard­ ized plant names. J. Horace McFarland Company, Harrisburg, Pa. 675 P P •

Booth, ¥. E. 19^0. Flora of Montana, Part I, conifers and monocots. Research Foundation at Montana State College, Bozeman, Montana, 232 p p .

Brazda, A. R. 1953« Elk migration patterns, and some factors affecting movements in the Gallatin River Drainage, Montana. Jour. Wildl. Mgt., 17:9-23.

Canfield, R. H . . 19Ul. Application of the line interception method in sampling range vegetation. Jour. Forestry, 39:388-39U*

Cole, Glen F. 195>6. The Pronghorn Antelope - its range use and food habits.in Central Montana with special reference to alfalfa. Mont; State Coll. Exp. Sta. Bull., j?l6, 63 pp.

DeNio, R. M. 1938. Elk and deer foods and feeding habits. Trans. 3rd. N. A. Wildlife Conf., 3:1421-1+27.

Johnson, Donald E. 1931. Biology of the elk calf. Jour. Wildl. Mgt., 13:396-1+10.

Kimball, Thomas L., and Allan G. Watkins. 1931. The Kaibab North Cooperative Deer-Livestock Forage Relationship Study. Arizona Game and Fish Commission. 77 pp.

Lommasson, T. 1927. Elk forage in Montana. Mont. Univ. School of Forestry, Forestry Kaimin. P p . 19-21.

Martin, A., C., R. H. Gensch and C. P. Brown. 191+6. Alternative methods in upland gamebird food analysis. Jour. Wildl. Mgt., IOi8-12.

6 -29-

Morris, Melvin S., John E. Schwartz. 1957- Mule.deer and elk food habits on the National Bison Range. Jour. Wildl. Mgt., 21:189-193.

Murie, Olaus J . 1951. The elk of North America. The Stackpole Company, Harrisburg, Pa. 371 PP-

Pickford, G. D., and E. H. Reid. 19h3- Competition of elk and domestic livestock for summer range forage. Jour. Wildl. Mgt., 7:328-332.

Saunders, Jack. 1955« Food habits and range use of the Rocky Mountain goat in the Crazy Mountains, Montana. Jour. Wildl. Mgt., 19:^29-^37.

Smith, Justin G. and Odell Julander. 1953« Deer and sheep competition in Utah. Jour. Wildl. Mgt,, l6:lL8-l55.

Schwartz, John E. and Glen E. Mitchell. 19U5. The Roosevelt elk on the Olympic Peninsula. Jour. Wildli Mgt., 9:295-319.

'Wilkins, Bruce T . 1957. Range use, food habits, and agricultural relationships of the mule deer, Bridger Mountains, Montana.' Jour. Wildl. Mgt., 21:159-169.

Wright, J . C. and W. E. Booth. 1956. Flora of Montana, Dicotyledons. Herbarium of Montana State College. 226 pp.

Young, Vernon Alphus and W. Leslie Robbinette. 1939. A study of the range habits of elk on the Selway Game Preserve. Univ. Idaho Bull., 3b(l6):^8 pp.

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N378 ^"123691 R762e cop. 2 Rouse, R.A. Elk Food Habits, range use

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