Final Environmental Impact Statement

Vestal Final Environmental Impact Statement Chapter 3
Demand Species
Demand species are important local game animals which are not included in other
emphasis groups above. The Rocky Mountain elk (Cercus elaphus nelson) and
Merriam’s wild turkey (Meleagris gallapavo merriami) are demand species which occur
in the project area.
Rocky Mountain Elk (Demand Species)
Elk use a wide variety of vegetation types on the Forest but show a preference for
forested riparian areas, forested stringers in meadows, and deciduous stands of birch or
aspen (SAIC 2003). Elk find cover (thermal, hiding or both) on the Forest in the denser
stands (SS 3C, 4C and 5) of conifers (summer and winter) and hardwoods (summer only).
For forage, however, they rely on more open stands and meadows and prairies, all of
which may provide an abundance of grasses, forbs, and/or shrubs (SAIC 2003). The
summer range typically provides a mixture of open brushy and grassy areas, water
sources, and areas of dense forest cover. During winter, most elk move to winter ranges.
Some mature bulls stay on summer ranges where the snow depths can reach 4 feet. The
fall diet is primarily grasses, forbs and some browse. In winter the diet shifts to mostly
browse and some grasses (Higgins et al. 2000).
The elk population of the Black Hills is difficult to estimate in part because of interstate
movements of the species. However, the 2007 estimate placed the population level at
3,800 elk in the South Dakota Black Hills (Huxoll 2008). The 2010 estimate decreased
to 3,100 elk (Huxoll 2011). No population estimates are available for the Wyoming
portion of the Black Hills. The Forest has committed (through Objective 217) to
managing habitat for a total of 4,350 elk, which was the combined population objective
established by the two state game agencies in 1996 (USDA Forest Service 2005a).
Elk are sometimes seen in the Vestal project area. The project area is within MA 5.1
(resource production emphasis), which includes management for a diversity of wildlife
species, and MA 5.4 (Big Game Winter Range Emphasis), which is managed to provide
high-quality winter and transitional habitat for deer and elk, along with other wildlife
needs. The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (2002) considers part of the project area as
crucial annual range for elk and part of the area as summer range and winter range (small
portion).
Hiding cover is important during the fall hunting season (SAIC 2003). Roads negatively
affect elk because roads degrade habitat and contribute to animal displacement and stress.
Elk selected against grassland habitat and for dense (i.e., >70 percent canopy cover)
conifer stands during the big game hunting season (i.e., 1 September to 30 November) in
the Black Hills (Rumble et al. 2005). Additionally, Rumble et al. (2005) found that elk
generally avoid areas within 1 km of primary and secondary roads during this time
period. Currently, open road density within the project area is 1.5 mi/mi 2 (this includes
Forest System roads and County roads). Management Area 5.4 contains 5 mi/mi 2 of
roads, FSR and County roads. However, during seasonal closures from December 15 –
May 15, annually, open road density is 2.2 mi/mi 2 .
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