Wildlife Damage Management, Internet Center for
Date of this Version
February 1989
Abstract
Habitat manipulations were initiated on the Wick Brothers big Game Winter range in southern Wyoming to alter traditional movement patterns of Rocky Mountain Elk (Cervus elaphus nelsonii) . Manipulations included spraying with 2-4-D and follow-up fertilization of the same plot in successive years with ammonium nitrate at the rate of 40 lbs. (18 kg.) free nitrogen per acre. Burning hay meadows and upland sagebrush sites and salting were used in combination with the other treatments. Elk distribution shifted to the treated plots in response to the increased quality and quantity of the grass production on these areas. Spring distribution of elk shifted to Department lands and away from private lands. This shift in spring elk distribution should augment efforts to enhance calving habitat and develop a migration corridor south of the unit through silvicultural treatments on adjacent National Forest land.