LONG-TERM RANGE FIDELITY IN ROCKY-MOUNTAIN ELK

The validity and utility of applying results of home range analysis to long-term wildlife management objectives depends on the assumption th at populations remain relatively faithful to such ranges over time, bu t such an assumption is rarely investigated analytically. We evaluated the home range Fidelity of elk (Cervus elaphus) in 3 populations in s outhcentral Montana and northwestern Wyoming via comparison of home ra nge use, size, and boundaries in 2 different time periods, 1979-82 and 1986-91, using 265 locations of 15 elk and 971 locations of 23 elk. R ange use changed significantly in 2 of 3 populations between time peri ods (P < 0.01), but total size of home range (95% minimum convex polyg on) changed in only 1 population (P < 0.05). Significant seasonal chan ges in elevational use accompanied changes in range boundaries and use in every season. Distances between radiocollared elk located simultan eously decreased in all seasons in 2 populations (P < 0.05), suggestin g increasing herd cohesion and social stability. Changes in range use in differ ent time periods consistently tended to increase spatial sep aration of populations of elk and to reduce densities of elk. Range bo undaries of populations were fluid over time, suggesting boundaries an d use of home ranges of larger populations of elk should be systematic ally reinvestigated at intervals of less than or equal to 10 years if accurate estimation of these parameters is important to management.