ELK HABITAT SELECTION ON THE CLEARWATER NATIONAL FOREST, IDAHO

Habitat management for bull and cow elk (Cervus elaphus nelsoni) may r equire different forest management standards because of likely sexual differences in distribution and habitat selection patterns. Current st andards are based on the habitat use patterns of cow elk. Thus, we loc ated 121 radiocollared elk (101 bulls, 20 cows) 4,527 times in the for ested habitats of northcentral Idaho during 1986-90 to determine patte rns of habitat selection. During winter habitat selection patterns of greater than or equal to 2-year-old and yearling bull elk were similar , but cow elk used more shrub habitats and less-open timber types. Cow s typically used moderately steep areas on south-facing to west-facing aspects on the middle to lower elevational portions of the winter ran ge. Bulls were more often found using small benches or ridgetop areas near the upper portion of hillsides. From spring through fall, elk shi fted from using a high proportion of shrub and open timber habitats to use of timber habitats. In general, elk in areas with roads used habi tats with greater canopy cover. This pattern was most pronounced for c ow and greater than or equal to 2-year-old bull elk. Yearling bulls te nded to select habitats in proportion to availability, whereas cow and greater than or equal to 2-year-old bull elk showed preference for op en timber habitats during fall in non-roaded habitats and for timber h abitat in areas with roads during summer and fall. Bulls tended to use higher proportions of lower slopes and stream bottoms than did cows d uring summer, and somewhat steeper areas during fall. Concern over for age production on summer range should be secondary to reducing disturb ance and providing secure habitat during fall hunting seasons.