This report is a summary of that presented on this date at the biannual meeting of the Wisconsin Elk Project Committee that is composed of representatives from UW-SP, WESCO, USDA-FS, RMEF, WDNR, and Elk Wisconsin. We are at the midpoint in this 4-year study and hence the results presented here are tentative and subject to change as more information is collected.

General Monitoring of Elk Movements and Other Behavior - Location and activity of all radio-tagged elk continues on a near-daily basis. To date, 10,064 locations have been cataloged during the study. In addition to survivorship and behavioral information, the locations are being correlated with cover types to determine seasonal habitat use. Evidence of a possible third calf having been born in 1996 recently came to light with observational reports from 3 observers in the SW corner of the study area where Cow No.21 wintered for a second year. The 2 other calves that were known to have been born have survived to this date.

Habitat Use - Forest cover types (n=27) and telemetry locations (n=5,806) from 25 elk during the first post-release year are being analyzed using a computer program Arc\info in a Geographic Information System (GIS). A complete year of telemetry information was obtained from 10 cows and 3 bulls and partial-year-locations from the other 12 elk; the latter resulting from mortality, transmitter failure, and inordinate movements of No.14 - The Hurley Lady.

1996 Deer Season - Deer hunters and elk on the study area were monitored intensively during this season. Deer camps (n=26) were visited and hunters interviewed; hunter density and behavior patterns, and elk reaction to the same, were determined. Every hunter that was contacted was aware of elk being in the area; 82% had hunted there before (range=1-31 years). Elk reaction to hunting activity was minimal. The only unusual, hunter-related move was by 2 bulls that broke away from the group that they had been with on opening day. They moved 2 miles to an isolated area where they remained until the end of the season and then returned to their original area.

Winter foods and feeding areas - Elk locations, determined during the harsh winter of 1995-96, were surveyed during the summer of 1996 and analyzed for selectivity and food preference. Circular plots (40m²) were surveyed in 52 and 51 feeding and random winter locations respectively by counting the number of browsed and unbrowsed twigs of each woody plant species. Discriminant analysis of pooled data for all elk showed that elk selected lowland sites for feeding based on browse species abundance and that white cedar received the highest relative use of the 29 species that were available. One cow wintered in an upland hardwood area, a cow and a bull in mixed conifer-hardwood, and 15 cows and 3 bulls in lowland conifer habitat. Feeding areas were determined by telemetry during the 1996-97 winter for subsequent survey, analysis, and comparison to, or inclusion with, the previous winter.

Elk reaction to logging operations - Five timber sales occurred in the vicinity of elk during the 1996-97 Fall and winter. The sizes of the sales were 40, 80, 110, 130, and 240 acres. No major movements of elk were stimulated by the logging operations. Minor moves included 2 bulls moving 0.25-0.50 miles, and a cow and bull moving from the 1995-96 winter site of the cow, that was now being logged, to an area on the edge of the operation where loggers reported seeing them on several occasions. The bull left the cow in midwinter for an area that he occupied during the 1996 deer-hunting season.

Elk physical condition - Urine snow-samples were collected in December, January, February, and March 1996-97. Analysis of these samples revealed that the experimental herd was not nutritionally restricted and was fairing better than last winter. Average snow depths were slightly greater (1.3 inches) than that of last year but average temperatures were significantly milder with the average minimum and maximum temperatures being 15.3^o F warmer.

Snowmobiling - There are no Snowmobile/ATV designated trails in the immediate vicinity of elk winter quarters. There was off-trail use of Forest Service Roads 162, 163, 164, 173, 176, 339, 792, and 1275 and the ELF antenna and utility lines; primarily on weekends. Snowmobile activity did not appear to influence elk habitat use or behavior. Elk locations on weekend days of increased snowmobile activity did not differ significantly from midweek days of little activity.

X-country skiing - There are no established trails in the areas currently being used by elk; hence no ski related activity occurred.

Hunting - Houndsmen, in quest of coyotes, were present on the elk study area several times; primarily traveling roads in search of tracks. Hounds were noted to be in the field only on one occasion and that was in an area unoccupied by elk. The coyote population is apparently quite low.