Portions of the experimental elk herd that summered north of Hy 77, returned approximately 3 miles to their same wintering area of the past 3 years. There they joined the group of cows and calves, which are summer residents of the release pen area. This gradual transition to winter quarters occurred in late October and early November. The 3-year-old bulls, which were associated with these two groups during the short bugling season, separated from the cows at the end of the rut but return to them occasionally for short periods of time.

1997 Deer Season - To the credit of local deer hunters, this season passed without negative incidence to the elk population. One cow was reported limping when observed by a hunter and elk project personnel, but had ceased limping when observed 2 weeks later. The injury could have been caused by any number of natural events that were not hunter related.

Calf survivorship - Nine calves were known to have been born; 6 of these were radio-tagged. One of the tagged calves was killed by a bear and one untagged calf cannot be accounted for as of this date although we continue to seek verification of its existence. The current mild winter conditions, i.e., above average temperature and below average snow depth, are very favorable to calf survivorship and may moderate the additional winter mortality that was expected. Thank you El Nino.

General - The herd is traversing the winter area with relative ease because of the shallow snow depth. They make ready use of the US Navy ELF Line as a travel lane and for feeding on the forage plants that are present on the line and adjacent wildlife openings. They are feeding and bedding in the 1995 clear cut area, now in aspen saplings and ground forage plants, that is near the release site. The conifer swamps in the immediate vicinity, that were used throughout the past two rigorous winters, have had little use so far this winter. Eighty five percent of the experimental herd, which now numbers at least 34, is still within 1 mile of the release site at this time.

Predators - Sixteen bears (7 sows, 9 boars) were captured and tagged on the elk study area during the elk calf-rearing season to monitor their relationship to calf survivorship. All of the sows were radio-tagged; the boars were only ear-tagged since they were likely to travel considerable distances away from the elk study area. One sow, 90 lbs., and a boar, 386 lbs., were shot during the bear hunting season. Within 2 weeks of capture, one boar visited a bird feeding station near Washburn in Bayfield Co., 45 straight-line miles from where it was tagged on the elk study area. One sow has been missing since late summer. The remaining 5 sows are in dens within the elk study area. No wolves were recorded in the vicinity of the main group of elk although they are frequently in the vicinity of 2 elk in the southeast part of the study area.

Plans for the remainder of the 1997-98 Winter - 1) Continue monitoring the experimental herd for survivorship and behavior with an emphasis on the calves of 1997 and habitat use during this mild winter, 2) visit dens of radio-tagged bears to replace collars, 3) meet with WDNR and USDA-FS personnel to formulate management guidelines for the transition period at the end of this study.