Leks are of central importance to the life cycle of the Sage Grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus). When a lek or its surrounding habitat is altered or destroyed, Sage Grouse breeding often is reduced or ceases altogether, leading to poor recruitment and population decline (Patterson 1952; Rogers 1964; Peterson 1970; Wallestad 1975; Tate et al. 1979).
To identify areas in the vicinity of a lek used by females for nesting and brooding, and by males for feeding and loafing (day use), many studies have investigated the movements and distribution of breeding Sage Grouse (Klebenow 1969; Wallestad and Pyrah 1974; Wallestad and Schladweiler 1974; Rothenmaier 1979; Emmons 1980; Schoenberg 1982).