STATUS OF THE PRONG-HORNED ANTELOPE, 1922-1924 9 



plus game and at the same time perpetuating the species in reason- 

 able numbers. 



Conservationists should appreciate that there must be a sympa- 

 thetic attitude on the part of the general public which is in direct 

 contact with the game. This means that the surplus of big game, 

 either of antelope or of any other kind, must be disposed of in a 

 practical way, leaving a reasonable breeding stock to perpetuate 

 the species. Those having administrative charge of the game in any 

 area should determine the number of each species of large game 

 that can properly be maintained there and provide for eliminating 

 the surplus, if any, each year. In this manner overstocking the 

 range and other embarrassments may be avoided. 



The number of game animals of each species to be maintained in 

 each area should be determined by a careful study of the conditions 

 in the area by trained experts having practical knowledge of the 

 requirements of the different species. It should be clearly under- 

 stood that at the present time and for some years to come antelope 

 need strict protection practically throughout their range, the one 

 probable exception being in a limited area in Wyoming. 



CONSERVATION ORGANIZATIONS AND THE ANTELOPE 



A number of leading organizations of the country have interested 

 themselves definitely in the conservation of antelope during a period 

 of years. This is an appropriate place to put on record the more 

 notable achievements of these organizations up to this time. 



Boone and Crockett Club. — The last of December, 1910, and the 

 first of January, 1911, 3 buck and 6 doe antelope were obtained from 

 the Yellowstone National Park herd by the Boone and Crockett 

 Club and shipped to the Wichita. National Came Preserve in Okla- 

 homa, in cooperation with the United States Forest Service. (See 

 PI. I.) During this period 4 bucks and 8 does from the same source 

 were shipped by this club to the National Bison Range in Montana, 

 in cooperation with the Biological Survey. Of the antelope sent to 

 Oklahoma, some reached their destination dead and others badly in- 

 jured, and eventually all died. Those sent to the Bison Range were 

 the basis of a herd of 64 animals which was subsequently built up 

 and then completely destroyed by the inroads of predatory animals. 



During 1914 the Boone and Crockett Club purchased 13 antelope 

 in Alberta, which were sent to the Wind Cave National Park and 

 Game Preserve in South Dakota. These animals did well for a time, 

 but later their numbers hud become so reduced that in 1916 the 

 club again purchased 9 antelope in Alberta, which were placed in 

 the same game preserve. Here they did well for a time and in- 

 creased to 34 animals. Most of these were afterwards destroyed by 

 predatory animals, but enough still remain to serve as a nucleus for 

 building up a. new herd. Special efforts are being made to protect 

 them from further attacks by predatory animals. (PI. VI.) 



The Boone and Crocketl Club appears to have been the pioneer 

 in this line of conservai ion. 



American Bison Society. — Tn January, 1912, the American Bison 

 Society first became interested in the future of the antelope and 

 assisted in an attempt to pass a bill through Congress to create the 



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