14 BULLETIN 1346, XT. S, DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTURE 



the antelope conference, and still maintains a keen interest in an- 

 telope conservation. 



In 1917 and 1918 representatives of the Biological Survey investi- 

 gated and reported on the antelope situation in that region with a 

 view to the possible establishment of a Federal refuge. In 1919 the 

 secretary of the American Bison Society visited the area in company 

 with a representative of the Biological Survey, and later recom- 

 mended to his organization that it interest itself in the establishment 

 of the proposed refuge. 



Ever since the refuge was first proposed the National Association 

 of Audubon Societies, through its Oregon representative, William 

 L. Finley, has taken an active interest in it; and in 1923, through 

 the efforts of the Biological Survey and the National Association of 

 Audubon Societies, a meeting of stockmen of Lakeview was held, 

 and favored the creation of a Federal wild-life refuge, with the 

 understanding that local stockmen within the area should continue 

 to retain their grazing and other rights. It was as a result of this 

 meeting that resident stock growers attended the antelope conference 

 in Washington, as set forth above. 



ESTABLISHMENT OF ANTELOPE REFUGES IN NEVADA 



In 1923 Gov. J. G. Scrugham, of Nevada, who had been empowered 

 by the State legislature to create 25 State game refuges, requested 

 the assistance of the Biological Survey in determining suitable loca- 

 tions, particularly those to be made for the protection of antelope. 

 E. R. Sans, supervisor of predatory- animal and rodent-control work 

 of the Biological Survey in the State, consulted with the governor, 

 and as a result two antelope refuges were established — the Washoe 

 State Recreation Ground and Game Refuge, lying mainly in Washoe 

 County, in extreme northwestern Nevada, adjoining Oregon (PI. V, 

 fig. 1) ; and the Humboldt State Recreation Ground and Game 

 Refuge, on the northern border of the State, adjacent to Owyhee 

 County, Idaho. Following their establishment, on recommenda- 

 tion of Mr. Sans, who was familiar with the region, enlargements 

 of these refuges were made by the governor to include adjacent 

 districts specially frequented by antelope herds. 



At the time of its creation the enlarged Washoe refuge was be- 

 lieved to contain about 2,000 antelope, and the Humboldt refuge 

 about 1,000. The Washoe refuge lies adjacent to that part of south- 

 eastern Oregon which for some years has been under consideration 

 as the possible site of a Federal refuge for antelope and sage hens. 

 The Humboldt refuge lies immediately to the south of that part of 

 southwestern Idaho which also has been considered as a possible 

 Federal antelope and sage-hen refuge. The establishment of refuges 

 in adjacent parts of Oregon and Idaho would thus afford protection 

 to the antelope herds passing back and forth across the border in 

 this great tableland region, which is obviously so favorable to the 

 perpetuation of these animals. 



Predatory-animal hunters under Mr. Sans's direction had been 

 working for a long time destroying coj^otes and other stock- and game- 

 killing animals in the region covered by the Nevada State antelope 

 refuges. Work for the destruction of predatory animals in these 



