STATUS OF THE PRONGHORNED ANTELOPE 1922-1924 23 



definitely assisted in a work which may be the basis for definite 

 action in various States to insure the perpetuation of the pronghorn. 



In taking this census determined efforts were made to locate as 

 completely as possible each surviving band and, wherever possible, 

 to have an actual count of the animals in it. 



Almost throughout its range the pronghorn is decreasing. Each 

 succeeding year some of the smaller herds marked on the accom- 

 panying maps are certain to disappear, and only in the most favor- 

 able' areas, where they are carefully protectee!, is there hope for 

 the long survival of these interesting animals. In perpetuating herds 

 of antelope in the different States one of the principal factors will 

 be the interest taken in them by ranchmen, local sportsmen, and other 

 residents. Antelope are on the verge of final extermination in 

 Kansas, where in the early days they were familiar sights from the 

 windows of passing trains. 



There is little hope for the preservation of the large number of 

 small bands containing from three to a dozen or more pronghorns. 

 Under present conditions, when a band is reduced to a very small 

 number, its continued existence is practically impossible unless it 

 has the benefit of exceedingly careful guardianship. 



The decrease of antelope is governed by a number of conditions, 

 among which may be mentioned the inroads of predatory animals, 

 illegal shooting, and the increased occupation of their territory for 

 economic uses and the disturbance brought about by it. There 

 may be improvement as to the first two of these factors, but the 

 last is one which is necessarily beyond control. This means that 

 eventually the surviving antelope will be limited to bands located 

 in some of the more desert and least occupied parts of their former 

 range, such as in northwestern Nevada, or to large, fenced game 

 refuges. There are areas in many of the Western States which 

 are suitable for the maintenance of bands of antelope on the open 

 range if public sentiment will interest itself in them. 



The largest herds of antelope in any restricted area appear to 

 be located on the great plains which cover northwestern Nevada and 

 adjacent parts of Oregon and southwestern Idaho. In this iso- 

 lated, sparsely populated region may still be found the nearest 

 approach to original conditions of any part of the antelope range 

 in the United States to-day. 



There is no intention to claim anything like complete accuracy 

 in all the specific localities and numbers of antelope set forth. 

 From the very nature of the case that is obviously impossible. 

 Furthermore, with the decrease of antelope some of the small bands 

 here listed may have already disappeared. Also occasional bands 

 here and there may have been missed, and the numbers estimated 

 for many may be erroneous — either too great or too small. It is 

 earnestly desired that all who are in position to give constructive 

 criticism will send in the information which they possess in order 

 that corrections and additions may be made on the records. 



Table 1, or page 3, summarizes the number of bands of antelope 

 and the total number of animals in each within the various geo- 

 graphic areas. Following is a detailed statement showing the loca- 

 tion and distribution of the bands in each of the areas listed. 



