STATUS OF THE PRONGHORNED ANTELOPE, 1922-1924 



37 



of 1924. The antelope placed on this range by the Boone and Crockett Club 

 in 1911 increased to 64, but all are believed to have been killed by predatory 

 animals in 1922. 



NEBRASKA 



Of the countless thousands of antelope which once roamed the plains of 

 Nebraska but 10 small bands remain, containing a total of about 187 animals. 

 As in Kansas and some other western States, for many years following the 

 completion of the first transcontinental railroad, passengers through Nebraska 

 had the pleasure of observing many antelope from the train windows. With 

 the increasing occupation of the State by farmers and stockgrowers the prong- 

 horn has been reduced to the present insignificant numbers. 



Only a single attempt appears to have been made to establish and main- 

 tain under confinement a herd of antelope in this State. This was done in 

 September, 1924, when the Biological Survey, in cooperation with Doctor 

 Brownell and Doctor Hornaday, as detailed elsewhere, placed 10 young ante- 

 lope from northern Nevada on the Niobrara Reservation, a Federal game 

 refuge near Valentine. Conditions there appear to be well suited to antelope, 



Fig. 9. — Distribution of antelope in Nebraska, estimated at 1S7, in 10 areas 



and it may be possible to build up an interesting herd. In order to insure 

 the perpetuation of these beautiful animals in Nebraska, another herd might 

 well be established elsewhere in the State. 



The occupation of Nebraska for farming purposes is so complete that there 

 is little hope of a herd being maintained there except under fence. Safe free 

 range for antelope in this State is a thing of the past. 



In a letter dated March 12, 1924, George Bird Grinnell wrote that three or 

 four years ago a band of about 40 antelope was located somewhere along the 

 North Platte north of Bridgeport, Morrill County. According to the latest 

 accounts he had they were rapidly decreasing. 



Supervisor Jay Higgins, of the Nebraska National Forest, supplied in- 

 formation in the spring of 1922 that there were bands of antelope in Scotts 

 Bluff, Banner, and Kimball Counties, and added: "We secured three con- 

 victions for killing antelope in Scotts Bluff and Kimball Counties." . 



The antelope bands existing in Nebraska In 1922 and 1923 were distributed 

 as follow.-; (fig. 9) : 



1. A band of about 12 reported in 1922 as near the .33 Ranch, in Sioux 

 County, near the Wyoming tine. 



