STATUS OP THE PRONGHORNED ANTELOPE, 1922-1924 



41 



"(3) Confer with such agency as to the step necessary to insure perpetu- 

 ation ; such steps might include the establishment of State game refuges, the 

 offering of rewards against killing, pledges on the part of the stockmen to exer- 

 cise rigid jurisdiction over their employees, pledges of winter feeding, or 

 arrangements for predatory-animal control. 



"(4) Ask for the necessary cooperation from the necessary parties to as- 

 sure the execution of the measures decided on under the preceding para- 

 graph (3). 



"(5) Require from the custodian at least an annual report on the condi- 

 tion and needs of the herd. 



" Let me offer one example of how the foregoing scheme would work. On 

 Diamond Creek in the Gila Forest is a herd of about 25 animals, which have 

 lodged there in timbered country since a blizzard drove them out of the San 

 Augustine Plains about five years ago. This herd has plenty of feed and water, 

 very fair protection against 

 predatory animals, and no 

 great likelihood of illegal 

 killing except during the 

 deer season, when they are 

 occasionally mistaken for 

 deer by hunters. A special 

 warning to all hunters in 

 that locality, supplemented 

 by a little extra patrol 

 during the 10 days of the 

 hunting season, would, I 

 think, cause them to start 

 increasing. The Forest 

 Service would, I think, 

 assume the special custo- 

 dianship of this herd and 

 would have the cooperation 

 of the stockmen. If au- 

 ' thorized by the forester it 

 might be that we could 

 even require certain special 

 precautions by the two or 

 three stockmen affected 

 against any of their em- 

 ployees damaging this herd. 

 Should predatory animals 1 get worse, we would doubtless have your coopera- 

 tion whenever we reported the situation. The main thing would be that some- 

 body would assume responsibility for doing all reasonable and practicable 

 lliings for the herd." 



Air. Pooler's contribution contains some very practical suggestions, some of 

 which might be utilized as the program for antelope conservation develops. 



Antelope for many years have been protected on the well-known Bell ranch, 

 Where there lias been a standing offer of .$50 reward for the arrest of anyone 

 found hunting on these lands; but under this protection they have not in- 

 creased so rapidly as might be expected, probably owing to the depredations of 

 predatory animals and eagles. 



The bands of antelope In New Mexico are located as follows (flg. 1 1 I : 



1. Abouj 50 antelope range in southeastern Colfax County. 



2. A I. and of H v»a reported iii February, 1924, In the BMund pasture, 15 

 mile northwest of Clayton, Union County. 



Fig. 11, 



-Distribution of antelope in New Mexico, esti- 

 mated at 1,682, in 31 areas 



