46 BULLETIN 1346, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



OREGON 



Southeastern Oregon forms part of a rough, rocky desert covering also 

 northern Nevada and southwestern Idaho, on which natural conditions have 

 been exceedingly favorable for antelope. This region constitutes one of the 

 few areas in the United States where large herds of these animals numbering 

 hundreds still continue to congregate during the winter season. Southeastern 

 Oregon covers so large a territory and the herds in it are so widely scattered 

 that it has not been practicable definitely to locate them and ascertain their 

 numbers. For this reason an area has been marked on the accompanying 

 map (fig. 14) covering the main antelope territory, within which it is esti- 

 mated that the different herds contain an aggregate of not less than 2,000 

 animals. Most of the definite information concerning antelope in Oregon has 

 been supplied by Stanley G. Jewett, of the Biological Survey, and W. L. 

 Finley, of the National Association of Audubon Societies. 



There is no question that antelope have increased in Oregon during the 

 past few years, and although year by year a considerable number have been 

 killed by poachers, yet this has not been sufficient to overcome the increase. 

 It has been reported that the climatic conditions were especially favorable for 

 them during the winter and spring of 1923-24, and that an unusually large 

 number of young were bom. Water and range conditions were worse in this 

 district during the summer of 1924 than for years. Cattle owners moved all 

 their stock from this range about the middle of August and as a result con- 

 ditions were made more favorable for the antelope. 



Old Fort Warner and the neighboring Desert Lake appear to be centers of 

 abundance for antelope. Stanley G. Jewett, leader of the predatory animal 

 control work of the Biological Survey in Oregon, writes that while he was 

 there during August, 1924, antelope were in sight practically all the time, and 

 he is confident that on August 16 and 17 he saw not less than 500 within a 

 radius of 15 miles. In a letter dated September 2, 1924, Mr. Jewett stated: 



" I am sorry to report that a number of fawns have been found dead. Jacobs 

 reports about 20 dead within a radius of 15 miles from old Fort Warner. An 

 old doe was sick near camp while I was there. She acted much like an* 

 alkalied cow. This condition has probably been brought about by the extreme 

 drought and the fact that the does have not had enough nourishment properly 

 to feed their young. Range conditions are so bad that the big cattle companies 

 have taken all their cattle from that range." 



Such adverse conditions must prevail not only over eastern Oregon but into 

 the adjacent parts of Nevada and Idaho. What the outcome will be as to the 

 antelope in this great area is a serious question, since it is one of the greatest 

 centers of surviving antelope in the entire West. 



For a number of ' years various persons interested in the conservation of 

 antelope have been advocating the establishment of a Federal antelope refuge 

 in southeastern Oregon. Details concerning this project are set forth else- 

 where in this bulletin. 



The present distribution of antelope in Oregon is as follows (fig. 14) : 



1. During July, 1924, a single antelope was seen at different times near 

 Antone, in Wheeler County, which is considerably outside the general distri- 

 bution area of antelope at the present time and may indicate a gradual exten- 

 sion of range into formerly occupied territory. 



2. In July, 1924, an isolated herd of about IS was observed on Twelve Mile 

 Creek in the southeastern part of Crook County and the northwestern part of 

 Harney County. 



3. A herd of about 20 was ranging in July, 1924, on the northeastern side of 

 Harney Valley from Saddle Butte north to old Camp Harney ,ii northern 

 Harney County. 



