STATUS OF THE PRONGHORNED ANTELOPE, 1922-1924 



47 



4. This large generalized area contains nearly all the surviving antelope in 

 Oregon. The number has been roughly estimated here at 2,000, although it 

 may be considerably in excess of this. They are distributed in many herds, 

 the largest of which is believed to number nearly 1,000 and is located in south- 

 ern Harney County and southeastern Lake County, from which it may range 

 across into Nevada. Two other herds, estimated to contain about 500 each, 

 range, one in southern Malheur County across the boundary into Idaho and 

 into Nevada, and the other in northern Lake and southern Deschutes Counties. 

 The many dry-farming homesteaders have left the high desert country of 

 southeastern Oregon during the past few years, and the antelope have been 

 gradually going back into their former range. During the summer of 1924, 

 seven grown antelope and one fawn were seen a number of times in the jack- 

 pine timber about Button Spring and Sand Spring, where they watered, in 

 the extreme northeastern corner of the Deschutes National Forest. Another 

 recent extension of range is in the vicinity of Fife in southern Crook County 

 and along the upper stretches of Silver Creek in northwestern Harney County. 



Fig. 14. — Distribution of antelope in Oregxm, estimated at 2,039', in 4 areas 



There small bands of from 10 to 20 have been seen at various times about 

 Benjamin Lake and on Wagontire Mountain. 



The antelope occurring in the northwestern part of their range in this region 

 are scattered in small bands, owing to the extreme scarcity of water. They 

 practically all water at the springs on Grays Butte, Christmas Lake, Button 

 Sprintr, Sand Spring, and the southern slope of Hampton Butte, and ordinarily 

 at Glass Butte, but the latter spring lias been absolutely dry the present sea- 

 son. Antelope in the extreme southeast bordering the Idaho line are in a 

 better watered region and are much scattered along the tributaries of the 

 Owyhee and about many springs in that area. 



SOUTH DAKOTA 



Senator Peter Norheek and State Game Warden H. S. Hedrick are taking 

 a very active interest in the eonservation and building up of the herds of 

 antelope in South Dakota, f'oneornin^ Hie praetieal side of this question, 

 Senator Norbeck'a remarks at the antelope conference in Washington on 

 Deeeinber li, v.)'S.'j, are much to the point. He stated: 



