58 BULLETIN 1346, U. S. DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTURE 



grain and ate hay in unfenced stacks but without much damage. With the 

 melting of the snow and the return of favorable weather three weeks later, 

 the antelope left the ranches for the outside range. 



It is reliably reported that after a heavy snowstorm in October, 1922, about 

 500 antelope drifted out of the Meeteetse Valley into the farming country 

 around Burlington, where the farmers shot large numbers, keeping the band 

 moving in an easterly direction until they crossed the Big Horn River. It 

 is impossible to learn how many animals were killed before they crossed the 

 river, but everything' indicates that at least half of the band was hung up 

 in meat houses along the way. As near as can be ascertained the survivors 

 did not return. 



Eugene Phelps, A. M. Hogg, and Forest Supervisor Andrew Hutton suggest 

 that a limited-license system should permit killing 50 to 100 buck, antelope 

 for each of the next two years, in this way ridding the range of many old ani- 

 mals. According to their statement there are twice the number of bucks really 

 needed for the welfare of the herds, and this recommendation was made with 

 the belief that such killing would cause large bands to split and spread into 

 the adjoining areas, thus avoiding their congestion in one central district. If 

 after a couple of years it should be found that the antelope have been properly 

 distributed and are not in sufficient numbers to cause material damage to 

 crops, then the season could be closed again. 



The census of antelope in Wyoming has been compiled mainly by Albert 

 M. Day and Charles J. Bayer, of the Biological Survey, with the cooperation 

 of Frank S. Smith, State game warden. 



The distribution of the antelope in the State is approximately as follows 

 (fig. 18) : 



1. The Yellowstone Park herd comprises the antelope which in summer fre- 

 quent the plains of the upper Yellowstone Itiver, within the boundaries of the 

 Yellowstone Park. During severe winters, particularly when the snowfall is 

 heavy, they have generally been forced to descend along the valley of the 

 Yellowstone River to lower country in Montana. In 1909 the Yellowstone 

 Park antelope herds were estimated to number about 2,000 animals. The last 

 heavy loss occurred in the winter of 1921-22, when the deep snow made it 

 difficult for them to escape the depredations of coyotes and wolves, and others 

 perished from starvation. In the spring of 1922 only 235 remained. Horace 

 M. Albright, superintendent of the Yellowstone National Park, to whom the 

 writer is indebted for the information concerning this herd, in a letter dated 

 September 10, 1924, stated that during the summer of 1923 approximately 70 

 fawns were born, of which all but 5 survived the following winter. In the 

 spring of 1924 there were approximately 320 antelope in the herd. Reports 

 from the summer range indicate that a large number of fawns were born, and 

 in December, 1924, Mr. Albright reported 410 antelope in the park herd. He 

 arranged to feed and safeguard the animals during the winter of 1924-25. 

 The decrease in numbers in this herd through a series of years appears to 

 have been brought to an end under Mr. Albright's guardianship. 



2. In this area about 80 antelope range along the Shoshone River, in Park 

 County. 



3. One of the largest single herds in the State is reported ranging on the 

 Greybull River, in southern Park County. It is estimated to contain approxi- 

 mately 1,000 animals and to be increasing. Further details concerning these 

 are given above. 



4. There are about 100 antelope southwest of Burlington, in Big Horn 

 County. 



5. Bands estimated to number 200 range in the Stagner and Black Moun- 

 tains and on Owl Creek, Hot Springs County. 



6. About 150 antelope are located near Kaycee, in Johnson County, where 

 they are said to be decreasing rapidly. 



7. A band of about 60 is reported on Wattel and Hanging Woman Creeks, 

 in northeastern Sheridan County. 



