STATUS OF THE PRONGHORNED ANTELOPE, 1922-1924 
45 
The foUowiug interesting quotation from a letter from District Forester 
Reed, United States Forest Service, dated June 20, 1923, gives an idea of the 
vicissitudes undergone by the antelope during the' last two introductions : 
" We have just received word from Mr. Rush that there is but one survivor 
of the six shipped to the Wichita last fall. This survivor is a buck. Two of 
the antelope died from the effects of ticks and two have disappeared. Mr. 
Rush surmises that the coyotes got in and killed them while they were in the 
little bull pasture. Later they were moved into the buffalo yard, and the 
only female left ran headlong into the gate and' broke her neck. Of the 
antelope shipped two years ago, one 2-year old buck and three 2-year old 
does remain. This reduces the herd to 5 adult antelope. 
"Mr. Rush reports that the 3 does now have 2 fawns each. This brings 
the herd up to 11 head, and Mr. Rush says that lie had excellent luck with 
them. It is to be hoped that the fawns born in captivity on the Wichita will 
survive the vicissitudes' which decimated the original shipment made by the 
Fig. 13. — Distributioii of anteloi>e in Oklahoma, estimated at 23, in 2 areas 
American Bison Society. Since we have 11 antelope on the Wichita, it does 
not seem necessary to seek further assistance from the American Bison 
Society at this time. We will, however, take the best care of the remaining 
antelope. We are satisfied that Mr. Rush has done his best, and it seems that 
we have a fighting chance to secure a herd of antelope on the Wichita." 
The location of the two bands of antelope now in Oklahoma may be stated 
as follows (fig. 13) : 
1. A single band of 5 or 6 animals is living in the Ford pastures in northeast- 
em Cimarron County, where it is* protected. A band of about 8 animals, 
reported to range in Morton County, southwestern Kansas, is said to spend 
part of its time across the line in Oklahoma, which would take it into 
Cimarron County. The relations between these two herds have not been 
ascertained. For convenience the 8 animals are credited to Kansas and make 
up the only known surviving antelope in that State. Apparently the only 
survivors of these animals in both Oklahoma and Kansas are in the adjoining 
counties of the extreme western parts of these States. 
2. During the summer of 1924 a herd of 17 antelope was on the Wichita 
National Game Preserve. This is an increase of 12 animals from the 5 
survivors of 25 animals imported in previous years by the Boone and Crockett 
Club and the American Bison Society. 
