46 BULLETIN me, 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 si)ring 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 18 w^as 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 in northern 
Harney County. 
