STATUS OF THE PBONCrHORNED ANTELOPE 1922-1924 23 
definitely assisted in a work which may be the basis for definite 
action in various States to insure the perpetuation of the pronghorn. 
In taking this census determined efforts were made to locate as 
completely as possible each surviving band and, wherever possible, 
to have an actual count of the animals in it. 
Almost throughout its range the pronghorn is decreasing. Each 
succeeding year some of the smaller herds marked on the accom- 
panying maps are certain to disappear, and only in the most favor- 
able*^ areas, where they are carefully protected, is there hope for 
the long survival of these interesting animals. In perpetuating herds 
of antelope in the different States one of the principal factors will 
be the interest taken in them by ranchmen, local sportsmen, and other 
residents. Antelope are on the verge of final extermination in 
Kansas, where in the early days they were familiar sights from the 
windows of passing trains. 
There is little hope for the preservation of the large number of 
small bands containing from three to a dozen or more pronghorns. 
Under present conditions, when a band is reduced to a very small 
number, its continued existence is practically impossible unless it 
has the benefit of exceedingly careful guardianship. 
The decrease of antelope is governed by a number of conditions, 
among which may be mentioned the inroads of predatory animals, 
illegal shooting, and the increased occupation of their territory for 
economic uses and the disturbance brought about by it. There 
may be improvement as to the first two of these factors, but the 
last is one which is necessarily beyond control. This means that 
eventually the surviving antelope will be limited to bands located 
in some of the more desert and least occupied parts of their former 
range, such as in northwestern Nevada, or to large, fenced game 
refuges. There are areas in many of the Western States which 
are suitable for the maintenance of bands of antelope on the open 
range if public sentiment will interest itself in them. 
The largest herds of antelope in any restricted area appear to 
be located on the great plains which cover northwestern Nevada and 
adjacent parts of Oregon and southwestern Idaho. In this iso- 
lated, sparsely populated region may still be found the nearest 
approach to original conditions of any part of the antelope range 
in the United States to-day. 
There is no intention to claim anything like complete accuracy 
in all the specific localities and numbers of antelope set forth. 
From the very nature of the case that is obviously impossible. 
Furthermore, with the decrease of antelope some of the small bands 
here listed may have already disappeared. Also occasional bands 
here and there may have been missed, and the numbers estimated 
for many may be erroneous — either too great or too small. It is 
earnestly desired that all who are in position to give constructive 
criticism will send in the information which they possess in order 
that corrections and additions may be made on the records. 
Table 1, on page 3, summarizes the number of bands of antelope 
and the total number of animals in each wnthin the various geo- 
graphic areas. Following is a detailed statement showing the loca- 
tion and distribution of the bands in each of the areas listed. 
