In 1908 about 2,000 were estimated in the park but during the following winter all but 25 escaped through the park fence below Gardiner and went down to the lower valleys, where at that time they were unprotected, and many never returned. In 1911 only 450 were counted in the park. In 1914, 600 were estimated in the park herd, and in 1916, 500. In the spring of 1917 most of these left the park and later, when driven back, only about 200 were accounted for.

Antelope counts made by rangers, 1934—38

Although the antelope have prospered and increased during the last few years, as shown by the foregoing censuses and by the fawn counts made during the last 2 years, their future is nevertheless precarious because of the deplorable state of their winter forage within the park. As is so often the case, the crux of the problem is the winter range. Good antelope range exists outside the park boundaries, which the antelope have begun to utilize, but unless this range becomes public property there is no assurance that it will be available in the future. So the solution of the antelope problem involves more winter range, with perhaps fewer elk on it.

The present area now being used outside the park, together with considerable additional range farther north, should be set aside for antelope. If the antelope are to be confined to the winter range within the park there will undoubtedly be a drastic decrease in their numbers. The coyote is not at the present time adversely affecting the antelope, nor is it preventing them from increasing, even though the herd is existing on a much over-utilized winter range.