The Epic Journey of Sonoran Pronghorn 851
OutdoorHub 02.27.12
Buck 851 was born a few years back, just south of Ajo, Ariz.
Not long ago, the Sonoran pronghorn antelope was nearly extinct. Buck 851 was born in a captive breeding program pen that has seen tremendous success in restoring the Sonoran pronghorn population.
When 851 was two years old, he was released as part of an Endangered Species recovery plan effort. (Note: The photo at right is of another Sonoran pronghorn, not 851). He was fitted with a collar equipped with GPS that allowed Arizona Game and Fish Department biologists to keep track of his location on a daily basis. He also sported an ear tag.
Young pronghorn bucks like 851 are released into the wild in an effort to lessen the chance of youngsters sustaining jousting injuries during mating season with the dominant buck in the pen, sort of like teenagers being kicked out of the house when they turn 18.
This young buck stayed in the vicinity of the captive rearing pens for more than a month after he was released. When 851 finally moved out to explore the world, he and another young buck became travelling buddies and wandered north to Gila Bend, crossing the Crater Mountains.
This is not typical behavior for these pronghorn. Buck 851 and his travelling companion crossed back and forth over State Route 85 several times…a dangerous highway for vehicles and an even more treacherous place for wildlife. Buck 851 and the other male stayed on the move, roaming around looking for their place in the world.
Eventually 851’s pal took off and joined a pronghorn herd on the Barry M. Goldwater Air Force Range, leaving the lonely buck to wander solo in search of a herd of his own. And wander he did.
Buck 851 went west, hoofing through about 40 miles of tough desert terrain along Interstate 8 towards Yuma. Still alone, he turned to the south, and crossed the border into Mexico.
Arizona Game and Fish staff, working together with officials in the State of Sonora, actually spotted 851 on a cooperative aerial survey with Mexico. After seeing the collar, the biologists were able to connect, download and update the GPS data.
The GPS tracking information filled in many details of 851’s travels. On repeated occasions he crossed the U.S.-Mexico Border Fence, which sports a substantial vehicle barrier, as well as Mexico Highway 2, which is known for its dangerous, heavy traffic. And for some reason, perhaps to gain a better vantage point where he could look for his own kind, 851 trekked up the brutally steep, rocky volcano Penacote Peak in Mexico.
As planned, 851’s collar fell off 18 months after he began his epic journey near Ajo. The GPS collars are designed to come off after a year and a half, when a buck’s growth brings greater girth to the neck and swelling when in the rut.
Although 851 is no longer transmitting daily GPS tweets, he has been spotted several times hanging out with a band of does west of Mexico Highway 8 about 30 miles north of Puerto Penasco (Rocky Point). It was a long journey, but at this point, it seems 851 has found a herd of his own and a place to call home.
At one point, only 21 Sonoran pronghorn were left in all the United States. Today, there are more than 100 in the wild. There are also 65 in captive breeding pens, many of which are about to fawn. Altogether, 851 traveled more than 200 miles alone in three months and crossed the Mexican border. Unique behavior and an epic journey that seems to have come to a happy ending.
The actual GPS data recorded on the map covered a three-month period between August and October in 2008 immediately following the release of 851.
The Sonoran pronghorn program is a joint effort between the Arizona Game and Fish Department and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The U.S. Border Patrol, Homeland Security, and the U.S. Air Force also continue to be good partners to the program. They report sightings, modify aerial gunnery practice when pronghorn are known to be near targets, and provide funding to help rebuild the Sonoran pronghorn herds.
Four public forums remain for fall hunt recommendations
The Arizona Game and Fish Department will host four upcoming public forums to meet with constituents to gather input on the 2012 fall hunt recommendations for deer, turkey, javelina, buffalo, bighorn sheep, bear, mountain lion, predator/furbearers, small game, and trapping.
The meetings will be held at these Game and Fish regional offices:
- Monday, March 5, from 3-5 p.m. at the Flagstaff regional office, 3500 S. Lake Mary Road
- Monday, March 5, from 6-8 p.m. at the Mesa regional office, 7200 E. University Drive
- Tuesday, March 6, from 7-9 p.m. at the Pinetop regional office, 2878 E. White Mountain Blvd.
- Thursday, March 8, from 6-8 p.m. at the Yuma regional office, 9140 E. 28th St.
Constituents who are interested in particular game management units within those regions will have the opportunity to discuss management direction.
“The meetings allow us to meet with sportsmen and other members of the public and discuss the direction for the recommendations based on survey data, harvest rates and the hunt guidelines, said Big Game Management Supervisor Amber Munig. “We won’t be proposing permit numbers at this point, but we will generally discuss where permit numbers might be headed. It’s a great way for people to stay informed and provide input into development of the recommendations.”
Previous forums were held on Feb. 22 in Tucson and Feb. 23 in Kingman.
After the public forums have been completed, the final proposed draft hunt recommendations will be made available for public review at several regional open houses and posted on the department’s website at www.azgfd.gov/huntguidelines (it is anticipated they will be posted by April 6, 2012).
Each year, the department makes recommendations to the Arizona Game and Fish Commission regarding the management of game species for the annual hunting and trapping regulations, which establish the seasons, dates, bag limits, open areas, and hunt permit-tag allocations based on the framework of the hunt guidelines set by the commission every two years.
The final fall hunt recommendations will be presented to the Arizona Game and Fish Commission for consideration during its April 14 meeting in Phoenix.
To learn more about the hunt recommendations and hunt guidelines processes, visit www.azgfd.gov/huntguidelines
