In the early 1800's California's Central Valley possibly contained as dense a population of pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) as anywhere in the west. The discovery of gold and the resultant miners who used pronghorn for food, had a severe impact on this species. By 1923, California's pronghorn population was reduced to slightly over 1,000 animals. Within the next 15 to 20 years the San Joaquin and Southern desert populations had been extirpated, however populations in four northeastern counties had increased to an estimated 6.000-7,000 animals. The winter of 1951-1952 was severe and large losses of pronghorn occurred, so that by 1960 only 1,780 animals were counted during the winter census. Since then population growth has continued to increase to a 1986 estimate of 7,250 animals. The northeastern California pronghorn range has been divided into six herd units and population goals have been established for each herd. Herd sizes are controlled by harvesting or by relocating surplus animals.
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