Some 213 antelope have been trapped on Parker Mountain and relocated to other areas of the state by the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources.
The selection was made after the animals were herded into a corral with a helicopter. Several state and federal agencies were involved in the transfer program, including Wildlife Resources, the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management.Most of the animals were taken to Rush Valley south of Tooele where the wildlife division is establishing an antelope herd. Others were transferred to Nevada in an exchange program with that state for Desert Bighorn sheep.
The state has traded pronghorn antelope for bighorn sheep and turkeys for several years. Wildlife Resources officials said the exchange program has helped reintroduce wild turkeys to many areas of the state and expand the bighorn sheep population.
The Parker Mountain antelope herd has done well and increased rapidly since the first pronghorns were introduced there years ago. There is evidence that they thrived there when American Indians roamed the land.
However, there are still remnants of rock fences that were built, apparently to trap the animals. The pronghorns ultimately disappeared for many years until they were reintroduced to the area.