North Dakota wildlife officials are anticipating a potential drop in antelope numbers across the state. However, they won’t know for sure until the summer survey, which began last week, is completed. Pilots will fly over western North Dakota to count antelope – but how many they find determines how many survived a rough winter. While the survey will take about two weeks to conduct, North Dakota Game and Fish Department (NDGFD) supervisors “admit antelope numbers will likely be down,” according to KX News.

To date, antelope season is still set for Oct. 6 even though the portal for hunters to apply for the upcoming season is still closed. NDGFD hopes that they won’t have to cancel the season. If they do, it will be the first time in over 10 years.

“Last year was the first year we were finally able to expand to the entire state, so it took a long time for us to get back to that point where we could open up all the units and so now after one bad winter, we’ll see how much of a hit we take,” said Bill Haase, NDGFD Assistant Wildlife Division Chief.

Were you planning on hunting antelope in North Dakota this fall?

Stay tuned to GOHUNT for further updates