The study area for which pronghorn antelope were collared in is within the Grasslands Natural Region of Alberta within the 8 antelope management areas (Figure 1). The Grassland Natural Region of Alberta comprises approximately 14% of the province extending from the Saskatchewan border to the Rocky Mountains and from the southern edge of the Parklands to Montana. About 10 million acres (4 million ha) or 43% of the 24 million acres (9.7 million ha) comprising the Grassland Natural Region remain in a native state. Our study area falls within 3 of the 4 subregions ; dry mixedgrass, mixedgrass and the northern fescue. The dry mixedgrass is characterized by western wheatgrass (Agropyron smithii), blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis) and spear grass (Stipa comata), with brown chernozems and solonetzic soils, and few Chinooks. The mixedgrass subregion is characterized by northern wheat grass (Agropyron dasystachyum) and porcupine grass (Stipa curtiseta), dark brown chernozem soils, and is cooler and moist compared to the dry mixedgrass. The northern fescue subregion is characterized by oatgrass (Danthonia sp.), rough fescue (Festuca campestris) and Idaho fescue grasses (F. idahoensis), dark brown and black chernozem and few solonetzics soils, with milder winters. The major urban centers within our study area are Lethbridge and Medicine Hat in the southern and Brooks and Hanna in the northern regions.

Seven million acres (2.9 million ha) of native grasslands are under public ownership, while 4.5 million acres (1.8 million ha) are privately owned. Historically the primary cause of habitat loss has been conversion for cultivation. Pressures on the remaining native grasslands include increasing conversion for cultivation, grazing, oil and gas field development, roads and pipelines, rural acreage development, and urban expansion. Most native grasslands are used for livestock grazing. Public lands are leased to livestock producers who manage grazing intensity under a grazing lease agreement and leases are subject to inspection by Alberta Public Lands.