Numbers are continually better but I don't think we in our lifetimes will ever see the numbers of 30 yrs ago.
Three pieces of advice:
1. If you can see them they've already seen you.
2. They're closer than you think they are.
3. Leather gloves and knee protection or very thick plants for those tiny cactus needles.
BTW, antelope liver is the best by far IMO. Used to carry a pump up single burner and an alum. frypan for lunch in my pack while gutting/boning.
Definitely the coolest animal on the prairies. Hair horns over the eyes instead of top of skull, a mane, a beard, elf ears and believe it or not can reach down for a mouthful of grass while running.
Pretty cool animal.
One last thing. Small herds form bigger one's in coldest winter(from what I've seen 3-4 small herds into one), break up in spring, go solitary while calving, go back to their small territorial herds just before breeding(perhaps the bucks herd them up?), stay in the small territorial herds until coldest winter; from breeding to the large winter herds you'll see small bachelor herds as well.
The small herds seem to stay in an area of say 3-4 sq mi. and if you see them in two or three spots you'll see them in those same spots(assuming no htg pressure) They respond well to a call if you learn how to call them.
