What is Order of the Antelope?
Brothers in conservation since 1932.
The Order of the Antelope (OOTA) started when a band of Lakeview men looked at Hart Mountain, looked at the pronghorn herd, and said, “Let’s fix this.” They bounced up wagon-rut “roads” for the first Trek with grit, humor, and a mission: protect the antelope and the mountain they call home.
Four years later, that passion helped set the stage for the creation of Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge, established on December 20, 1936 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt “…as a range and breeding ground for the antelope and other species of wildlife.” Today, refuge management focuses on conserving native wildlife and restoring high-desert ecosystems for everyone’s enjoyment, education, and appreciation.
Every year, Antelopers reunite on the mountain for the Annual Trek—a working reunion with handshakes, hard work, and a healthy dose of brotherhood. We’ve welcomed nearly 30,000 members in good standing since 1932, with plenty of repeat “offenders.”
- We fund annual big-game surveys—about $10,000 each year—to monitor pronghorn, mule deer, and bighorn sheep so managers have the science to back great decisions.
- We support the next generation with wildlife scholarships—because good stewards grow more good stewards.
- We boost Lake County with roughly $70,000 a year in local spending tied to the Trek.
- We get hands-on: planting trees, clearing brush, painting buildings, and tearing out miles of fence (pro tip: antelope don’t jump fences—they duck under them at speed).
Our Kind of Conservation
OOTA is boots-on-the-ground stewardship—elbows deep in real projects alongside refuge personnel, making Hart Mountain better for critters and visitors alike. It’s fellowship with a purpose: do the work, tell a few tall tales, and leave the mountain stronger than we found it.
Hart Mountain rises nearly three-quarters of a mile above Oregon’s Warner Valley in cliffs, ridges, and sweeping sagebrush country. The summit of Warner Peak tops out at 8,017 feet, while the low point near Bluejoint Lake sits at 4,470 feet. The west face is cut by dramatic gorges—Hart, Potter, and DeGarmo—while the east slopes down into rolling sagebrush-grasslands typical of the Great Basin.
This 278,000-acre refuge is home to more than 300 wildlife species, including pronghorn, California bighorn sheep, mule deer, greater sage-grouse, and redband trout. It is also one of the most expansive wildlife habitats in the arid West without domestic livestock.
We come to the mountain to work hard, laugh loud, and keep a promise made by our founders: protect the land, protect the herd, and raise a glass to both. We’re proud to be Antelopers—always have been, always will be.
Our Annual Trek and Tours
Once a year, we find our way back up the mountain for the Annual Trek. It’s not a vacation—it’s a return. We show up ready to work, catch up where we left off, and tend to what’s ours to take care of: fence lines that don’t fix themselves, trees that need a start, and a herd that depends on both. No speeches, no shortcuts—just good people putting in honest work to keep a wild place on its own terms.
It’s conservation the way we know it—earned the hard way, shoulder to shoulder, keeping wild country wild.
Tour information, pictures, and results will be posted near the Trek dates and after the Trek.
The Bloomer
To preserve and share the stories, spirit, and living history of the Order, our Grand Historian publishes a quarterly newsletter known as The Bloomer. These editions capture moments from the Mountain, reflections on our traditions, and accounts of Treks, gatherings, and milestones—serving as a written record of who we are, where we’ve been, and why the Order endures.
Our Partners in Conservation
The Order of the Antelope has long worked alongside organizations that share a commitment to conservation, stewardship, and the preservation of Oregon’s high desert landscapes. These partners play a vital role in protecting wildlife habitat, supporting education, and ensuring that places like Hart Mountain endure for future generations.
Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge
Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge was established in 1936 to provide a range for remnant antelope herds. Refuge management practices have since been broadened to include conservation of all wildlife and native plant species characteristic of this high-desert habitat. Public enjoyment, education and appreciation for the species and habitat found here is encouraged.
- Friends of Hart Mountain
- Oregon Hunters Association
