A hand-held net gun was used to capture pronghorns (Antilocapra americana) on the Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site (PCMS) in southeastern Colorado. Eighteen adult pronghorns were captured successfully during April and December 1984 and March 1985. Two of 20 pronghorns (10%) captured or pursued for capture died of injuries. Capture myopathy (CM) was not obvious during our operations. The net gun proved to be a useful tool for capturing individual pronghorns under certain conditions. Rapid processing of captured animals, experienced pilots and gunner, small herds (3-12 individuals), and open grassland habitats all contributed to the success of this technique. J. WILDL. MANAGE. 50(2):320-322 Free-ranging pronghorn antelope have been captured in corral type traps, linear tangle nets, drop nets, and cannon nets (Amstrup et al. 1980, Moody et al. 1982). These methods are time consuming, labor intensive, and nonselective with respect to age and sex (Barrett et al. 1982). Drug immobilization of pronghorns can be selective but is limited by the effectiveness of available drugs (Copeland et al. 1978, Amstrup et al. 1980) and generally high mortality rates (10-19%) (Amstrup and Segerstrom 1981, Autenrieth et al. 1981). Barrett et al. (1982) described the use of a hand-held net gun for capturing large mammals including pronghorns. Of the 5 pronghorns captured by Barrett et al. (1982), 1 of 3 adult females broke its leg and both fawns captured developed acute metabolic stress; no adult males were captured. They concluded that pronghorns are captured easily with this technique; however, considerable effort may be required to reduce CM and losses from trauma. We evaluated the hand-held net gun for capturing pronghorns and suggest ways to reduce stress and injury related mortality. This work was funded by the U.S. Army, Environ., Energy and Nat. Resour. Div., Fort Carson, Colo.; the U.S. Fish and Wildl. Serv., Va. Coop. Fish and Wildl. Res. Unit; the U.S. Fish and Wildl. Serv., Fish and Wildl. Assist. Off., Golden, Colo.; and the Virginia Polytech. Inst. and State Univ., Dep. Fish. and Wildl. Sci. We thank C. Nobles and the other pilots, the support of Alpha and Delta Co., 4th Aviation Battalian, Fort Carson, Colo., and the field assistance of E. Gese. METHODS During April and December 1984 and March 1985 pronghorns were captured on the PCMS in southeastern Colorado using a hand-held net gun (Coda Enterprises, Mesa, Ariz.). (Reference to this trade name does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Fish and Wildl. Serv.) The maneuver site consists of flat to rolling short grass prairie with pinyon pine (Pinus edulis)-one-seed juniper (Juniperus monosperma) woodlands scattered throughout. All captures were executed from a UH-1 (Bell 212) military helicopter. Pilots and gunner had experience in the net-gun capture of mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) and coyotes (Canis latrans). Pronghorn herds were hazed until they lined out in single file. A low approach was made, and one of the trailing animals was shot. After a successful shot the aircraft landed and processing began in 530 seconds. All captured animals were aged, eartagged, radiocollared, and released in <10 minutes. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Eighteen (11 male and 7 female) adult pronghorns were captured successfully using a hand-held net gun during 3 capture operations on t e PCMS, Colorado (Table 1). Twenty-two capture attempts were unsuccessful. Temperatures ranged from 7 to 24 C during the gunning, and snow was not present to slow the animals' movement. Mean pursuit time for successful attempts ( = 3.75 min) was less (P < 0.05) than mean pursuit time for unsuccessful attempts (9 = 5.75).