An inhabitant of grasslands, sagebrush plains, deserts, and foothills; avoiding closed habitats with limited lines of sight. They range from near sea-level to 3,350 m (O'Gara 1999). Their need for free water varies with the succulence of the vegetation in their diet. Some populations undertake seasonal movements, sometimes moving as much as 160 km from their summering area (O'Gara 1978). They usually occur in small bands, but large winter herds disperse in spring. Forms separate bachelor and female-kid groups in spring and summer. Males associate with females in late summer and early fall. Breeding takes place mid-September to early October in the north, and from late July to early October in south.

In winter, northern populations depend heavily on browse, especially sagebrush; forbs are most important in summer. Southern populations use more forbs and less browse. They also take grasses, and, in some areas, cacti.

The Pronghorn occurs in western North America, from the southern Prairie Provinces of Canada (southern Alberta, southern Saskatchewan) through the western U.S. to northern Mexico (Baja California, Sonora, Hidalgo).

The Sonoran Pronghorn occurs in southwestern Arizona (USA) and northwestern Sonora (Mexico). The Baja California or Peninsular Pronghorn is endemic to Baja California (Mexico).

Pronghorn was introduced onto Lanai Island (Hawaii) in 1959, where it reached a population of about 250 in the mid-1960s; however, there were less than 12 in 1983 and it seemed headed for extinction (Tomich 1986).

Populations of the Sonoran Pronghorn in Arizona and Mexico are protected under the US Endangered Species Act (since 1967), and a recovery plan for this subspecies has been prepared by the USFWS (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1998). Mexican animals are listed on CITES Appendix I. Pronghorns have game-animal status in all of the western states of the United States, and permits are required to trap or shoot pronghorns. Both Sonoran and Baja Califronia Pronghorn subspecies are listed as Endangered by the USFWS.

This species occurs in a number of large and well-managed protected areas, including Yellowstone National Park.