BLM to begin a Fish Creek Herd Management Area Wild Horse Gather

BATTLE MOUNTAIN, Nev. – The Bureau of Land Management plans to begin a wild horse gather on or about Jan. 6, 2025, in and around the Fish Creek Herd Management Area (HMA) using the helicopter-assisted method.

The Fish Creek HMA is located in Eureka County, Nevada and encompasses the east side of Antelope Valley, the Mahogany Hills, Fish Creek Range and a portion of the Antelope Range. The gather will be focused on 230,675 acres of the HMA, south of U.S. Highway 50 with an established Appropriate Management Level of 101-170 wild horses. The estimated, 2024 post-foaling population of the Fish Creek HMA is 245 wild horses according to an analysis completed following the Spring 2024 helicopter inventory.

“So much is at stake when it comes to land management including wild horses and competition with other plants and animals in this desert habitat,” said Sam Ault, Mount Lewis Field Manager. “Public safety and the safety of our team members is foremost in everything we do as stewards of America’s natural resources.”

The goal for the gather is to achieve the low AML of 101 wild horses in the HMA and no wild horses outside the HMA boundaries. To accomplish this, BLM would gather wild horses on BLM lands adjacent to and within the Fish Creek HMA boundaries. Of those gathered animals, approximately 144 excess wild horses would be removed and transported to the Winnemucca Off Range Corral, located in Winnemucca, NV. Upon arrival to the facility, all animals will be checked by a veterinarian and readied for the BLM’s wild horse and burro Adoption and Sales Program. BLM would release fertility-control treated mares and studs back to the range.  

The purpose of the gather is to prevent undue or unnecessary degradation of the public lands associated with excess wild horses and restore a thriving natural ecological balance and multiple-use relationship on public lands, consistent with the provisions of Section 1333(b) of the 1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act. By balancing herd size with what the land can support and avoiding an overpopulation of wild horses on the range, the BLM aims to protect the habitat for other wildlife species such as sage grouse, pronghorn antelope, mule deer and elk.

The BLM’s priority is to conduct safe, efficient, and successful wild horse gather operations while ensuring humane care and treatment of all animals gathered. The BLM and its contractors are committed to using the best available science and handling practices for wild horses and burros while meeting overall gather goals and objectives in accordance with the Comprehensive Animal Welfare Program.

Members of the public are welcome to view the gather operations, provided that doing so does not jeopardize the safety of the animals, staff and observers, or disrupt gather operations. The BLM will escort the public to gather observation sites located on public lands. Once gather operations have begun, those wanting to view gather operations must RSVP by calling nightly at (775) 931-3690 before 5 p.m. (Pacific) to receive specific instructions on each days’ meeting location and time.

The gather is being conducted under the DOI-BLM-NV-B010-2025-0001-DNA 2025 Fish Creek Herd Management Area Wild Horse Gather and Population Management signed on Dec. 20, 2024.  The decision record can be accessed at the national NEPA register at 2025 Fish Creek Herd Management Area Wild Horse Gather and Population Management

Gather reports and additional information will be posted on the BLM website at BLM Nevada Gathers and Removals. For technical information contact the Wild Horse and Burro Specialist, Shawna Richardson at 775-635-4181.

For information on how to adopt or purchase a wild horse or burro, visit Wild Horse and Burro Program.