2023 Black Mountain, Hardtrigger and Sands Basin Wild Horse Gather
Purpose of Gather:
The BLM Owyhee Field Office is implementing a 10-year plan for the wild horse populations within the Black Mountain, Hardtrigger and Sands Basin Herd Management Areas (HMA). The purpose of the gather is to maintain the number of wild horses within the Appropriate Management Level by removing excess animals and reduce population growth by treating mares with a fertility control vaccine. This will ultimately prevent undue or unnecessary degradation of the BLM-managed 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 3(b)(2) of the 1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act. Wild horses will be gathered using the helicopter-assisted method.
The BLM’s priority is to conduct safe, efficient and successful wild horse and burro 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.
Details of Gather:
The three Herd Management Areas encompass more than 128,000 acres of BLM-managed public, state and private lands in southwestern Idaho, and combined, have an Appropriate Management Level of 129-254 wild horses. The Black Mountain and Hardtrigger areas are adjacent to one another, located between Murphy and Marsing. Sands Basin is situated about ten miles southwest of Marsing.
The BLM plans to gather approximately 220 wild horses, remove approximately 142 excess wild horses and treat up to 38 mares with GonaCon Equine, a population suppression fertility control vaccine. Following treatment, these 38 mares will be released back to the range, along with up to 40 stallions.
Public Observation:
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. Due to the topography of the area, parking space is limited. Viewing may be reserved on a first-come, first-serve basis. Once signed up and confirmed, an e-mail with instructions including meeting time and location will be sent. To sign up, email BLM_ID_WHG@blm.gov before Sept. 5, 2023, and be prepared to give your name, phone number and number of people in your party.
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 call the gather hotline nightly by 5:30 p.m. MT at 208-735-2077 to RSVP. Registrants will receive specific instructions on each days’ meeting location and time.
Adoption Information:
All animals identified for removal will be transported to the BLM Boise Wild Horse Off-Range Corral, located just off South Pleasant Valley Road in Boise. 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.
Background:
In 2015, these HMAs were gathered on an emergency basis, due to the impacts of the Soda Fire.
- Daily Gather Reports
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Wednesday, September 6
Summary: (Gather took place in the Black Mountain Herd Management Area. Weather conditions were sunny and breezy, with temperatures mostly in the 70's)
Animals Gathered: 24 (13 Stallions, 5 Mares, and 6 Foals)
Animals Shipped: 23 (13 Stallions, 5 Mares, and 5 Foals)
Animals Treated with Fertility Control: (0 Stallions, 0 Mares)
- GonaCon: 0 (0 Mares)Animals Released: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals)
Deaths: 1
- Sudden / Acute: 1
- Pre-existing / Chronic: 0
Foal was caught among adult horses spinning to exit the trap prior to gates being closed; foal broke its neck likely from an impact with another horse.
Thursday, September 7
Summary: (Gather took place in the Black Mountain Herd Management Area. Weather conditions were sunny, with temperatures mostly in the 70's)
Animals Gathered: 64 (18 Stallions, 29 Mares, and 17 Foals)
Animals Shipped: 64 (18 Stallions, 29 Mares, and 17 Foals)
Animals Treated with Fertility Control: (0 Stallions, 0 Mares)
- GonaCon: 0 (0 Mares)Animals Released: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals)
Deaths: 0
- Sudden / Acute: 0
- Pre-existing / Chronic: 0
Friday, September 8
Summary: (Gather took place in the Hardtrigger Herd Management Area. Weather conditions were sunny, with temperatures mostly in the 70's)
Animals Gathered: 89 (26 Stallions, 39 Mares, and 24 Foals)
Animals Shipped: 89 (26 Stallions, 39 Mares, and 24 Foals)
Animals Treated with Fertility Control: (0 Stallions, 0 Mares)
- GonaCon: 0 (0 Mares)Animals Released: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals)
Deaths: 0
- Sudden / Acute: 0
- Pre-existing / Chronic: 0
Saturday, September 9
Summary: (Gather took place in the Hardtrigger Herd Management Area. Weather conditions were sunny, with temperatures mostly in the 70's)
Animals Gathered: 24 (11 Stallions, 8 Mares, and 5 Foals)
Animals Shipped: 24 (11 Stallions, 8 Mares, and 5 Foals)
Animals Treated with Fertility Control: (0 Stallions, 0 Mares)
- GonaCon: 0 (0 Mares)Animals Released: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals)
Deaths: 0
- Sudden / Acute: 0
- Pre-existing / Chronic: 0
Sunday, September 10
Summary: (Gather took place in the Sands Basin Herd Management Area. Weather conditions were sunny, with temperatures mostly in the 70's)
Animals Gathered: 14 (3 Stallions, 6 Mares, and 5 Foals)
Animals Shipped: 14 (3 Stallions, 6 Mares, and 5 Foals)
Animals Treated with Fertility Control: (0 Stallions, 0 Mares)
- GonaCon: 0 (0 Mares)Animals Released: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals)
Deaths: 0
- Sudden / Acute: 0
- Pre-existing / Chronic: 0
Monday, September 11
Summary: (Gather took place in the Black Mountain Herd Management Area. Weather conditions were sunny, with temperatures mostly in the 70's)
Animals Gathered: 14 (3 Stallions, 6 Mares, and 5 Foals)
Animals Shipped: 14 (3 Stallions, 6 Mares, and 5 Foals)
Animals Treated with Fertility Control: (0 Stallions, 0 Mares)
- GonaCon: 0 (0 Mares)Animals Released: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals)
Deaths: 0
- Sudden / Acute: 0
- Pre-existing / Chronic: 0
Gather Status
Animals Gathered: 229
229 Wild Horses (74 Stallions, 93 Mares, and 62 Foals)
Animals Shipped: 214
228 Wild Horses (74 Stallions, 93 Mares, and 61 Foals)
Animals Treated with Fertility Control: 0
0 Wild Horses (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals)
GonaCon: 0 (0 Mares)
Animals Released:
0 Wild Horses (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals)
Deaths: 1
-Sudden / Acute: 1
-Pre-existing / Chronic: 0
Scroll to the bottom of this gather page for detailed “Daily Gather Reports"