The Callaghan Herd Management Area (HMA) is located approximately six miles north of Austin, Nevada. The area is approximately 156,229 acres in size and is 16 miles wide and 28 miles long. The HMA shares its north boundary with the Bald Mountain HMA, and contains a portion of the north-south trending Toiyabe Range. Elevations range from 10,200 feet at Mt. Callaghan, to 6,500 feet in Grass Valley to the east of the mountains and the Reese River Valley to the west. The mountain range is dissected by canyons and streams.

 

During the capture of wild horses, conducted from February 6, through February 22, 1997, a total of 1,412 horses were captured within and outside the boundaries of the Callaghan HMA. Of the total captured 1,074 of the horses were shipped to Palomino Valley Center north of Sparks, Nevada for preparation into the adoption program. The remainder, ages 10 to 23 years old, were released back inside the Callaghan HMA. 

 

The most recent gather was completed in August 2002. A total of 1,014 wild horses were captured, and 147 released back to the range. The remainder were transported to the Palomino Valley Center for inclusion into the National Adoption Program.

 

The animals that were captured in the Callaghan HMA are relatively large in size. Although most of the animals captured were bay (37%) brown (23%) and sorrel (17%), some paint (pinto), buckskin, grulla (mouse color), dun and Appaloosa horses were captured from the area. A few curly horses were also captured.  

 

The current population of the Callaghan HMA according to estimates from a 2005 census are 786 wild horses. A gather to achieve the AML is currently being planned for winter 2008 or 2009.