South Stillwater Herd Management Area (HMA)
Location/Habitat:
Located in the Stillwater Mountain Range of Churchill County approximately 15 miles east of Fallon Nevada, this Herd Management Area (HMA) encompasses approximately 10,000 acres. The topography of the HMA is mountainous. Temperatures can exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit at lower elevations during July and August and can drop to as low as 0 degrees during December and January. Average annual precipitation is approximately 15 to 20 inches a year.
Vegetation:
Dominant vegetation consists of pinyon-pine, sagebrush, cheat grass, Indian ricegrass, pine bluegrass, Nevada bluegrass, Sandberg bluegrass, Thurber needlegrass, Idaho fescue and bottlebrush squirreltail.
Herd Description:
The appropriate management level for this HMA is 16 horses. Many of these animals are quite adept at negotiating rugged terrain because most of the terrain is steep and rocky. It is generally accepted that these horses originated from escaped ranch stock.
Because of the diverse topography and various habitat types, many species of wildlife exist within the HMA, including lizards, rodents, raptors (including prairie falcons and golden eagles), bighorn sheep, pronghorn antelope and mule deer.
Viewing Wild Horses:
Access to this HMA is limited to a very rough road, viewing opportunities are quite limited.
