BLM to Begin the 2026 Lahontan Herd Management Area Wild Horse Gather
CARSON CITY, Nev. – On or about July 20, 2026, the Carson City District plans to begin a wild horse gather in and around the Lahontan Herd Management Area (HMA) located in Lyon and Churchill counties about 35 miles east of Carson City, Nevada, using the helicopter drive-trap method. The gather is tentatively scheduled to proceed through August 9, 2026.
The Lahontan HMA, which is 9,687 acres of public land has an appropriate management level of 7 to 10 wild horses. The gather area (Project) would include approximately 239,431 acres within and outside the HMA. Based on a helicopter survey conducted in March 2024 and estimated population growth since then, there will be approximately 809 wild horses within and outside the HMA. The BLM plans to gather and remove approximately 700 excess wild horses.
The purpose of the gather is to prevent undue or unnecessary degradation of the public lands associated with excess wild horses and to 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. This action is also necessary to reduce overpopulation of wild horses and burros within and outside the HMA, where there currently is not enough water to support the number of horses in the region, and to prevent further degradation of public lands by balancing herd size.
By balancing herd size with what the land can support, the BLM aims to protect habitat for other wildlife species such as migratory birds, pronghorn antelope, and mule deer. Removing excess wild horses and burros supports significant progress toward achieving the Standards for Rangeland Health identified by the Sierra Front-Northern Great Basin Resource Advisory Council.
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.
All animals identified for removal will be transported to the Palomino Valley Off-Range Corrals, located in Reno, Nevada. 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.
The public lands within a five-mile radius surrounding drive trap sites and temporary holding facilities will be temporarily closed to all forms of public access and all public lands within the gather area will be closed to camping in accordance with 43 C.F.R. § 8364.1 to ensure that the gather is effective and safe for wild horses, BLM personnel and contractors, and members of the public which are escorted in by BLM to the public observation viewing location. However, the BLM will provide public observation opportunities during the gather. 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 be offering public viewing from July 20 – 30, 2026. If gather operations are extended beyond July 30, 2026, public viewing will again be available from August 1 - 4, 2026 and August 7 – 8, 2026. The BLM will escort the public to gather observation sites located on public lands. This is to protect public health and safety while supporting safe and efficient wild horse gather operations to ensure humane care and treatment of all animals captured. Once gather operations have begun, those wanting to view gather operations must RSVP by calling (775) 625-0440 by 5 PM the night before they want to observe gather operations. You will receive a callback with specific instructions on each day’s meeting location and time by 9 PM.
The NEPA and gather documents can be viewed on the BLM National NEPA Registry.
Daily gather reports and additional information will be posted on the gather website. For technical information, contact Holley Kline, Supervisory Natural Resource Specialist at (775) 885- 6000.
For information on how to adopt or purchase a wild horse or burro, visit www.blm.gov/whb.
The BLM manages about 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.