BLM to conduct Muddy Creek wild horse gather in Emery County
PRICE, Utah — Continued drought conditions including a lack of forage, available water, and an overpopulation of wild horses is prompting the Bureau of Land Management to initiate an emergency removal of excess horses from areas in and around the Muddy Creek Herd Management Area (HMA) in Emery County. Conditions are so severe this year that body conditions of individual horses and the long-term health and welfare of the population is at risk, resulting in a gather that is planned to start on July 10, 2025. The gather is expected to last approximately seven days.
The gather will help balance the number of horses to what the rangeland can sustainably support, known as the appropriate management level (AML). The AML within the Muddy Creek HMA is 75 to 125 animals; the current population is estimated at over 400 wild horses. Even though the gather will not reduce the population down to the established AML, it will help the long-term survival of both horses and the habitat they depend upon during these current drought conditions.
The BLM will gather approximately 150 wild horses from BLM and State of Utah-administered lands using the helicopter drive-trapping method. Horses removed from the range will be transported to the Axtell Wild Horse Contract Off-Range Corral/Pasture in Axtell, Utah.
Opportunities are available for the public to observe daily gather operations through BLM-escorted tours, as long as conditions remain safe for both the horses and participants and gather operations are not disrupted. Observers must provide their own transportation, water, and food. No public restrooms will be available. The BLM recommends weather-appropriate footwear and neutral-colored clothing. Binoculars and four-wheel drive or other high-clearance vehicles are also strongly recommended. Details on the BLM-escorted tours will be updated each evening during the gather and announced daily on the BLM gather hotline at 801-539-4050.
Gather operations will begin on Thursday, July 10, 2025. Individuals who wish to view the gather will have to meet for daily escorted tours at Interstate I-70, Exit 131 - Temple Mountain Road, at the kiosk on the south side of the exit, departing at 5:30 a.m.
Public lands will remain open unless closures are deemed necessary to protect public safety. Outdoor recreationists and visitors to the gather area should be aware that there will be low-flying helicopters. During the gather, no recreational use of drones is allowed in the Muddy Creek HMA and surrounding lands within the San Rafael Swell region south of I-70 from the McKay Flat area, west to the Cathedral Valley scenic byway where wild horses may be found. Brief road closures may also be needed to allow movement of horses during gather operations.
Gather updates and information will be posted on the BLM’s website at https://www.blm.gov/programs/wild-horse-and-burro/herd-management/gathers-and-removals/utah. The BLM “X” account (@BLMUtah) will post updates using the hashtag #SulphurGather. To learn more about how to adopt or purchase a wild horse or burro, visit the BLM National Wild Horse and Burro website at www.blm.gov/whb or call 866-468-7826. For additional information, please contact Lisa Reid at 435-743-3128.
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.