2026 Red Desert Complex Herd Management Area Wild Horse Gather
During the gather, the BLM will temporarily close certain public lands within the HMA to public access. Please see Public Observation below.
Purpose of Gather:
This gather is being conducted to address significant wild horse overpopulation and protect rangeland health within the Antelope Hills, Crooks Mountain, Green Mountain, Lost Creek and Stewart Creek herd management areas.
Recent infrared aerial surveys confirm wild horse numbers far exceed the established appropriate management level of 480 to 720 horses within the Red Desert Complex. Current population estimates require gather operations to remove approximately 827 horses and return herd sizes to sustainable levels. A total of 931 horses will be gathered, with 104 horses planned to be returned to the range.
Without active management, wild horse herds can double in size every four to five years. Chronic overpopulation places horses and rangeland resources at risk as forage and water become scarce. Overpopulation can lead to starvation, thirst and injuries as horses search for limited resources, while also contributing to habitat degradation, reduced forage availability for other wildlife and long-term resource damage.
Details of Gather:
The planned gather will begin in fall 2026 within Wyoming's Red Desert Complex, which encompasses nearly 752,694 acres of mostly BLM-managed public land intermingled with private lands.
The BLM will use a combination of incremental gathers and ongoing fertility control treatments to achieve and maintain healthy wild horse populations and rangelands. During gather operations, staff plan to treat a percentage of the gathered mares with fertility control and release them back to the range.
BLM Staff and contractors will conduct gather operations in accordance with the Comprehensive Animal Welfare Program, which outlines science-based, humane handling requirements designed to safeguard wild horse health and safety. During gather operations, helicopter pilots and ground crews maintain a controlled approach to keep horses together and moving at a safe pace. Special caution is given to compromised animals, including foals and older animals. Upon arrival at designated holding facilities, the horses will be checked by a veterinarian and readied for the agency’s wild horse Adoption and Sales programs.
Public Observation:
The public is welcome to observe gather operations when conditions allow. The BLM will be offering public viewing from Oct. 15-19, 2026.
BLM's top priority is the safety of the public, the horses, BLM employees, contractors, and gather crews throughout gather operations.
Public viewing will be offered at locations that provide a safe environment for the horses, the public, BLM employees, contractors, and gather crews. Federal Aviation Administration requirements, weather, and gather operations will determine the location and availability of observation sites.
Observation is available by reservation only and is limited to 10-15 people per viewing day. Reservations will be accepted by email only at BLM_WY_Comms@blm.gov. Requests must be submitted no later than 12 p.m. the day prior to the public viewing day you wish to attend. In your reservation request, please state which calendar day(s) you prefer to attend so we can accommodate as many people as possible. Phone and voicemail reservations will not be accepted.
Reservations are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis according to the date and time the email is received. Individuals may request more than one viewing day; however, priority will be given to those who have not yet attended. Once everyone interested has had an opportunity to observe the gather, additional reservations may be accommodated as space allows.
Participants must receive confirmation before attending. A BLM representative will contact confirmed participants the day before their scheduled visit with meeting times, locations, and additional instructions.
The BLM will escort the public to gather observation sites located on public lands. Participants must provide their own transportation, water and food. The BLM recommends a four-wheel drive, high clearance vehicle.
Viewing opportunities may change or be canceled on short notice because of weather, changing gather locations, safety concerns, or operational needs.
Additional Information
Adoption Information:
All removed horses will be transported to an off-range holding facility located in Rock Springs, Wyoming. Upon arrival at the facility, they will be checked by a veterinarian and readied for the agency’s wild horse adoption and sale program. Please visit the BLM’s website at https://www.blm.gov/whb to learn more about adopting a wild horse or burro. If you're interested in volunteering, learn more here: Volunteering | Bureau of Land Management.
Background:
The Red Desert Complex includes the Antelope Hills, Crooks Mountain, Green Mountain, Lost Creek and Stewart Creek herd management areas and encompasses nearly 752,694 acres of mostly BLM-managed public land intermingled with private lands. The complex supports wild horses alongside native wildlife, livestock grazing and other uses.
The BLM manages wild horses under the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act while balancing other authorized public land uses, including wildlife habitat, livestock grazing, recreation, and energy development. Maintaining healthy horse populations within established management levels helps sustain healthy rangelands for all species that depend on them.
Additional information about the Red Desert Complex gather plan, including decision records and the environmental assessment, is available through the BLM National NEPA Register.
- Daily Gather Reports
Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026
Summary: (Gather status, temp and weather conditions)
Animals Gathered: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals)
Animals Shipped: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals)
Animals Released: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals)
Deaths: 0
- Sudden / Acute: 0
- Pre-existing / Chronic: 0
Gather Status
As of Oct. 15, 2026
*Updates will be posted by 10 a.m. MST the day after operations
Animals Gathered: 0
0 Wild Horses (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals)
Animals Shipped: 0
0 Wild Horses (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals)
Animals Released:
0 Wild Horses (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals)
Deaths: 0
-Sudden / Acute: 0
-Pre-existing / Chronic: 0
Scroll to the bottom of this gather page for detailed “Daily Gather Reports"