Roberts Mountain HMA

The animals in the Roberts Mountain HMA vary in color and confirmation, but are generally some of the larger horses within the Shoshone-Eureka Planning Area. Many of the horses are bay, brown, buckskin and roan in color. There are several paint horses (pinto) in this HMA, in addition to sorrel, dun, white, black, palomino, chestnut and gray. There are also a few Curly horses in the area.

Location: The Roberts Mountain Herd Management Area (HMA) is located approximately 30 miles northwest of Eureka, Nevada, in Eureka County. 

Size: The area consists of 99,321 acres of BLM land and 667 acres of a mix of private and other public lands for a total of 99,988 acres.

Topography/Vegetation: The Roberts Mountain Herd Management Area (HMA) eastern boundary is shared with the Whistler Mountain HMA, spanning approximately 17 miles long and 10 miles wide. The terrain within the area varies from level valleys to high mountains, with elevations ranging from 5,500 to 7,500 feet. The terrain across most of the Shoshone-Eureka Planning Area managed by the Battle Mountain Field Office is typical of the Great Basin region with steep north and south trending mountain ranges separated by large sweeping valley bottoms.

Temperatures range in excess of 100 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer to less than 20 degrees below zero in the winter. Precipitation is in short supply with an annual total of only 5 to 16 inches. Nevada is the driest state in the nation with the least amount of annual rainfall and the lowest amount of surface water. In addition to wild horses, the HMA is often utilized by domestic cattle and domestic sheep. Wildlife species occurring in the area include mule deer, sage grouse, chukar, coyotes, mountain lions, bobcats, pronghorn antelope and numerous other small mammals, birds, and reptiles.

Vegetation types are distributed according to topography and elevation and the associated precipitation. Within the highest elevations, and subsequently the greatest precipitation, the
vegetation consists primarily of pinyon-pine and juniper trees, mountain-mahogany and low sagebrush. The lower and drier elevations consist of saltbush, greasewood, sagebrush and a variety of annual and perennial grasses and wildflowers. In some areas it can take 25 acres to support one horse for one month.

Wildlife: In addition to wild horses, the HMA is often utilized by domestic cattle and domestic sheep. Wildlife species occurring in the area include mule deer, sage grouse, chukar, coyotes, mountain lions, bobcats, pronghorn antelope and numerous other small mammals, birds, and reptiles.

AML:  90-150