Wild horses in the Antelope Herd Management Area (2021)

2023 Antelope Complex-South Wild Horse Gather

The Bureau of Land Management’s Ely District, Bristlecone Field Office concluded the wild horse gather on July 25, 2023.

Purpose of Gather:

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. Removing excess animals would also enable significant progress toward achieving the Standards for Rangeland Health identified by the Northeastern Great Basin Resource Advisory Council.

Details of Gather:

The BLM will utilize the services of a helicopter contractor to gather and remove up to 1,107 excess wild horses. The BLM will treat up to 15 previously treated mares in the Water Canyon area with the population suppression vaccine GonaCon Equine and release them back to the range. The mares are part of the 10-year Water Canyon Wild Horse Growth Suppression Pilot Program that provides the BLM the opportunity to determine the effectiveness of GonaCon Equine on a small group of wild horses in a controlled environment with the possibility of expanded usage in future years, depending on the program’s results. During the gather, the BLM will collect information on herd characteristics and determine herd health.

Public Observation:

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 anticipates that viewing opportunities will begin on or about July 9, 2023, weather and logistics permitting. Please review the "Know Before You Go" and "Visitation Protocol and Ground Rules" documents, located on the right-hand side of this page, before planning to attend.

All media and/or visitors wanting to attend gather operations as an observer must call the “2023 Antelope Complex-South Wild Horse Gather information hotline” at 775-861-6700 for daily meeting times. A Public Affairs Officer and/or a Law Enforcement Officer will meet the public each morning at the pre-determined meeting location to escort the group to and from the gather observation and/or holding sites. Observers must provide their own transportation. The BLM recommends a four-wheel drive, high clearance vehicle with spare tires and extra can of gas. 

Adoption Information:

Horses identified for removal will be transported to the Palomino Valley Wild Horse and Burro Center, in Reno, Nev., where they will be checked by a veterinarian and readied for the BLM’s wild horse and burro adoption program. Those that are not placed into a new home will be cared for in off-range pastures, where they live off the rest of their lives on grass pastures. For information on how to adopt a wild horse, visit www.blm.gov/whb.

Background:

The Antelope and Antelope Valley Herd Management Areas (HMA)s, about 50 miles north of Ely, Nev., are in the Ely and Elko Districts on public lands administered by the Bristlecone and Wells field offices. The gather may also take place in areas outside the HMAs where wild horses have moved in search of food and water and are creating a public safety hazard by traveling across roads and highways.

The current population estimate for the Antelope and Antelope Valley HMAs is 2,122 wild horses, excluding the 2023 foal crop. The Antelope HMA has an Appropriate Management Level (AML) of 150-324 wild horses. The Antelope Valley HMA (east of U.S. Highway 93) has an AML of 37 wild horses. AML is the level at which wild horse populations are consistent with the land’s capacity to support them and other mandated uses of those lands, including protecting ecological processes and habitat for other resources.

Access the Antelope and Triple B Complexes Gather Plan decision record and determination of National Environmental Policy Act adequacy at https://bit.ly/42rqNJF.

Access the Water Canyon Wild Horse Growth Suppression Pilot Program decision record and determination of National Environmental Policy Act adequacy at https://bit.ly/44NfVaH.

For more information on the Wild Horse and Burro Program, call 1-866-468-7826 or email wildhorse@blm.gov

Daily Gather Reports

Wednesday, July 26

Summary: Gather operations concluded Tuesday afternoon, July 25. Horses were transported today, Wednesday, July 26, to Palomino Valley Wild Horse and Burro Center.

Animals Gathered: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals)

Animals Shipped: 38 (19 Stallions, 14 Mares, and 5 Foals)

Animals Treated with Fertility Control: 0
- GonaCon: 0 Mares

Animals Released: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals)

Deaths: 0

- Sudden / Acute: 0

- Pre-existing / Chronic: 0

 

Tuesday, July 25

Summary: Gather continued under partly cloudy skies with 5-15 mph winds and temperatures 81 to 87 degrees.

Animals Gathered: 36 (18 Stallions, 14 Mares, and 4 Foals)

Animals Shipped: 36 (26 Stallions, 10 Mares, and 0 Foals)

Animals Treated with Fertility Control: 0
- GonaCon: 0 Mares

Animals Released: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals)

Deaths: 1

- Sudden / Acute: 0

- Pre-existing / Chronic: 1

20+ year old Bay stallion; Death (Chronic/Pre-existing); Humanely euthanized due to missing left eye.

 

Monday, July 24

Summary: Gather operations paused for equipment maintenance. 

Animals Gathered: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals)

Animals Shipped: 82 (24 Stallions, 42 Mares, and 16 Foals)

Animals Treated with Fertility Control: 0
- GonaCon: 0 Mares

Animals Released: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals)

Deaths: 0

- Sudden / Acute: 0

- Pre-existing / Chronic: 0

 

Sunday, July 23

Summary: Gather continued under cloudy skies with 5-20 mph winds and temperatures 68 to 95 degrees. Gather operations stopped at 1 p.m. due to temperature.

Animals Gathered: 94 (31 Stallions, 47 Mares, and 16 Foals)

Animals Shipped: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals)

Animals Treated with Fertility Control: 0
- GonaCon: 0 Mares

Animals Released: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals)

Deaths: 0

- Sudden / Acute: 0

- Pre-existing / Chronic: 0

 

Saturday, July 22

Summary: Gather continued under sunny skies with 5-10 mph winds and temperatures 68 to 84 degrees.

Animals Gathered: 14 (7 Stallions, 6 Mares, and 1 Foal)

Animals Shipped: 83 (39 Stallions, 33 Mares, and 11 Foals)

Animals Treated with Fertility Control: 0
- GonaCon: 0 Mares

Animals Released: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals)

Deaths: 0

- Sudden / Acute: 0

- Pre-existing / Chronic: 0

 

Friday, July 21

Summary: Gather continued under sunny skies with 5-10 mph winds and temperatures 62 to 94 degrees.

Animals Gathered: 69 (25 Stallions, 33 Mares, and 11 Foals)

Animals Shipped: 39 (0 Stallions, 29 Mares, and 10 Foals)

Animals Treated with Fertility Control: 0
- GonaCon: 0 Mares

Animals Released: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals)

Deaths: 2

- Sudden / Acute: 1

- Pre-existing / Chronic: 1

20 year old Sorrel mare; Death (Acute/Unexpected); lameness, left rear leg

Sorrel foal (male); Death (Chronic/Pre-existing); club footed, both front feet

 

Thursday, July 20

Summary: Gather continued under sunny skies with 5-10 mph winds and temperatures 62 to 89 degrees.

Animals Gathered: 68 (28 Stallions, 30 Mares, and 10 Foals)

Animals Shipped: 34 (14 Stallions, 15 Mares, and 5 Foals)

Animals Treated with Fertility Control: 0
- GonaCon: 0 Mares

Animals Released: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals)

Deaths: 0

- Sudden / Acute: 0

- Pre-existing / Chronic: 0

 

Wednesday, July 19

Summary: Gather continued under sunny skies with 5-10 mph winds and temperatures 65 to 84 degrees.

Animals Gathered: 28 (8 Stallions, 14 Mares, and 6 Foals)

Animals Shipped: 125 (37 Stallions, 59 Mares, and 29 Foals)

Animals Treated with Fertility Control: 0
- GonaCon: 0 Mares

Animals Released: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals)

Deaths: 0

- Sudden / Acute: 0

- Pre-existing / Chronic: 0

 

Tuesday, July 18

Summary: Gather continued under overcast skies with 5-10 mph winds and temperatures 65 to 86 degrees.

Animals Gathered: 119 (39 Stallions, 54 Mares, and 26 Foals)

Animals Shipped: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals)

Animals Treated with Fertility Control: 0
- GonaCon: 0 Mares

Animals Released: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals)

Deaths: 0

- Sudden / Acute: 0

- Pre-existing / Chronic: 0

 

Monday, July 17

Summary: Gather continued under sunny skies with 10-20 mph winds and temperatures 64 to 86 degrees. Gather operations stopped at 8:30 a.m. due to wind.

Animals Gathered: 12 (2 Stallions, 7 Mares, and 3 Foals)

Animals Shipped: 36 (13 Stallions, 17 Mares, and 6 Foals)

Animals Treated with Fertility Control: 0
- GonaCon: 0 Mares

Animals Released: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals)

Deaths: 0

- Sudden / Acute: 0

- Pre-existing / Chronic: 0

 

Sunday, July 16

Summary: Gather continued under sunny skies with 5-10 mph winds and temperatures 61 to 94 degrees. Gather operations stopped at 10:30 a.m. due to temperature.

Animals Gathered: 36 (13 Stallions, 16 Mares, and 7 Foals)

Animals Shipped: 89 (26 Stallions, 42 Mares, and 21 Foals)

*One leppy foal; taken to foster.

Animals Treated with Fertility Control: 0
- GonaCon: 0 Mares

Animals Released: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals)

Deaths: 2

- Sudden / Acute: 2

- Pre-existing / Chronic: 0

3 year old Roan stallion died unexpectedly: fractured neck.

10 year old Palomino mare died unexpectedly: fractured neck.

 

Saturday, July 15

Summary: Gather continued under sunny skies with 5-10 mph winds and temperatures 59 to 94 degrees.

Animals Gathered: 91 (28 Stallions, 43 Mares, and 20 Foals)

Animals Shipped: 170 (58 Stallions, 74 Mares, and 38 Foals)

Animals Treated with Fertility Control: 0
- GonaCon: 0 Mares

Animals Released: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals)

Deaths: 1

- Sudden / Acute: 0

- Pre-existing / Chronic: 1

Sorrel foal died due to preexisting condition: umbilical hernia.

 

Friday, July 14

Summary: Gather continued under sunny skies with 5-10 mph winds and temperatures 61 to 90 degrees.

Animals Gathered: 149 (38 Stallions, 72 Mares, and 39 Foals)

Animals Shipped: 43 (0 Stallions, 28 Mares, and 15 Foals)

Animals Treated with Fertility Control: 0
- GonaCon: 0 Mares

Animals Released: 1 (0 Stallions, 1 Mare, and 0 Foals)

*1 mare jumped out at trap site.

Deaths: 1

- Sudden / Acute: 1

- Pre-existing / Chronic: 0

6 year old Sorrel mare died unexpectedly: fractured neck.

 

Thursday, July 13

Summary: Gather continued under sunny skies with 10-15 mph winds and temperatures 56 to 91 degrees.

Animals Gathered: 66 (19 Stallions, 31 Mares, and 16 Foals)

Animals Shipped: 75 (39 Stallions, 22 Mares, and 14 Foals)

Animals Treated with Fertility Control: 0
- GonaCon: 0 Mares

Animals Released: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals)

Deaths: 1

- Sudden / Acute: 1

- Pre-existing / Chronic: 0

Sorrel foal died of dehydration: scours.

 

Wednesday, July 12

Summary: Gather continued under sunny skies with 10-15 mph winds and temperatures 58 to 92 degrees.

Animals Gathered: 55 (19 Stallions, 22 Mares, and 14 Foals)

Animals Shipped: 45 (0 Stallions, 28 Mares, and 17 Foals)

Animals Treated with Fertility Control: 0
- GonaCon: 0 Mares

Animals Released: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals)

Deaths: 0

- Sudden / Acute: 0

- Pre-existing / Chronic: 0

 

Tuesday, July 11

Summary: Gather continued under sunny skies with 10-15 mph winds and temperatures 57 to 91 degrees.

Animals Gathered: 67 (22 Stallions, 28 Mares, and 17 Foals)

Animals Shipped: 74 (25 Stallions, 31 Mares, and 18 Foals)

Animals Treated with Fertility Control: 0
- GonaCon: 0 Mares

Animals Released: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals)

Deaths: 0

- Sudden / Acute: 0

- Pre-existing / Chronic: 0

 

Monday, July 10

Summary: Gather continued under sunny skies with 10-15 mph winds and temperatures 58 to 84 degrees.

Animals Gathered: 75 (25 Stallions, 31 Mares, and 19 Foals)

Animals Shipped: 126 (45 Stallions, 58 Mares, and 23 Foals)

*Three leppy foals taken to foster

Animals Treated with Fertility Control: 0
- GonaCon: 0 Mares

Animals Released: 1 (1 Stallion, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals)

*1 stallion jumped out of holding

Deaths: 1

- Sudden / Acute: 1

- Pre-existing / Chronic: 0

Sorrel foal died in holding: colic.

 

Sunday, July 9

Summary: Gather started under sunny skies and temperatures 58 to 93 degrees.

Animals Gathered: 128 (46 Stallions, 59 Mares, and 23 Foals)

Animals Shipped: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals)

Animals Treated with Fertility Control: 0
- GonaCon: 0 Mares

Animals Released: 0 (0 Stallions, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals)

Deaths: 1

- Sudden / Acute: 1

- Pre-existing / Chronic: 0

4 year old Brown mare died unexpectedly: fractured neck.

 

Gather Status

As of Wednesday, July 26, 2023

Animals Gathered: 1,107
(368 Stallions, 507 Mares, 232 Foals)  

Animals Shipped: 1,095
(365 Stallions, 502 Mares, 228 Foals) 

Animals Treated with Fertility Control: 0
  GonaCon: 0 Mares

Animals Released: 2 (1 Stallion, 1 Mare, 0 Foals) 

Deaths: 10
-Sudden / Acute: 7
-Pre-existing / Chronic: 3

Scroll to the bottom of this gather page for detailed “Daily Gather Reports"