Wild Horse Gather Scheduled for Callaghan Complex in Nevada
Battle Mountain, Nev. – The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has announced plans to initiate a wild horse gather in the Callaghan Complex area starting around July 10, 2026. This operation will employ the helicopter-assisted method to manage the wild horse population.
The Callaghan Complex, located entirely within Lander County, encompasses the Callaghan, South Shoshone, Bald Mountain, and Hickison HMAs, as well as the North Shoshone HA. Stretching from approximately 7 miles south of Battle Mountain to 6 miles north of Austin, the gather area covers about 1,145,515 acres.
The BLM aims to remove around 2,000 excess wild horses, including dependent foals, from the complex. Burros that have migrated into the area will also be part of the removal process.
The primary objective of this gather is to align with the Appropriate Management Levels (AML) as outlined in the Herd Management Area Plan, approved in February 2026. Additionally, the presence of wild horses on Nevada State Highway 305 has raised safety concerns.
This effort seeks to prevent further degradation of public lands, restore ecological balance, and ensure a multiple-use relationship on these lands, in accordance with Section 1333(b) of the 1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act. Overpopulation issues, coupled with insufficient water resources, necessitate the reduction of wild horse and burro numbers.
By managing herd sizes, the BLM also aims to protect habitats for other wildlife, such as sage grouse, pronghorn antelope, and mule deer. This aligns with the Standards for Rangeland Health set by the Northern Great Basin/Sierra Front Resource Advisory Council.
Ensuring the safety and humane treatment of the animals is a top priority for the BLM, which collaborates with contractors to utilize the best available practices. The operation follows the guidelines of the Comprehensive Animal Welfare Program.
Once removed, the animals will be transported to off-range corrals in Palomino Valley and Indian Lakes, Nevada, where they will undergo veterinary checks before entering the BLM’s wild horse and burro Adoption and Sales Program.
Public observation of the gather will be possible on designated days, from Tuesday to Saturday, as per the BLM’s gather observation protocol. Interested individuals must RSVP at 775-625-0440 by 5 PM prior to the observation day to receive details about the meeting location and time by 9 PM.
Gather Observation Schedule
- July 10 – July 18
- July 22 – July 27
- July 31 – August 5
- August 9 – August 14
- August 19 – August 25
- August 29 – August 31
If the gather extends beyond these dates, updates can be obtained by calling the RSVP number. During the gather, the area will be temporarily closed to the public in compliance with 43 C.F.R. § 8364.1.
For more details, visit the BLM National NEPA Registry, and find gather reports and additional information about the 2026 Callaghan Complex gather online. For technical inquiries, contact Aimee Bolinger, Wild Horse and Burro Specialist, at (775) 455-2631 or [email protected].
For adoption or purchase information of a wild horse or burro, visit www.blm.gov/whb.
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