The Bureau of Land Management has approved a new herd management area plan for the Callaghan Complex, authorizing population control efforts across more than 1 million acres in central Nevada.
The complex covers approximately 1.15 million acres of public and private land in Lander County, including the North Shoshone Herd Area, the Bald Mountain, Callaghan, South Shoshone, and northern Hickison herd management areas.
According to the BLM, the estimated free-range horse population in the complex as of late 2025 exceeds the appropriate management level of 323 to 552 animals.
To reduce numbers, the plan calls for gathering and removing excess horses and applying fertility control treatments to mares. The agency said the gathers will occur using the best available science and in accordance with humane handling standards outlined in its Comprehensive Animal Welfare Program.
Free-range horse populations can increase by 15% to 20% annually if left unmanaged, potentially doubling every four years, said the BLM. Overpopulation can strain rangeland resources and heighten the risk of starvation and poor health, particularly during drought conditions.
Horses removed from the range will be made available for adoption or sale to private caretakers through the BLM’s adoption program.
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