Herd Management Areas
In 1971, Congress passed legislation to protect, manage, and control
wild horses and burros on the public lands. The Wild Free
Roaming Horse and Burro Act declared these animals to be
"living symbols of the historic and pioneer spirit of the West."
Congress further declared that "wild
free-roaming horses and burros shall be protected from capture,
branding, harassment, or death..." and that they are
"...an integral part of the natural system of the public
lands." Furthermore, Bureau regulation requires that wild
horses and burros be considered comparably with other resource values
within the area.
The Bureau of Land Management maintains and
manages wild horses or burros in "herd management areas" (HMAs).
In the ten states where BLM manages horses,
there are 270 herd areas. In Utah, about 3,600 horses are
found among 23 different herds scattered across the state. Two
hers of burros containing about 100 animals are found on public
lands in southeastern Utah.
- Strive to maintain an ecological
balance through dispersal of wild horses within the habitat and
the removal of excess horses beyond the carrying capacity of the
- Maintain a herd size of 135 to 180
head of adult horses above two years of age.
- Through natural breeding, increase
the number of horses displaying good conformation, color, or characteristics
of the original Colonial Spanish Type horse.
Keep the current
wild horse population as pure as possible with no introduction
of outside animals into the herd area.
- Make excess wild horses available
for public adoption.
Develop viewing opportunities
for visitors to observe wild horses in a natural setting.
Take along a good map. Detailed topographic maps
provide the best information about roads and topographic features in
this area. The extensive road system in this area an be
difficult to decipher unless you have a good map and the ability to
navigate with it.
Four-wheel drive and high clearance
vehicles are recommended. Seasonal rains and snow will
make the roads in the management area muddy, slick, rutted, and
Come prepared. Make certain that you
and your vehicle are properly equipped for a back country
adventure. Adequate gasoline, extra water, tire chains, tools
to make repairs, a first aid kit, and making sure that someone at
home knows where you are and when expected back are just a few of
the basic precautions you should take whenever traveling in a remote
The Needle Range is characterized by steep slopes and narrow
ridges. Access to the ridges and surrounding areas is good,
provided you are driving a vehicle capable of traversing rough, back
You will find most of the horses in the Mountain
Home portion of the range. An extensive dirt-road system
provides access throughout the entire area for those properly
equipped. typically, roads wander through sagebrush flats and
forests of pinyon and juniper. The high country of Mountain
Home Peak is a particularly pleasant destination, providing outstanding
views of Hamlin Valley and Great Basin National Park.
The best access to the road network within the
herd area is Utah Highway 21. Approximately 45 miles west of
Milford on LI-21 look for a BLM sign marked Pots Sum Pa. Turn
south on this road to enter the northeastern portion of the Sulphur
Herd Management Area.
Few Viewing Tips
Look in certain areas.
Scan reseeding projects and prescribed burns where forage is
Look for wild horses from high
elevations. Mountain Home Peak provides an excellent
vantage point to look for wild horses.
Adapt your viewing strategy to the time
of year you visit. Horses migrate to higher elevations
during the warm summer months. In late fall and spring they
can be found on the benches of Hamlin and Pine Valleys.
Take binoculars. Wild horses are
naturally wary and best viewed at a distance. When approached
they will spook and run for cover.
Need Your Help
We invite you to view wild horses,
however it is unlawful to chase and/or catch them. Foals,
pregnant mares and older horses are easily hurt when pursued, so
please allow them to live a free and unharassed life.
Help our wild horses and burros by reporting illegal
activity. Contact your BLM office or call BLM Law Enforcement at
Wild Horse and Burro Herds in Utah
(Click on map to enlarge)