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ELKO – The Bureau of Land Management began an emergency wild horse gather on this week in the Antelope Herd Management Area to remove approximately 60 wild horses from private land near Boone Springs, due to a projected lack of water this summer.

The herd area is approximately 40 mile southwest of Wendover.

The BLM planned to use a water trap, consisting of corral panels stocked with water; no helicopters will be used.

Because of the nature of the water gather method, wild horses are reluctant to approach the trap site when there is too much activity. In addition, the gather operations are being conducted on private land. Therefore, only essential gather operation personnel will be allowed at the gather site during operations.

The Antelope HMA has an Appropriate Management Level of 155-259 adult wild horses. As of March 1, 2016, the BLM estimated the population at 1,013 wild horses (not including foals born this year).

The BLM Wells Field Office determined that even though there have been above average amounts of precipitation this winter and spring, there are still no known water sources in the area for wild horses to obtain water later this spring and summer.