Following is a press release from the BLM’s Billings Field Office regarding the proposed 2012 gather here.
BLM Seeks Public Input on Preliminary Environmental Assessment for Proposed Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Gather
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Billings Field Office today released the Preliminary Environmental Assessment (EA) for a proposed 2012 wild horse gather within the Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range (PMWHR). A 30-day public comment period will begin on Dec. 8 through Jan. 6, 2012. The Preliminary EA analyzes the effects of a proposed non-helicopter gather and removal of excess horses within the PMWHR.
The Preliminary EA identifies a selection of alternatives, including Proposed Action and No Action alternatives. The Proposed Action recommends a combination of bait trapping, water trapping, and some herding. Since bait trapping can occur year-round, the gather would be anticipated to take place at any point during the 2012 calendar year.
The gather is designed to manage the appropriate number of wild horses so that rangelands and horses can be healthy and productive for years to come. The current wild horse population is approximately 150 horses with 17 foals, exceeding the established Appropriate Management Level (AML) of 90-120 horses, excluding the current year foals.
The PMWHR is located in the Pryor Mountains south of Billings, along the Montana-Wyoming border and encompasses approximately 38,000 acres of BLM, U.S. Forest Service and National Park Service managed land.
Matt, will you be available and assisting again for this proposed gather? Your experience and knowledge should be invaluable to the BLM. Thanks.
Did they say anything about which horses are going to be removed?
The condtion of the range depends not only on the horses.I think that this year spring came later than last year,and I don’t know but I think that this year was a little bit dryer(correct me because I might be wrong)
Matt, hope you can be available to assist for this proposed gather? As well as possibly the Cloud Foundation (& other locally involved Followers/protectors of this Herd)??
Your Experience and Knowledge IS Absolutely IN-valuable, indeed = PriceLess! ~particularly so, This Year–after so many Deaths combined with prior Removals…have Resulted in several “End of Important Lineages” !
It is ESSENTIAL that BLM makes good Use of this accumulated Knowledge, to protect Our Pryor Herd !
& this IS the prime Opportunity for BLM to PROVE: 1) IF they do care enough to ‘stand upon their words’.
2) Provide the promised Transparency AND Accountability to ‘the Public’.
3) Admit that there’s Lots of input & knowledge–even More valuable than their own pure-# based systems ??
On that note, do you have Access to, & can You Share the most Current “Band Composition tables”, made by either ?PM-WH Center or BLM?
These used-to-be available for download, @ least for 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007 ! But have not found it since!
These are SO very helpful for any of us who Enjoy Following the details of the Pryor Mtn Herd.
–> kindly let me know?
Thanks* 4 ALL You do, Matt !! You’ve ~no idea~ how Much your vigilance & info sharing (& photography) IS *Appreciated—by so Many !!
Matt,
I was wondering if you could give us an update on Exhiliration? He is kind of a Pryor Iconic Figure and I know he was removed because he wouldn’t stay in the bounderies. I know there was talk of him being at the Center…or something like that as a greeter?
Would love an update
.
Matt, could we (please?) get a family tree on them? Do you have copies of the BLM “Band Composition LISTS” after 2007??