Finding Wild Horses and Burros in California
(this page is still in progress)
Return to Finding Wild Horses here for tips on visiting the range and to find herds in other states
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There are 26 wild horse and burro herds remaining in California; 21 herd areas managed by the BLM, 4 herd territories managed by the Forest Service, and 1 managed by both Forest Service & BLM:
• Big Bear is 10 miles east of Big Bear Lake • Bitner is 40 miles of Cedarville, CA in Nevada • Black Mountain is 20 miles east of San Luis Obispo • Brushy Mountain is 40 miles southwest of Chester • Buckhorn is 40 miles southwest of Cedarville • Carter Reservoir in NE California on the NV border • Centennial is 10 miles north of Ridgecrest • Chemehuevi is south of Needles • Chicago Valley is near Death Valley Junction on the NV border • Chocolate-Mule Mountains near the Picacho State Recreation Area west of Yuma, AZ • Coppersmith is 30 miles southeast of Cedarville • Devil's Garden Plateau is just north of Alturas • Fort Sage is east of Doyle • Fox Hog is 45 miles southwest of Cedarville • High Rock is 45 miles southeast of Cedarville • Lee Flat is east of the Owens Dry Lake Bed, Inyo County • Massacre Lakes is 30 miles east of Cedarville • New Ravendale is near the town of Ravendale • Nut Mountain • Piper Mountain • Red Rock Lakes is 10 miles east of Macdoel • Round Mountain (Devil's Garden Plateau) is north of Alturas • Three Sisters is 7 miles northeast of Tennant • Twin Peaks is 25 miles northeast of Susanville • Wall Canyon is 46 miles east of Cedarville • Waucoba-Hunter Mountain is 30 miles east of Olancha • White Mountain is 7 miles east of Benton *Note: the BLM map to the top right shows the Palm Canyon HMA but that herd has been zeroed out |
BLM Map
USFS herd territory map
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Big Bear Wild Burro Territory
Size: 35,000 acres
Number of wild burros the Forest Service deems appropriate for the herd area is 60
From the USFS webpage: "Burros can be found east of Big Bear Valley. Popular hangouts for the burros include Broom Flats, Arrastre Creek, Round Valley, and the Rose Mine area. These areas can be reached via Forest Road 2N01 and 2N02. Occasionally burros are seen in Lone Valley on Forest Road 3N03. Burros are more visible in the early morning and early evening. The majority of the territory is within the Arrastre Creek drainage basin. Arrastre Creek is a perennial stream that bisects the territory from north to south, occasionally flowing underground and resurfacing.
The majority of the Wild Burro Territory is located in pinyon-juniper woodlands with small inclusions of sagebrush scrub and Joshua tree woodlands." Again, look for fresh burro droppings and trails and keep your eyes peeled in the woodland areas.
Size: 35,000 acres
Number of wild burros the Forest Service deems appropriate for the herd area is 60
From the USFS webpage: "Burros can be found east of Big Bear Valley. Popular hangouts for the burros include Broom Flats, Arrastre Creek, Round Valley, and the Rose Mine area. These areas can be reached via Forest Road 2N01 and 2N02. Occasionally burros are seen in Lone Valley on Forest Road 3N03. Burros are more visible in the early morning and early evening. The majority of the territory is within the Arrastre Creek drainage basin. Arrastre Creek is a perennial stream that bisects the territory from north to south, occasionally flowing underground and resurfacing.
The majority of the Wild Burro Territory is located in pinyon-juniper woodlands with small inclusions of sagebrush scrub and Joshua tree woodlands." Again, look for fresh burro droppings and trails and keep your eyes peeled in the woodland areas.
Bitner Herd Management Area
Size: 53,748 acres
Number of wild horses the BLM deems appropriate for the herd area is 15-25; the estimated population for 2023 is 58
The Bitner wild horse area can be found 40 miles east of Cedarville, CA. While listed as a CA herd area, the Bitner HMA is located in NW Nevada. Find the directions here under Nevada Wild Horses & Burros.
Size: 53,748 acres
Number of wild horses the BLM deems appropriate for the herd area is 15-25; the estimated population for 2023 is 58
The Bitner wild horse area can be found 40 miles east of Cedarville, CA. While listed as a CA herd area, the Bitner HMA is located in NW Nevada. Find the directions here under Nevada Wild Horses & Burros.
Black Mountain Wild Horse Territory
Size: 13,215 acres
Number of wild horses the Forest Service deems appropriate for the herd area is 20
From the USFS website: the wild horses can be found "approximately 20 miles east of San Luis Obispo. The territory consists of 13,215 acres of National Forest land and 635 acres of private land and lies primarily on the east side of the La Panza Mountain Range."
Size: 13,215 acres
Number of wild horses the Forest Service deems appropriate for the herd area is 20
From the USFS website: the wild horses can be found "approximately 20 miles east of San Luis Obispo. The territory consists of 13,215 acres of National Forest land and 635 acres of private land and lies primarily on the east side of the La Panza Mountain Range."
Brushy Mountain Wild Horse Territory
Size: 3,285 acres
*Number of wild horses the Forest Service deems appropriate for the herd area is 0 (there may be horses remaining)
Size: 3,285 acres
*Number of wild horses the Forest Service deems appropriate for the herd area is 0 (there may be horses remaining)
From the Forest Service page: The Brushy Mountain herd has naturally declined with only 2 studs remaining in 2003. Due to the limited amount of contiguous federal land within this territory, the territory is not able to sustain a viable population of wild horses. Contact the Almanor Ranger District at 530-258-2141 for information.
Buckhorn Herd Management Area
Size: 76,590 acres
Number of wild horses the BLM deems appropriate for the herd area is 59-85
The HMA can be found 40 miles southwest of Cedarville, CA in Lassen County, CA and Washoe County, NV, adjacent to and north of the Twin Peaks HMA.
Size: 76,590 acres
Number of wild horses the BLM deems appropriate for the herd area is 59-85
The HMA can be found 40 miles southwest of Cedarville, CA in Lassen County, CA and Washoe County, NV, adjacent to and north of the Twin Peaks HMA.
Carter Reservoir Herd Management Area
Size: 23,468 acres
Number of wild horses the BLM deems appropriate for the herd area is 25-35
The HMA is located in Washoe County, NV with a small portion in Modoc County, CA
Size: 23,468 acres
Number of wild horses the BLM deems appropriate for the herd area is 25-35
The HMA is located in Washoe County, NV with a small portion in Modoc County, CA
Centennial Herd Management Area
Size: 318,499 acres
Number of wild horses and burros the BLM deems appropriate for the herd area is 134-168
Size: 318,499 acres
Number of wild horses and burros the BLM deems appropriate for the herd area is 134-168
Chemehuevi Herd Management Area
Size: 138,333 acres
Number of wild burros the BLM deems appropriate for the herd area is 97-108
Size: 138,333 acres
Number of wild burros the BLM deems appropriate for the herd area is 97-108
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Chicago Valley Herd Management Area
Size: 278,105 acres
Number of wild horses the BLM deems appropriate for the herd area is 10-12
Size: 278,105 acres
Number of wild horses the BLM deems appropriate for the herd area is 10-12
Chocolate Mule Mountains Herd Management Area
Size: 205,539 acres
Number of wild burros the BLM deems appropriate for the herd area is 109-133
Size: 205,539 acres
Number of wild burros the BLM deems appropriate for the herd area is 109-133
Coppersmith Mountains Herd Management Area
Size: 73,422 acres
Number of wild horses the BLM deems appropriate for the herd area is 50-75
Size: 73,422 acres
Number of wild horses the BLM deems appropriate for the herd area is 50-75
Devil's Garden Plateau Wild Horse Territory / Round Mountain Herd Management Area
Size: 248,428 acres of Forest Service land / Size: 7,759 acres of BLM land
Number of wild horses the Forest Service deems appropriate for the herd area is 402 / BLM is 8-10
Size: 248,428 acres of Forest Service land / Size: 7,759 acres of BLM land
Number of wild horses the Forest Service deems appropriate for the herd area is 402 / BLM is 8-10
Fort Sage Herd Management Area
Size: 15,967 acres
Number of wild horses the BLM deems appropriate for the herd area is 24-29
Size: 15,967 acres
Number of wild horses the BLM deems appropriate for the herd area is 24-29
Fox Hog Herd Management Area
Size: 127,122 acres
Number of wild horses the BLM deems appropriate for the herd area is 120-220
Size: 127,122 acres
Number of wild horses the BLM deems appropriate for the herd area is 120-220
High Rock Herd Management Area
Size: 94,708 acres
Number of wild horses the BLM deems appropriate for the herd area is 78-120
Size: 94,708 acres
Number of wild horses the BLM deems appropriate for the herd area is 78-120
Lee Flat Herd Management Area
Size: 73,380 acres
Number of wild burros the BLM deems appropriate for the herd area is 12-15
Size: 73,380 acres
Number of wild burros the BLM deems appropriate for the herd area is 12-15
Massacre Lake Herd Management Area
Size: 39,942 acres
Number of wild horses the BLM deems appropriate for the herd area is 35-45
Size: 39,942 acres
Number of wild horses the BLM deems appropriate for the herd area is 35-45
New Ravendale Herd Management Area
Size: 32,137 acres
Number of wild horses the BLM deems appropriate for the herd area is 10-25
Size: 32,137 acres
Number of wild horses the BLM deems appropriate for the herd area is 10-25
Nut Mountain Herd Management Area
Size:
Number of wild horses the BLM deems appropriate for the herd area is ____
Size:
Number of wild horses the BLM deems appropriate for the herd area is ____
Piper Mountain Herd Management Area
Size: 96,261 acres
Number of wild horses the BLM deems appropriate for the herd area is 14-17
Size: 96,261 acres
Number of wild horses the BLM deems appropriate for the herd area is 14-17
Red Rock Lakes Herd Management Area
Size: 18,541 acres
Number of wild horses the BLM deems appropriate for the herd area is 16-25
Size: 18,541 acres
Number of wild horses the BLM deems appropriate for the herd area is 16-25
Three Sisters Wild Horse Territory
Size: 26,000 acres
Number of wild horses the Forest Service deems appropriate for the herd area is 15
Size: 26,000 acres
Number of wild horses the Forest Service deems appropriate for the herd area is 15
Twin Peaks Herd Management Area
Size: 758,128 acres
Number of wild horses the BLM deems appropriate for the herd area is 448-758 and for burros is 72-116
Size: 758,128 acres
Number of wild horses the BLM deems appropriate for the herd area is 448-758 and for burros is 72-116
Wall Canyon Herd Management Area
Size: 41,158 acres
Number of wild horses the BLM deems appropriate for the herd area is 15-25
Size: 41,158 acres
Number of wild horses the BLM deems appropriate for the herd area is 15-25
Waucoba-Hunter Mountain Herd Management Area
Size: 22,670 acres
Number of wild burros the BLM deems appropriate for the herd area is 9-11
Size: 22,670 acres
Number of wild burros the BLM deems appropriate for the herd area is 9-11
White Mountain Wild Horse Territory
Size: 149,690 acres of Forest Service land and 60,000 acres of BLM land
Number of wild horses the Forest Service deems appropriate for the herd area is 75
Size: 149,690 acres of Forest Service land and 60,000 acres of BLM land
Number of wild horses the Forest Service deems appropriate for the herd area is 75