JOHN DAY – The Blue Mountain Ranger District is planning a wild horse gather Oct. 9 to 25 in the Murderers Creek Wild Horse Territory, said Brooks Smith, Blue Mountain District Ranger.

MNF officials are working with the Bureau of Land Management on the final plans.

“All efforts will be made to minimize impacts on hunting seasons,” Smith said. “However, the public can expect road closures in the areas where helicopter and trapping efforts are happening.”

Catoor Livestock Round-up Inc., the contractor used in a similar gather last winter, will handle the gather of some 100-150 horses.

Smith said the gather is intended to benefit the horse herd and the natural resources.

“The reduction of herd size will allow for a stronger, healthier horse population, as well as promote healthier plant populations in the areas the horses graze, benefiting big game populations,” he said.

The horses will be lured into corrals, with hay as bait, or gathered by wranglers or helicopter. The gathered horses will be sent to the Burns BLM corrals for adoption.

Anyone interested in adopting a wild horse can get information at the Federal Building in John Day or call the BLM, 541-573-4456.