Where is the helicopter?
So many of you are emailing asking us about the roundup schedule. Since the last article, published on August 31, there have been additional changes.
Please keep in mind until BLM publishes a press release or new schedule nothing is official. It is extremely unusual for BLM not to publish a revised schedule. The schedule can change often. BLM recognizes that. But in past years BLM always publishes a revised schedule. This year they have not updated since May 15.
The only confirmed active operation today is in Oregon. We believe the Confusion roundup in Utah is ending today.
BLM has started an emergency roundup at Sheepshead/Heath Creek (Barren Valley Complex). They have not announced any public observation as of yet. They plan to capture 499 due to water scarcity.
This was not unexpected. Earlier this year we were tracking wildfire and Oregon was hit particularly hard.
The fire spread significantly into Sheepshead since our update map above, 07/29. Below is the final footprint. 
The last roundup in this area was in 2021.
BLM has also just announced an emergency gather at Riddle (also on the fire map).
Most of you know Riddle as “Kiger-Riddle.”
That operation will begin September 9th.
Sand Wash
Sand Wash is still officially on the roundup schedule to begin September 10th with unofficial reports that it will begin on the 17th.
Congressman Joe Neguse and Governor Jared Polis called on the Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to immediately halt wild horse helicopter roundups in Colorado.
If Sand Wash moves forward as scheduled, the entire state of Colorado will have fewer than 600 wild horses in the entire state on public lands.
BLM has not announced the start of any roundup in the Surprise Complex, although Bitner, Nut Mountain and Massacre are still on the schedule ti have begun on Sept. 1. They were going to be carried out on conjunction with Carter, Buckhorn and Coppersmith. Although those operations still sit on the roundup schedule they were cancelled due to a Preliminary Injunction.
The Piceance East-West Douglas operation in Colorado has ended. We believe Confusion in Utah has ended today (but not confirmed).
To see 2026 roundup coverage you can click here.
BLM has not published an updated schedule.
We will post an update as one is available.
At this time expect rapid changes with only state level updates on where operations are active.
For a more complete analysis, click here.
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The future of our wild ones depend on the fight we are willing to have today.
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