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Book Cliffs plan approved after large feral-horse removal and proposed bison objective changes
Summary
The RAC approved the Book Cliffs management plan. Staff reported removal of nearly 350 feral horses by contractor helicopter operations, a plan to split the unit for separate winter bison objectives (400 and 250 adults), and potential adjustments to tag numbers; RAC members discussed tribal migration and collaring efforts.
The Central Region Advisory Committee voted unanimously to accept the Book Cliffs management plan after division staff described recent field work, large-scale feral-horse removals and a proposal to revise bison wintering objectives across subunits.
Clint Sampson, division wildlife staff, described this summer’s removals and the rationale for splitting the unit’s bison objectives. "We were able to go in there with the contractor and use a helicopter and remove, just under 350 horses in just a few days," Sampson said, reporting substantial reductions in horse numbers on non‑BLM land. Sampson explained that the BLM-designated wild-horse area on Winter Ridge is protected and cannot be removed inside that boundary; removals occur outside that BLM area or where animals are designated stray.
Sampson also said the RAC recommended splitting the Book Cliffs objective into two subunits: 400 wintering adults for the South/Little Creek area and 250 wintering adults for Bitter Creek, a combined wintering adult objective of roughly 650. "For the Bitter Creek side, we've cut permits here lately trying to grow some of those animals," Sampson said, describing recent permit reductions to allow population increases.
RAC members asked about hunter access, tag numbers and logistics. Sampson said permits will fluctuate and that past permit totals in the presentation were about 95 permits overall; success rates historically have been high but variable. Members also raised concerns about migration onto tribal lands and the difficulty of managing a migratory herd. Sampson said the division coordinates with the Ute Tribe and that migration timing—pre‑rut movement around July and calving on the reservation land—creates management uncertainty.
The RAC approved the plan, with members thanking staff for habitat restoration work and field efforts, and asked the division to report follow-up monitoring results and the effects of removals.
