Wyoming Will Seek Authority to Manage Wild Horses
State lawmakers plan to propose a resolution requesting federal permission to allow private landowners to capture or remove horses.
Updated on Oct. 12, 2026 in Large Animals
Live Poll
Should the federal government allow the culling of wild horses on public and private lands?
Wyoming legislators are set to consider a resolution in 2027 that would lobby Congress for expanded authority over wild horse populations. The proposal seeks to allow the use of aircraft and motor vehicles for capturing or removing horses to address overpopulation concerns on private land.
Why it matters
The Bureau of Land Management reports that overpopulation is causing damage to the range, and current removal methods are described as ineffective on mixed checkerboard land. If federal policy shifts, it could alter how rural property owners and the state manage wild horse presence on their land.
Wyoming currently hosts approximately 7,100 wild horses, leaving the population 4,600 animals above the established high appropriate management level of 2,500. The proposed resolution aims to address this gap, which spans 14 designated management areas.
The players
Bureau of Land Management
This federal agency manages public lands and is currently responsible for wild horse roundups, holding facilities, and public adoption programs.
United States Congress
This legislative body holds the authority to amend federal management laws and approve funding for the inspection personnel necessary for animal processing.
The details
The resolution targets the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971, which currently prevents the lethal management of healthy wild horses. It specifically requests that federal funding be restored for horse meat inspectors, effectively aiming to bypass the de facto ban on domestic horse meat sales that has existed since 2009. Lawmakers suggest that allowing private landowners to use helicopters and vehicles would streamline removal where current federal roundup processes have struggled.
Timeline
1971: The Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act was enacted.
2005-2009: Debate over horse meat inspection funding occurred.
2027: The state legislature will consider the proposed resolution.
The Home Front
This proposal marks a major legislative challenge to the protections established by the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971. It signals a shift in how Western states are attempting to manage animal-related range impacts that fall outside of standard federal oversight.
If you manage property within one of the 14 wild horse management areas, monitor the 2027 legislative session for updates on potential permit changes. Consult with local agricultural extension offices regarding current legal requirements for managing wildlife interactions on your land.
The takeaway
This legislative effort reflects a growing push to redefine how states manage wild horse populations on private land. Property owners should track the 2027 legislative calendar for potential changes to animal management guidelines.
Further reading
For more on regional wildlife management efforts, visit the Large Animals section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Wyoming Public Media.
Live Poll
Should the federal government allow the culling of wild horses on public and private lands?
