00/V ·.-.eci 090~ +C:~ O/L6· 1€l/1Ytlrfl8 AREA ATTRACTIONS egend Penn's Cabin

Penn's cabin is located on top of East Pryor Moun­ National Forest Wilderness Study Areas Roads tain. Constructed in 1911, the cabin was a tempo­ rary shelter for railroad workers who cut ties. If Bureau of Land Management Pryor Mountain Open (4x4 recommended) you look carefully, you may still see old stumps left Bighorn Tack-on Private from the time railroad ties were cut. State Burnt Timber Canyon Private Lost Water Canyon -·- Range Boundary

To Sage Creek Campground and Highway 31 O

N Photo by SLM

In 1921, a rancher named Penn filed a homestead claim on the lands surrounding the cabin. The government later acquired the property and the Vicinity Map cabin name endured. Historically, the cabin was used as a shelter for cowboys during severe weather. Wild can often be seen near the ca bin in the summer through earl y fall.

Chief State Park Custer National

•Ba rry's Landing

Chief Plenty Coups State Park is located one mile PRYOR MOUNTAIN west of the community of Pryor on the . Park attractions include a small visitor center and the restored log home of the FOR MORE INFORMATION NATIONAL famous Crow chief. Plenty Coups is crediled with helping the Crow Indians make the transition CONTACT: between their native lifestyle to European culture. Crow WILDHORSE Bureau of Land Management Indian Billings Field Office Bighorn Canyon P.O. Box 36800 Reservation RANGE 5001 Southgate Drive The Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area Billings, MT 59107 Visitor Center is located one-half mile east of (406) 896-5013 Lovell, . The center provides an excellent introduction to the Pryor Mountains through Britton Springs Admin. Site To Warren audio-visual presentations. Highway signs direct (307) 548-2706 travelers to the national recreation area some (seasonal - May to October) twelve miles north of Lovell. Forest Service Beartooth Ranger District Big Ice Cave HC49 Box 3420 Red Lodge, MT 59068 Twelve miles southeast of the Sage Creek Camp­ (406) 446-2103 ground is the Big Ice Cave. A well developed trail leads visitors to the entrance where the always Bighorn Canyon National present ice floor of the cave can be viewed. After Recreation Area visiting the cave, take time out to enjoy the Forest 20 Highway 14A East MONTANA Service picnic area which is open on a seasonal Lovell, WY 82431 basis. (307) 548-2251

Bureau of Indian Affairs Crow Agency, Montana 59022 Admin. Site (406) 638-2672

Chief Plenty Coups State Park P.O. Box 100 Pryor, Montana 59066 (406) 252-1289

Lovell Chamber of Commerce I United States Department of the Interior Pryor Mountain Mustang Association Bureau of Land Management 287 E. Main, Box 295 • Horseshoe Bend Billings Field Office Lovell, WY 82431 Campground 5001 Southgate Drive (307) 548-7552 Billings, Montana 59102 * U5. GOVERNMEN T PRINTING omcE: 2000 - 573·281 I 28001 "egio n Ho. 8 APRIL2000 PRYOR MOUNTAIN NATIONAL the only source of new horses are the 20-30 ally an extension of the but is WHERE CAN I VIEW WILD born each year. Since the horses have few natural separated from the Bighorns by the Bighorn Can­ RANGE enemies, it is necessary to limit the number of yon. HORSES? animals. The Bureau of Land Management gathers The Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range was estab­ and removes animals every 2-3 years in order to The Pryor Mountains are unique in many ways. Most visitors will have opportunities to view wild lished after a two-year grassroots effort by citizens maintain a desired number of horses. Some of the more notable aspects are the rainfall/ horses along Bad Pass Highway within the Bighorn concerned about the long-term welfare of the Pryor snowfall zones and related vegetation from the Canyon National Recreation Area. Small bands of Mountain horses. In 1968, interested individuals southern foothill regions to the highest points in horses are often visible from this paved road year­ and groups convinced Interior Secretary Stewart the mountain range. Annual rainfall varies from round. Look for horses in the low elevation lands Udall to set aside 31,000 acres in the Pryor Moun­ How can I adopt a wild horse? less than five inches in the foothills to twenty north of the Mustang Flat interpretive sign. tains as a public range for the wild horses. This was inches in the high country. Most of the southern the first of its kind in the nation. • Each year satellite adoptions are held at portion of the Wild Horse Range is northern cold Adventurous visitors will find that most of the wild different locations throughout Montana desert country. horses can be found in the higher mountain mead­ Photo by Rav. F/oy'd Schweiger Photo by Gary Leppart and other states. Contact any BLM office Photo by Ga!Y Lsppart ows surrounding Penn's cabin (see map) during the to find out the dates and locations of the elevation lands were occupied at other times of the summer and early fall months. However, four Also watch for such as a dorsal follow a good leader and the Pryor horses are no adoption nearest you. year. This environment provided a variety of both wheel drive vehicles will be required to make the UNIQUE HORSES different. The Pryor seem to make the stripe down their , wither stripes, and zebra plant and animal foods. Bighorn sheep, mule deer, journey to the Penn's cabin vicinity. stripes on their legs. These unusual features are daily decisions for the rest of the family group, but • Vou must be 18 years old and a resident bison and elk provided meat and skins while For more than a century, the Pryor Mountains have in other populations the decision makers are often considered typical of Spanish characteristics. of the U.S. to adopt a horse or burro. berries, roots and possibly ants supplemented been home to free-roaming bands of wild horses. the lead . diets. This herd of horses is a genetically unique popula­ So, where did the horses come from? The origins • Vou need to have adequate facilities and tion. Blood typing by the Genetics Department of are unclear, but a common belief is that the horses the financial means to provide humane the University of Kentucky has indicated that these Hard stone deposits called chert, exist in the Pryors escaped from local Native American Indian herds care for all adopted animals. and were used by Native Americans to make horses are closely related to the old type European and eventually found a safe haven in the Pryors. Spanish horse. projectile points and scraping tools. In fact the • Application forms are available at any BLM Crow Indian tribe used to refer to the Pryors as the Like many wild horse populations, the Pryor office. "Arrow-head" mountains. As you explore the horses live within family groups. As you travel range, look for horses throughout the Range, you may find over 25 family • If your application is approved, you will be Pho !O by Gsry L&pparl The Crow Tribe considers many sites within the urilbra [llJl1 t1sual coloring groups and assorted "bachelor" staliions. Most notified of upcoming adoptions. Pryors sacred. Cultural resources are protected by families (or harems) average 5-6 animals, with a federal law on public lands and should be left as dominant , a lead , and a variety of • If and when you adopt, you will sign a Differences in rainfall/ snowfall contribute to the found for scientific investigation and enjoyment by other mares and young animals. Horses love to contract, agreeing to provide humane care most diverse plant community in Montana. As you future visitors. Photo by BLM and treatment for the horse. move from the southern desert portion to the upper, lush, sub-alpine portions of the Pryor Phato by Gary L8(}P8rt Mountains, you can see the progression of desert, Photography and filming opportunities in the low bushes to fir trees and grasses. In between Pryor Mountains are excellent. All photographers Scientific studies have shown that the genetic these zones is a graduation of plant species. In and filmers are cautioned to respect the comfort diversity of the horses is high and the current level THE PRYOR MOUNTAINS ARE addition, the bladderpod and Shoshonea are two zone around wild horses at all times and not to, in of within the population is low. In some examples of rare and sensitive plants that are found any way disrupt the horses' natural behavior. populations, inbreeding can be a problem if the UNIQUE in the Pryors. numbers of horses in the herd are too low. The Casual use activities such as noncommercial still Pryor population has been historically managed at The Pryor Mountains were named after Sergeant For centuries, the Pryors were home to small bands photography or recreational videotaping do not a successful size of between 120 and 160 horses. Nathaniel Pryor of the Lewis and Clark Expedition of Native American people. The warm, dry south­ require a permit or fees. Commercial filming and Photo by BLM The population appears to be confined to this range which traversed the nearby Yellowstone River ern slopes provided a favorable environment certain categories of commercial photography do require a permit and fees. For further information, which may correspond to their Spanish lineage, by both natural and manmade barriers, and thus Valley in 1806. The Pryor mountain range is actu- during the harsh winter months, while the high please contact the BLM Billings Field Office. such as dun, grulla, blue roan and the rare sabino. Photo by Gal)' Leppart

CAVERNS FOUND THROUGHOUT GEOLOGIC FORMATIONS TELL THE AGE OF MAMMALS WILDLIFE SHARE THE PRYORS WATCHABLE WILDLIFE WILDERNESS PROVIDES HABITAT SAFETY FIRST THEPRYORS AN INTERESTING STORY WITH WILD HORSES FOR WILDLIFE During the last 6S million years, the inland A wildlife viewing route extends from the The Pryor Mountain National Wild Horse Range is sea filled with sediments, and the streams Sage Creek Campground to the Bighom Can­ a remote, rugged area where weather conditions The Pryor Mountains contain a number of caves, The geology of the Pryor Mountains reads like a flowed through lowlands creating some The Wild Horse Range has a diversity of habitat yon National Recreation Area. Three areas within the wild horse range are desig­ can change rapidly at any time of the year. Four some of which are large enough to explore. Caves good biography. The rocks themselves tell a story types and associated wildlife species. Larger nated as BLM wilderness study areas, Burnt swamps and lakes. In this "Age of Mammals, ff wheel drive vehicles will be needed to travel the developed as ground water dissolved limestone that spans from 550 million years to around 100 horses and numerous other mammals evolved. mammal species which might be encountered • Good birding is seen along Sage Creek and Timber Canyon, Pryor Mountain and Big Horn backcountry open roads, particularly Sykes Ridge while slowly moving through cracks and fissures in million years ago. Flowering plants, as well as grasses and include mule deer, bighorn sheep and more rarely, in the canyons. Tack-On. These are managed so as not to impair and Burnt Timber Ridge. Roads are nearly impass­ the rock. The cracks gradually widen to form larger grains first appeared on Earth. elk (near Big Ice Cave), black bears and mountain their wilderness values. Congress will eventually able during inclement weather and difficult in all and larger passageways. The first chapters describe an ancient sea that was lions. • Sage Creek campground is noted for either designate them as wilderness or release them conditions. (See map) filled with aquatic animals and plants. Through Horses evolved in North America and migrated hummingbirds and green-tailed towhees. from consideration. Recreational activities such as If the level of time, the extent and depth of the sea changed. to Asia along the Bering land bridge that hiking, camping, and hunting are allowed within the ground Occasionally, uplift of the land eliminated the sea linked Alaska to Russia . They became extinct • Look for bats roosting along the limestone the interior of the wilderness study areas. Motor­ water is entirely, causing erosion of the rocks and sedi­ in North America about 10,000 years ago, cliffs. ized vehicle travel is restricted to Sykes Ridge and Burnt Timber roads, which separate the wilderness lowered after ments. Layers of different rock types, and their probably due to the changing climate and a cavern has fossils, provide evidence of how the environment over-hunting by the first Americans, who had • A small elk herd Is near the Big Ice Cave, study areas. formed, cave changed. crossed the bridge from Asia to North but is rarely seen. features America. Spanish reintroduced About 200 million years ago during the Middle called stalag­ horses to North America about 500 years ago. • Dry Head Overtook has Cl siunning view mites, stalac­ Triassic era, southern Montana was covered by a that's a good place to see raptors­ tites, soda shallow sea. Fossils of animals such as coral, clams, especially golden eagles. straws or oysters and fish are evidence of this shallow sea. flowstone may develop. During the Middle Jurassic era, about 150 million Photo by Gary Loppart The forma- years ago, slow-moving streams flowed into the Pooto by Garv Leppat1 tions are inland sea and large dinosaurs roamed the western Peregrine falcons, an endangered species, are Travel light and take only what you need (food, produced states. Rocks of the Lower Cretaceous Cloverly nesting in the area since they were reintroduced in water, flashlight, matches, first aid kit, compass, when miner­ Formation have abundant remains of crocodiles, the early 1990s. Other sensitive species include the The bighorn sheep are a unique success story. The etc.). It's easy to get lost so be aware of your loca­ als dissolved turtles and dinosaurs, including the infamous rare spotted bat and Yellowstone cutthroat trout. in the water 'velociraptor,' with its slashing hind claws. These sheep found in the Pryors are originally from a tion when hiking and be aware of steep drop-offs. small herd that was reintroduced into Wyoming's Bring appropriate clothing for changing weather flowing Phoro by BLM, Wyoming animals provide evidence of life along the shores of Ten species of bats exist in numerous caves and northern Bighorn Mountains. During the mid- conditions in the high country. This is rattlesnake through the the inland sea and the rivers that fed it. abandoned mines in the Pryors. The caves and 1970s, they migrated across the ice of Bighorn Lake country, so use caution when walking in brushy cave are mines provide roosting areas which should be and remained on the west side of the Bighorn areas and around rocks. redeposited. Photo by Gary Leppart avoided during the hibernation season of Novem­ HIKING OPPORTUNITIES Canyon where their population increased. These These features are often delicate and caution ber to May, for protection of the bats. sheep have persisted when several other deliberate Potable drinking water is unavailable in the moun­ should be taken to prevent them from being bro­ Hiking opportunities in the Pryor Mountains are attempts at reintroduction failed. tains except at the Sage Creek and Horse Shoe Bend ken. excellent. However, there are no maintained trails. campgrounds (open seasonally). Numerous nongame species inhabit the area, Be sure to take the necessary precautions as you Caves can be very difficult to access and are often venture into the hills. Don't overdo it; know your including about 200 bird species. Blue grouse are Cellular phones will often not transmit in some of very dangerous to navigate. For information on limitations. Tell someone where you are going and popular with hunters and occupy the high eleva­ WILDLIFE AND HORSES ARE WILD. the more rugged areas of the Pryor Mountains. necessary caving equipment, permits and accessi­ when you expect to return. Know how and where tion forests and meadow areas. VIEW FROM A SAFE DISTANCE. Telephones are available at the Wyoming State bility, contact the BLM or the Forest Service. you can get help in an emergency. Tillett Fish Hatchery and Horseshoe Bend Marina. From May - September a phone is also available at the Britton Springs Administrative Site and Corrals. ·. •: