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Due to the extensive impact that wildfires can have and the slow recovery of the ecosystem, it is common practice to re-seed the affected area in the fall with native seed species in the hope of reducing weed dominance. Abscisic acid (ABA) could be used in the coating of rangeland seeds and delay germination until spring when environmental conditions are more suitable for seedling establishment. We evaluated how 7 different ABA seed coating rates influenced seed germination timing of bluebunch wheatgrass at 5 different temperatures. Wet thermal accumulation models were then developed to predict seed germination timing. These models use curvilinear equations where the germination rate (inverse time to 50% germination in a population) is a function of soil temperature. These equations were applied to historical field temperature and moisture data from various sites in the Great Basin to estimate germination timing and establish the practicality of ABA coatings as a conservation practice. The historical field data was taken from the Sagebrush Steppe Treatment Evaluation Project (SageSTEP). This information has been gathered over a 10-year period from 19 different sites. Germination models applied to SageSTEP data predicted that application rates of 2.2 g or greater of ABA kg-1 of seed was sufficient to delay germination of October planted seed until the end of March. Field research is needed to verify the accuracy of ABA seed germination models and evaluate if the technology will improve seedling establishment.