I'm a Rancher, and graze my cattle on BLM Land

[OH58D]

The Cliven Bundy discussions seem to create a lot of varying opinions as to whether he is right or wrong, or is the government getting out of control, etc. etc. If you will permit, let me give you one example of a ranch that actually has a good working relationship with the Bureau of Land Management.

My family homesteaded former Spanish Land Grant property at the end of 1878 and early 1879. This was a time in New Mexico when the Native Population and White Population were equally wild and violent; gunfighters, rustlers, or Apaches and Kiowas, etc. My great grandfather and his brother were of the wild White population, doing a little rustling on the side while aiding the law at the time Billy the Kid was on the run. When not involved in those activities, they were enjoying the saloons of Las Vegas to Fort Sumner and even into Tascosa, Texas and getting into minor shooting skirmishes. My great grandfather's brother died in 1919 and he had evidence of 4 healed bullet wounds in his body.

This ranch is located @ 70 road miles east of Las Vegas, New Mexico and we have just over 10,000 acres of deeded land, and we lease anywhere between 5000 to 7500 acres of BLM land, and 2000-4000 acres of State Land. We presently run around 450 head of cattle and 65 horses, some broke and some wild. We front the Canadian River on the east bank for several miles with water rights, and we have four wells.

I left this ranch after High School, went to college on an ROTC scholarship, became a commissioned officer and became an Army Aviator, seeing combat the first time in Operation Urgent Fury, 1983. I served for 22 years and would have tried for 30, but my father passed away and I took over the family ranch business.

We utilize government BLM land to prevent over grazing of our own land. We move cattle to different range areas to protect a natural resource, which is prairie grasses. You run too many cattle over one area, you destroy the grasses and could take a decade or more to repair itself. In this area it takes about 50 acres to support one head of cattle, due to the fact we get only around 12 inches of rain per year. My ranch house sits at 6200 foot altitude and the higher up you are, the more rain you get out here.

We have been paying for BLM grazing leases for years. The leases control the amount of cattle that can be run on that area. Without these controls, an unlimited number of ranchers could run cattle over the land and it would ruin it for everyone. The two main groups who use BLM land are ranching interests and mineral, oil and gas interests. If you are using the land in a money making enterprise, you pay to use it. Everyone else has free access to BLM for hunting, hiking, camping, etc. BLM land offers multiple simultaneous use, meaning a gas exploration company may be drilling while I'm running cows. We communicate with each other and no problems.

The BLM rangers I interact with are cowboys themselves and are friends of the family. It's not uncommon for them to share a pot of coffee with me and my hands during round up. BLM and State Vets are also an asset when it comes to controlling diseases found in cattle. We are not interested in starting any trouble with the government over grazing fees and leases. Would I like to not pay them? Sure, but I am using land that is available to all other citizens, except I make a profit from that land, and I am glad there are checks and balances to keep that land from being overused and ruined.

In the case of Cliven Bundy, this is the case of a 21st Century Rancher with a 19th Century mentality. I don't agree with the non-payment of grazing fees, but I don't condone the large paramilitary show of force by BLM and Park Service Rangers, supplemented by ex-special forces operators. Add to that the "First Amendment" areas they set up which was just an insult to every American who believes in our Constitutional Rights.

Not all of my dealings with the BLM have been perfect. A year ago the County Sheriff and friend of mine set up a meeting with the BLM in Las Vegas, New Mexico and hundreds of ranchers over the protection of the Prairie Sage-Grouse. Two of the representatives who showed up from the BLM were wearing full tactical gear and sporting M4s. The Sheriff informed the two BLM "operators" that they weren't needed and asked them to leave. Some of us thought it was a strange display since this had never happened before, and they were not from our area. I spent my Army career working with Special Operations so I wasn't shocked, but these old time ranchers were a little put off by it.

I think this whole thing in Nevada could have been avoided without the government sending in BLM SWAT. However, nut jobs like the Hell's Half Acre Constitutional Militia comprised of Bubbas in Buicks, or Jimmy Yeager and his Posse from Tennessee are a distraction, bad for PR and are dangerous. People like Yeager are bullet magnets and if any shooting starts, you don't want to be around him. When the BLM backed down, it was ordinary families on horseback, including women and pre-teens on horseback backing down the Feds. I am the first to admit that the Federal Government may be exhibiting signs of soft tyranny, but I don't have a hard-on for the start of Civil War #2 or praying for SHTF. I want to live an normal life and hope my kids and grand kids can also enjoy the Great Country I've had the privilege of living in.

[TehLlama]

I haven't heard anything but positive interactions with the BLM within the borders of NM, and that matches my own experience.

The only part of the entire Bundy/BLM interaction which seemed like a flashpoint was when the BLM denied his permit renewal request with around a thousand head of cattle and replied that they'd only approve the next one for around 150; that right there is enough to end a ranching livelihood.

[SteyrAUG]

The Cliven Bundy discussions seem to create a lot of varying opinions as to whether he is right or wrong, or is the government getting out of control, etc. etc. If you will permit, let me give you one example of a ranch that actually has a good working relationship with the Bureau of Land Management.

My family homesteaded former Spanish Land Grant property at the end of 1878 and early 1879. This was a time in New Mexico when the Native Population and White Population were equally wild and violent; gunfighters, rustlers, or Apaches and Kiowas, etc. My great grandfather and his brother were of the wild White population, doing a little rustling on the side while aiding the law at the time Billy the Kid was on the run. When not involved in those activities, they were enjoying the saloons of Las Vegas to Fort Sumner and even into Tascosa, Texas and getting into minor shooting skirmishes. My great grandfather's brother died in 1919 and he had evidence of 4 healed bullet wounds in his body.

This ranch is located @ 70 road miles east of Las Vegas, New Mexico and we have just over 10,000 acres of deeded land, and we lease anywhere between 5000 to 7500 acres of BLM land, and 2000-4000 acres of State Land. We presently run around 450 head of cattle and 65 horses, some broke and some wild. We front the Canadian River on the east bank for several miles with water rights, and we have four wells.

I left this ranch after High School, went to college on an ROTC scholarship, became a commissioned officer and became an Army Aviator, seeing combat the first time in Operation Urgent Fury, 1983. I served for 22 years and would have tried for 30, but my father passed away and I took over the family ranch business.

We utilize government BLM land to prevent over grazing of our own land. We move cattle to different range areas to protect a natural resource, which is prairie grasses. You run too many cattle over one area, you destroy the grasses and could take a decade or more to repair itself. In this area it takes about 50 acres to support one head of cattle, due to the fact we get only around 12 inches of rain per year. My ranch house sits at 6200 foot altitude and the higher up you are, the more rain you get out here.

We have been paying for BLM grazing leases for years. The leases control the amount of cattle that can be run on that area. Without these controls, an unlimited number of ranchers could run cattle over the land and it would ruin it for everyone. The two main groups who use BLM land are ranching interests and mineral, oil and gas interests. If you are using the land in a money making enterprise, you pay to use it. Everyone else has free access to BLM for hunting, hiking, camping, etc. BLM land offers multiple simultaneous use, meaning a gas exploration company may be drilling while I'm running cows. We communicate with each other and no problems.

The BLM rangers I interact with are cowboys themselves and are friends of the family. It's not uncommon for them to share a pot of coffee with me and my hands during round up. BLM and State Vets are also an asset when it comes to controlling diseases found in cattle. We are not interested in starting any trouble with the government over grazing fees and leases. Would I like to not pay them? Sure, but I am using land that is available to all other citizens, except I make a profit from that land, and I am glad there are checks and balances to keep that land from being overused and ruined.

In the case of Cliven Bundy, this is the case of a 21st Century Rancher with a 19th Century mentality. I don't agree with the non-payment of grazing fees, but I don't condone the large paramilitary show of force by BLM and Park Service Rangers, supplemented by ex-special forces operators. Add to that the "First Amendment" areas they set up which was just an insult to every American who believes in our Constitutional Rights.

Not all of my dealings with the BLM have been perfect. A year ago the County Sheriff and friend of mine set up a meeting with the BLM in Las Vegas, New Mexico and hundreds of ranchers over the protection of the Prairie Sage-Grouse. Two of the representatives who showed up from the BLM were wearing full tactical gear and sporting M4s. The Sheriff informed the two BLM "operators" that they weren't needed and asked them to leave. Some of us thought it was a strange display since this had never happened before, and they were not from our area. I spent my Army career working with Special Operations so I wasn't shocked, but these old time ranchers were a little put off by it.

I think this whole thing in Nevada could have been avoided without the government sending in BLM SWAT. However, nut jobs like the Hell's Half Acre Constitutional Militia comprised of Bubbas in Buicks, or Jimmy Yeager and his Posse from Tennessee are a distraction, bad for PR and are dangerous. People like Yeager are bullet magnets and if any shooting starts, you don't want to be around him. When the BLM backed down, it was ordinary families on horseback, including women and pre-teens on horseback backing down the Feds. I am the first to admit that the Federal Government may be exhibiting signs of soft tyranny, but I don't have a hard-on for the start of Civil War #2 or praying for SHTF. I want to live an normal life and hope my kids and grand kids can also enjoy the Great Country I've had the privilege of living in.

If only everyone involved were as normal and reasonable as you.

[Moose-Knuckle]

A year ago the County Sheriff and friend of mine set up a meeting with the BLM in Las Vegas, New Mexico and hundreds of ranchers over the protection of the Prairie Sage-Grouse. Two of the representatives who showed up from the BLM were wearing full tactical gear and sporting M4s. The Sheriff informed the two BLM "operators" that they weren't needed and asked them to leave.

Yeah, that is alarming. Mission creep anyone?

OP, thanks for your post and giving us some insider information on the whole rancher / BLM relationship. Off topic but is any of your spread in or around Rio Arriba County?

[Mauser KAR98K]

OH58D: Great for you to post this. Finding good information from those who do deal with the BLM is good to hear. You mirror my thoughts on the Bundy escapades to a "T". He needs to pay the fees, and remove his cattle off BLM lands. I do, however, think this situation has opened up the escalating enforcment tactics that are paramilitary to civilians, and Harry Reid's dealings in Nevada. Cutting Bundy down to 150 head of cattle would certainly hurt him, like it did to the durrounding ranchers.

The whole thing stinks.

I do have one dispute with your post. James Yeager is not a bullet magnet, but a ditch magnet.

[ABNAK]

OH58D: Great for you to post this. Finding good information from those who do deal with the BLM is good to hear. You mirror my thoughts on the Bundy escapades to a "T". He needs to pay the fees, and remove his cattle off BLM lands. I do, however, think this situation has opened up the escalating enforcment tactics that are paramilitary to civilians, and Harry Reid's dealings in Nevada. Cutting Bundy down to 150 head of cattle would certainly hurt him, like it did to the durrounding ranchers.

The whole thing stinks.

I do have one dispute with your post. James Yeager is not a bullet magnet, but a ditch magnet.

Remember he said this meeting he had with the BLM "operators" was a year ago, so apparently the paramilitary trend started some time ago, i.e. pre-Bundy. However, he has written a very level-headed post and it is refreshing to read it.

Regarding the "operator-ness" of police agencies, do you know that the Dept. of freaking Education has a tactical team? WTF??????

Bundy isn't the guy to hitch your gubment-hatin' wagons to. That said, the increasing occurrences of LEO's (Fed or otherwise) playing "soldier" are becoming all too frequent. This does NOTHING to calm the waters with the governed; in fact, it breeds resentment and seems to be fostering pushback which will one day turn deadly I predict.

[Eurodriver]

Fifty acres to support one head? That's insane. I didn't grow up on a farm, but I grew up next to one. They didn't feed them grain and they did about 1 head for every 2 acres. They might have been understocked, too.

Thanks for the post.

[Redbeardsong]

Fifty acres to support one head? That's insane. I didn't grow up on a farm, but I grew up next to one. They didn't feed them grain and they did about 1 head for every 2 acres. They might have been understocked, too.

Thanks for the post.

Where did you grow up? Maybe your farm had more grass than they do in NM?

[Eurodriver]

Where did you grow up? Maybe your farm had more grass than they do in NM?

The South. We absolutely had more grass than NM, he mentioned they get 12 inches of rain per year in the OP. We get three times that easily.

My post wasn't to "call him out", just expressing my amazement.

[Whiskey_Bravo]

The only part of the entire Bundy/BLM interaction which seemed like a flashpoint was when the BLM denied his permit renewal request with around a thousand head of cattle and replied that they'd only approve the next one for around 150; that right there is enough to end a ranching livelihood.

I think this is the part that a lot of people overlook and go straight to the unpaid fees. 1000 head to 150 means the end of your ranching business. Right or wrong, his protest of not paying started with this as he paid the grazing fees before he was told he could only have 150 head.