Range War in the Gila

[Phantom Hunter]

Does anyone know what is going on between the Forest Service and the Laney family that ranches in the Gila? Saw a new blurb that the FS was trying to confiscate thier cattle and move them.

Phantom Hunter

 

[RLH]

which laney's? the ones from luna?

 

[Bambistew]

I saw that a while ago... aperntely they feel like they can run their cattle on the forest for as long as they want! I hope they get taken to the cleaners.

 

[Phantom Hunter]

RLH,

Don't know the family, the news blurb just said a Kit Laney of the Diamond Bar Ranch. Just wondered what was going on.

Phantom Hunter

 

[RuttCrazed]

Here is the story I came arcross:

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,112543,00.html

Rut

 

[Hawkk33]

No clear winners on this one. Alot of ranchers have the sense of entitlement where grazing on public lands is concerned or so it seems. I think its the low amount they pay for the use of those lands that makes then fight so hard to keep those allotments or are they raised to keep up with inflation and to pay for some of the USFS costs of managing the grazing allotments?

Either way I know they dont pay 15 per AUM like John Q rancher leasing the same type of allotment in 2004 leasing the same type of grazing land ..right ? they pay the 1883 grazing fee ?

Funny how the Feds let the state boss them around.

 

[ovis2]

Having spent a fair amount of time hunting the Aldo Leopold wilderness down there, I have some first hand knowledge of the area. I would have to say the Laney operation severely overgrazed the grasses and tore up much of what little riparian habitat is down there. It just got worse and worse every year. It is actually one of the most over-used (from a grazing standpoint) national forests I have ever seen. I am not against multiple use at all, but this is an extreme example of very poor land management and my feeling is the ranch operator felt it was his land to do with it what he wanted, the rest of the world be damned. He wouldn't reduce his cattle herd or repair the stream areas, so, in my opinion, he has justifiably used up his right to the national forest.

 

[ELKMAN]

That area is stuck in the era of the late 1880's. I would not doubt, if there is a big shoot out down there!

 

[RLH]

catron county is a wreck. i sorta sympathize with folks there some, but they go about everything the wrong way. instead of fightin' in the system, they just threaten everyone. what a wierd place. for a long time, when scarface was still in power, i wouldn't even travel through the county. i know some of the laneys. not bad folks, but some of em are little too independent. you always lose in the end. might make a guy feel sorta powerfull for awhile, but they will take ya down. look at what happened to the klumps in s.e. Az. and to the patterson place south of big lake. they ignored and fought everything until the feds brought in a buncha cowboys and rounded everything up and kicked em off. patterson had to pay some huge fines. the klumps got fined, but i doubt they ever paid em. anyway, sounds sorta like the laneys are in for some o' the same.