He could have challenged the US govt’s ownership in court (good luck with that), but didn’t. As a matter of fact he paid grazing fees to the BLM (thus acknowledging the govt’s ownership) before the BLM stopped grazing. Bundy doesn’t have a leg to stand on and should be charged every dime in grazing fees, penalties, interest, and court and enforcement costs due to a situation he created.
So, if a bad man with a lot of gunhands behind him tells me that I can’t graze my cattle, on land he can’t legally own, unless I pay him money, I’m then, and forever after, acknowledging his rightful ownership of that land?