Nevada ranching family claims victory as government releases cattle (excellent reporting)

Reuters ^ | April 12, 2014 | By Jennifer Dobner

[Mariner]

BUNKERVILLE, Nevada (Reuters) - U.S. officials ended a stand-off with hundreds of armed protesters in the Nevada desert on Saturday, calling off the government's roundup of cattle it said were illegally grazing on federal land and giving about 300 animals back to the rancher who owned them.

The dispute less than 80 miles northeast of Las Vegas between rancher Cliven Bundy and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management had simmered for days. Bundy had stopped paying fees for grazing his cattle on the government land and officials said he had ignored court orders.

Anti-government groups, right-wing politicians and gun-rights activists camped around Bundy's ranch to support him in a standoff that tapped into long-simmering anger in Nevada and other Western states, where vast tracts of land are owned and governed by federal agencies.

[B4Ranch]

This is #1 of 75 videos on the subject. It might be an idea to download them all considering what happened at the Bundy Ranch this past week.<

SNIPER 101 Part 1 - Introduction - Rex Reviews

Published on Sep 9, 2012

Snipers, hunters, target shooters, ladies and gentlemen... Finally, Rex Reviews releases this long awaited free online long range shooting / sniper tutorial. TiborasaurusRex will walk you through everything you will need to know about sniper ammunition and cartridge selection, rifle and equipment options, basic and advanced external ballistics, making effective ballistic charts, rangefinders and distance determination, long range marksmanship, shooter / spotter team dynamics and communication, choosing a FFP, making the shot, spotting the shot, and much more.

This course goes far beyond what is covered in the U.S. Army FM23-10. So, if you can't make it to Quantico or the AMTU to learn these long range shooting skills, this video tutorial series will have you covered. We will get you set up to make amazingly accurate first round shots at 1 mile and beyond. Do you want to be able to zap that white tail buck at 1,275 yards and be confident it will be a nice clean kill? Watch this series!

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[B4Ranch]

>>Now, they just take your picture and send it and ALL your information to DHS where they imbed the ‘chip’ and make your new license.<<

Wrap your license in foil and put it in your wallet. That way it can’t be read as you walk the halls of government buildings.

[Mariner]

"If I had managed that gift from the government for years, I might be tempted to take arms to defend my gravy train too"

Gift from the government? Really?

Gee, whose the owner of all that open space? The government?

Have they now become our masters...so that we must now seek as gifts that which was always ours?

[9YearLurker]

When the rights go specifically to one citizen, though we’re all taxpayers, it’s a gift.

In other contexts it would be considered “crony capitalism”.

[1_Rain_Drop]

Is that a photo from Bunkerville?
The dude must be sweating buckets.
Why the headdress?

Very disturbing photo.

[stevie_d_64]

Was this all of them???

From what I understand each animal is tagged and their number and disposition is logged away from receipt, raising, then to slaughter...

And were they returned in good condition???

These are a couple of things I would make damn well sure of either way...

[Mariner]

"When the rights go specifically to one citizen, though we’re all taxpayers, it’s a gift."

That's not the reasoning of a free man. It's not a government-owned right that they can selectively award.

The American people have a right to use the vast holdings that BLM keeps locked up until such time as they choose to award it's benefits and produce to the politically connected.

Every rancher in America now paying grazing fees should stop. Stop paying for the use of the land that nobody else is interested in using or improving.

[stevie_d_64]

“The dispute between Bundy and federal land managers began in 1993 when he stopped paying monthly fees of about $1.35 per cow-calf pair to graze public lands that are also home to imperiled animals such as the Mojave Desert tortoise. The government also claims Bundy has ignored cancellation of his grazing leases and defied federal court orders to remove his cattle.”

This is a lie perpetuated by the media, and has been discounted by that governor of Nevada (Sandoval) that Bundy has not been delinquent on his fees...

The media and the Feds have stated a lie that there were some “retrograde” fees/fines that were not paid...

I would like to know who “they” are making that claim, but I am sure they will hide because of their cowardice to face the public after this politically driven debacle...

So if “they” make this claim, why is Sandoval’s office not coming out publically to dispute the governments’ (Feds) claim...The governor’s office went out on a political limb for the Feds, and the state of Nevada is getting bit because of that...

I wonder if anyone worth their salt will remember this in November???

I have my doubts about the people of Nevada doing anything about this...

I would like to be proven wrong, and the acceptable result would be the country being able to call Harry Reid the former democrat senator from Nevada...

But, I am not going to hold my breath...

[stevie_d_64]

No...That is an old photo from quite a few years ago, IIRC...It is not from the Nevada “standoff”...

[9YearLurker]

Not only are you advocating rampant lawlessness—and presumably, since you seem to be into this Bundy rebellion, violent revolution once the government moves to restore order—but you are advocating an impractical tragedy of the commons on a scale never before contemplated or inflicted upon this planet.

If you don’t like the current laws—there are certainly many I don’t like—you should organize and persuade your fellow citizens to change them.

[12th_Monkey]

don’t do wiki, I’ve used wiki in “conversations” with libs and conservative and both discount it’s accuracy when it doesn’t agree with them.

http://endthelie.com/2011/12/02/the-entire-united-states-is-now-a-war-zone-s-1867-passes-the-senate-with-massive-support/

[UCANSEE2]

Wrap your license in foil and put it in your wallet.

Sounds like I should invest in the tin foil market.

[ourworldawry]

“So the way I understand it is that his family was using the land for many years before the feds got concerned about this tortoise.

They decide it’s endangered so then they start fining him? If that’s the case, the feds can do this to any of us. They can ruin our businesses and take our property. All they have to do is decide a rat, mouse, snail, or turtle is endangered. They can then start fining us and drive us out of home and/or business? That’s crazy.”

---

It’s best you don’t fall for that because that is not the TRUTH. I don’t CARE what neanderthal says. It’s not about turtles or grazing. Any research, does not “start” at the Bundy Ranch, but what is found concerning that eventual standoff, does lead there.

Anyone can find the truth if they seek it. Though it’s not on the surface.

[boycott]

Got it. I read some of your posting history. Makes sense to me.

[ourworldawry]

“Got it. I read some of your posting history. Makes sense to me.”

---

It’ll make even more sense if you do the research yourself to connect all the dots. However, once you connect the first few...the rest seem to connect “themselves”. Many things will not initially seem connected. Though the further you delve, what you will find it IS total madness what is going on behind the power of the throne, and of how LIFE has been one big hoax, here on earth.

It is such total madness, that you too will be strongly inclined not to believe it. But if you ask God to “open” your spiritual eyes...it will be then that you will SEE. The majority DO NOT, and I repeat, DO NOT believe it. And do you know why they don’t believe it? Because they have spiritual blinders on. They refuse to hear the truth.

[Ray76]

Good find.

Here’s their press release announcing their filing a notice of intent to sue the Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Clark County, Nev.

http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/news/press_releases/2012/desert-tortoise-04-30-2012.html

Here’s their reaction to the past few days:

http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/news/press_releases/2014/gold-butte-roundup-04-12-2014.html

[Ray76]

Ping to 96 and 216

[Paladin2]

The next step would be to link up the BLM (and Rustler Reid and his known associates)) and its employees to this NGO first from a financial networking standpoint and then using that info on a personal network basis (including spouses and other family members).

I'd guess that there are a number of BLM employees with strong contact/interaction (just like the IRS, Cummings & (slow) Learner).

I was never too much of a conspiracy theorist, but now have to rethink my position.

[Ray76]

Designated areas are set aside to receive relocated selected species cleared from developing areas. Removal of grazing acreage is part of the establishing of these designated areas.

The Clark County Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan (MSHCP) has "resulted in the removal of 700,000 acres of habitat from cattle grazing."

The County Commissioners "support the development of a Reserve System, consisting of lands currently managed by the BLM, to be transferred to the Permittees [City Managers and others from Las Vegas, Boulder City, Mesquite, and Henderson] for the purposes of long-term conservation of species and mitigation of impacts in the developing areas of Clark County, thereby providing greater control over conservation efforts and maximizing the efficiency of the MSHCP."

See the Community Advisory Committee recommendations report and the Board of County Commissioners' Resolution accepting the report.

[Ray76]

Questions and Answers
Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement
Amendment to the Clark County
Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan and Incidental Take Permit
September 30, 2009

Q.	What is a Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan?
A.	Habitat Conservation Plans (HCPs) are planning documents required as part of an application for an incidental take permit. An incidental take permit is required if a project on non-Federal land may result in “take” of a species listed as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). HCPs describe the anticipated effects of the proposed taking; how those impacts will be minimized or mitigated; and how the HCP is to be funded. HCPs can apply to both listed and non-listed species (multiple species), including those that are candidates or have been proposed for listing. Conserving species before they are in danger of extinction or are likely to become so can also provide early benefits and prevent the need for listing.
Q.	Why does Clark County have such a plan?
A.	Clark County falls within the range of several species that are protected by the ESA, including the desert tortoise and the southwestern willow flycatcher. Since activities associated with urban growth and development (referred to as the covered activities) could result in the incidental take of these protected species, Clark County, the cities of Clark County, and the Nevada Department of Transportation (Permittees) obtained an incidental take permit to legally proceed with their activities that would otherwise result in the unlawful take of listed species. The permit allows for the take of the tortoise and the flycatcher, as well as 76 other non-listed species of concern, in the event that these species become listed during the 30-year permit term. The Permittees were required to develop the MSHCP to ensure that the impacts of taking the covered species would be minimized and mitigated to the maximum extent practicable, and that the taking would not result in appreciably reducing the likelihood of the survival and recovery of the species in the wild.
Q.	How long has the county had the plan?
A.	The Clark County Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan (MSHCP) was completed in late 2000, and the current incidental take permit is effective February 1, 2001 through January 31, 2031.
Q.	Why are the cities in Clark County and the Nevada Department of Transportation included on the Incidental Take Permit with Clark County?
A.	Participation by the cities in Clark County and NDOT allows the MSHCP’s conservation program to operate at an ecosystem or landscape level. This regional approach benefits a wide array of species within the ecosystems being managed, while streamlining ESA compliance for the smaller landowners. This type of HCP encourages local governments to look beyond ESA requirements and take a landscape view at planning for their community.
Q.	What is incidental take?
A.	“Take” is defined in the Endangered Species Act of 1973 as harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect any threatened or endangered species. Harm may include significant habitat modification where it actually kills or injures a listed species through impairment of essential behavior (e.g., nesting or reproduction). Incidental take is defined as take that is incidental to, not the purpose of, carrying out an otherwise lawful activity.
Q.	Does the permit thus allow for the “incidental take” of a certain number of desert tortoises and/or other species protected by the Endangered Species Act?
A.	“Take” of the covered species under the Clark County MSHCP is monitored by tracking the amount of land disturbed as a result of the covered activities. Because individual species are often difficult to detect in the wild and the specific number of individual species affected by the covered activities is unknown or undeterminable, “take” of listed species may be expressed in terms of the number of habitat acres or other appropriate habitat units to be affected. Under the current MSHCP, the permitees are authorized to take covered species on up to 145,000 acres of non- federal land within Clark County, and desert tortoises within Nevada Department of Transportation’s rights-of-way within desert tortoise habitat in Lincoln, Nye, Mineral, and Esmeralda counties. The incidental take permit does not authorize purposeful take of a listed species (whether it be in the form of killing, harassment, or harm). Permittees are required to minimize and mitigate impacts of the taking from their activities to the maximum extent practicable; however, the permit protects the permittees from violations under section 9 of the ESA in the event that a listed species is incidentally taken during the normal course of conducting their lawful activities.
Q.	What kinds of activities can result in incidental take under this permit?
A.	The activities may include, but are not limited to, residential and commercial development, utility and transportation facilities, flood control, parks and recreation, and other capital improvements and operations.
Q.	Clark County has experienced rapid growth and development in recent years. How much habitat has been disturbed under the current MSHCP?
A.	Since 2001, the Permittees have authorized covered activities on approximately 78,000 acres of land under the current MSHCP and permit, which is about 54 percent of the total disturbance that was anticipated to occur during the 30-year permit.
Q.	What are the Permittees proposing to change under the amendment to the MSHCP?
A.	The Permitees are proposing to increase the amount of species habitat disturbance that is authorized under the existing MSHCP and permit, expand the conservation program to minimize and mitigate for the increased disturbance, reduce the number of covered species, and revise the permit term of the MSHCP amendment to 50 years.

See the complete document at: http://www.fws.gov/nevada/es/documents/hcp/clark_county/CC-MSHCP-ITD%20Q&A%209-30-09.pdf