Wrong.
People can be and are just as much a threat to the herd as “wild” predators. Think stock rustling... You cannot expect a dog to discern the difference between a hiker approaching his herd, versus a rustler approaching his herd. I doubt even a person could reliably discern this...
Your right to tramp about in the woods is no greater than a grazing lease holder’s right to protect his stock.
Now, whether or not public lands should have permits for stock grazing is a valid question, but is not the subject of this article...
“Your right to tramp about in the woods is no greater than a grazing lease holder’s right to protect his stock.”
I know,, it’s exactly the same, not greater. If another hiker went crazed and came after me with a hatchet, because he mistakenly thought i stole his lawnchair,,, then i can defend myself.
Likewise,, if the dog says “say,,that human over there is probably a rustler, i had better attack him”, then i can defend myself if he doesn’t stop his attack.
The sheepherders security system needs to reflect reality. Just as he cannot fire shots at anyone passing by on a mountain bike or ATV,, his dog may not attack me.
He knew that when he started to graze in an area that is already densely used for recreation, long before he became a “rancher”.