Why travel to Grant County? Because he was denied use of meeting halls in Harney County.
Denied by whom? First by Sheriff Dave Ward and then by County Judge Steven Grasty. (Grasty appointed Ward sheriff).
In Oregon “county judge” is retained in some counties as the title of the Chair of the Board of County Commissioners. This is the case in Harney County, Grasty his Chair of the Board of County Commissioners. His judicial authority is limited to probate only.
So first the Sheriff of Harney County and then the Chair of the Harney County Board of County Commissioners denied use of meeting halls in Harney County.
Having been denied use of meeting halls in Harney County, Bundy was going to a public meeting in neighboring Grant County to explain his plan for leaving MWR. Grant County Sheriff Palmer was expected to attend.
Oregon State Police and FBI did not allow Bundy to attend this meeting.