[HairOfTheDog]

There was never a problem with overgrazing - they didn't want to denude the range of vegetation...it would have killed their livlihood and and starved them into oblivion. The problem started when the Federal Government in Washington DC thought they were better land stewards and took possession of millions and millions of acres in the west.

I think that's a bit simplistic... The problem is sheer numbers of people and cattle then versus now as well.

[colorcountry]

Okay, you didn't "disparage" cattlemen. I took your comment to mean "large" cattle operation like that of Con Agra as opposed to the small-time cattle ranchers that exist is most of the Intermountain West.

I think that's a bit simplistic... The problem is sheer numbers of people and cattle then versus now as well.

We're talking about Northen Nevada and Western Utah, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming...there is no "population explosion" in the region as far as I know. This is a fallacy of people that live in populated areas (mostly blue States). I'm sorry, I didn't mean to come across as rude. I think you are a great horsewoman and a insightful conservative. I just get very emotional (...oh yeah, lets leave emotion out of this) when there is talk about my homeland.