[Milton Miteybad]

Apparently the animals have been successfully grazing in the area for >100 years.

I'm sure that's true; otherwise, grazing leases in the area would have no particular value. The federal land Bundy was running his cattle on obviously must have been of some use in grazing cattle; otherwise, why would Bundy have kept his cattle out there?

Here's the central question: Should the BLM let a renegade rancher graze his cattle on public lands without payment, especially when all the other ranchers who lease BLM lands are paying? If you're going to be fair to the other tenant ranchers, not to mention the taxpayers, the answer is "no."

[Paladin2]

The Feds shut down the access to the allotment in 1998 by fraudulent use of the Endangered Species Act.