At one time in the 1970s the Nevada Legislature actually claimed federal land in their state. Read up on the Sagebrush Rebellion. Not saying Bundy is right or wrong on his claim, but that is where it came from. I lived in Nevada on a ranch then and I can tell you most ranchers there felt the same way- that it was/should be state land. As much support as Bundy had I would say he is not the only rancher there that thinks that way now.
I think he could have chosen a better legal issue to stand on, but I do believe federal land in the West needs to be turned over to states.
But the meat of the Sagebrush Rebellion, as I understood it, was federal bureaucrats changing the land use from grazing/recreation to wilderness preservation without Congress legislating and without consulting the affected states or communities.