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> The saddest part is that the open range ranching in desert Southwest is not even profitable without large subsidies and support by the taxpayer.

Curious if you have any specific examples of this?

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The entire idea is a work of fiction (I live in the SW desert). diebir went on a hike and saw beautiful public lands being utilized by ranchers utilizing their public grazing (which they pay for, though perhaps not enough which is subjective). All cattle ranchers that I've ever seen in 25 years have their own land, but depending on the season they lease rights from the BLM.

It's very strange for people to live their whole lives doing some activity in a rural area, then some city person spends a couple weeks in the area, and suddenly these people are being attacked.

I'm not validating what the parent comments was saying. Just seeing if I could get examples of these kinds of operations, specifically in NM and AZ. I know of Ted Turner, but from what I could find most of these "well fare" ranchers aren't really ranchers. Instead they are people who made their money some other way and bought up a bunch of land. I know a few people who lease forest land ... I don't envy them.

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