New enforcement agenda

[Kofoed]

I am what I think an upstanding guy. When I am in the desert, I behave in a polite manner. I dress in levis, not decked out in camo (except when I used to hunt). I drive a clean, complete vehicle, with current tags, etc. No yahoo here.

I am pro-law enforcement. My brother is a cop.

The last 5 times I've been out, 3 times I have been given the third degree by either the BLM or NPS. All 3 times I have been parked, engine off, out of the car with a camera. I've rousted more times off road in the last 2 years than the last 10 in the city and I drive A LOT.

I am losing repsect for, and begining not to trust the BLM and NPS. I haven't yet had a problem with the FS.

Anyone else having a problem?

[Jomama]

I have several friends/co-workers who have recently fled the National Park Service, both with Term positions, and the likelyhood of promotion to permanent postitions. They wanted to be career Park Rangers, not Anti-Terrorist law enforcement. After 2 yrs of anti-terrorism training, they just got fed up.

I expect less and less service, and proactive management on Federal Lands nowadays, as they've long since been underfunded, and now are being mandated to provide all types of Homeland Security support... I expect more incidents like this in the future, especially in parks/fed lands in boarder states. Its not their mission, its not their function.

[Pskhaat]

What were they saying? Were they querying you?

[calamaridog]

I have not personally had a problem with any BLM or NPS personel. The NPS Rangers up at Yosemite are under investigation for several arrests they have made in the last few years due to excessive force complaints.

Remember, theses guys are all under the umbrela of the Homeland Security mess. They are being asked to do things they are not trained or equipped for. They are spread so thin that it isn't even funny.

Several "Park Rangers" have been killed in the last few years by "real" criminals, including drug runners and smugglers. I think this may have them on edge?

I don't envy the job the BLM or NPS officers are being asked to do. And they are paid way less than Border Patrol, at least they used to be.

[Kofoed]

All times I was stopped, side of the road, engine off, camera in hand twice.

It is obvious that the smile and wave policy of yore is gone.

Hopefully the Forest Service is different (USDA versus Dept of Interior)

I thinking Homeland Security mandates.

[haystax]

How about this...

[Kofoed]

Originally Posted by haystax

How about this...

Geez.

It says copyright 2002 on it, so it looks to be pre-9/11 anit-terror stuff

What was going on there?

Photochop?

[haystax]

No photochop - that is the real deal and has nothing to do with 9/11 terror bullshit

That photo was taken at the Palomino Valley, CA BLM Wild Horse & Burro facility when some cattle were rounded up and confiscated in southern Nevada and hauled to the feedlot facility for sale due to alegged cattle grazing tresspass.

Long story short... an old cranky rancher got fed up with his BLM arrangement and lack of feed due to too many wild horses on his allotments and left his cattle out, BLM called it "tresspass" and impounded his cattle, circumvented Nevada brand inspection laws, and there was a group of protestors outside the fedlot in Palomino Valley when the whole thing went down.

This guy was reaching in his truck for a camera and the BLM dude went schizo and drew his gun and almost shot the guy

BLM out here likes to let everyone know who really runs the show on "their" public lands

[spressomon]

Originally Posted by haystax

No photochop - that is the real deal and has nothing to do with 9/11 terror bullshit

That photo was taken at the Palomino Valley, CA BLM Wild Horse & Burro facility when some cattle were rounded up and confiscated in southern Nevada and hauled to the feedlot facility for sale due to alegged cattle grazing tresspass.

Long story short... an old cranky rancher got fed up with his BLM arrangement and lack of feed due to too many wild horses on his allotments and left his cattle out, BLM called it "tresspass" and impounded his cattle, circumvented Nevada brand inspection laws, and there was a group of protestors outside the fedlot in Palomino Valley when the whole thing went down.

This guy was reaching in his truck for a camera and the BLM dude went schizo and drew his gun and almost shot the guy

BLM out here likes to let everyone know who really runs the show on "their" public lands

Isn't Palomino Valley in Nevada?

[spressomon]

Originally Posted by haystax

No photochop - that is the real deal and has nothing to do with 9/11 terror bullshit

That photo was taken at the Palomino Valley, CA BLM Wild Horse & Burro facility when some cattle were rounded up and confiscated in southern Nevada and hauled to the feedlot facility for sale due to alegged cattle grazing tresspass.

Long story short... an old cranky rancher got fed up with his BLM arrangement and lack of feed due to too many wild horses on his allotments and left his cattle out, BLM called it "tresspass" and impounded his cattle, circumvented Nevada brand inspection laws, and there was a group of protestors outside the fedlot in Palomino Valley when the whole thing went down.

This guy was reaching in his truck for a camera and the BLM dude went schizo and drew his gun and almost shot the guy

BLM out here likes to let everyone know who really runs the show on "their" public lands

Like what they did to the Dann sisters? Pathetic.

[ridgerunner]

There is a wild horse corral by the BLM barracks I work out of during the summer. A few years ago someone let the horses out and planted some home made bombs around the corral. They weren't detonated, but they gave everyone quite a scare. Whack jobs like that are causing the increased awareness of what is going on on public land.

Also last summer we were told to report any suspecious characters we came across- the whole 9/11 scare has lead to a security gate being put around the engine house and BLM office in po'dunk Wyoming, I can't imagine what it is like in areas that have more usage. I don't forsee it getting better before it gets worse.

[Jomama]

Thread Drift here:

Ridgerunner?

Did you name yourself after the guy who lived in the Idaho wilderness in the early 1900's??? I read the book a few years back. Phenominal tale.

[ridgerunner]

You mean Bill Morland?

[Jomama]

I guess so, couldnt remember his name. Passed the book onto my dad.