Wednesday, March 2, 2016

The Harassment of the Hammonds – Act I – Scene 2 – October 24 1986 – March 20 1987

 http://allnewspipeline.com/images/HammondFamily1.jpg

Note: Numbers shown thus, {nn} refer to PDF page numbers in the "Hammond Legal Trailing Part I" PDF file. 

On October 24, 1986, Dwight Hammond met with the Tom Downs, Dave Johnson, and the Assistant Refuge Manager, to discuss stray cattle and "trailing", the means of herding to move cattle from one location to another.  Dwight discussed his practice during round up, and what he did with strays that were collected with his herd.  {2-3} He didn't think that he should notify people when he trailed his cattle, based upon "past prior rights and/or privileges". 

Apparently, a new policy was being implemented that placed even more obligations on an already hard working rancher.

When on the Refuge land, Dwight would allow his cattle to rest, and when they did, they grazed on grass that was not on his allotment.  A Telephone Conversation Record, dated Feb. 13, 1987 {4}, provides notes of the conversation, within the agencies.

In a letter from Lawrence W. De Bates, Assistant Regional Director, Fish and Wildlife Services (FWS) {10}, dated February 20, 1987, based upon a meeting on the 17th, the follow-up implies that Dwight must move his cattle at a pace determined by the Refuge, and they should not graze off the assigned trail.  He further defends the fencing within the Refuge "for wildlife management purposes".  Finally, he requires Dwight to get a permit to trail his cattle on the reserve.  This is the first instance of requiring a permit to trail his cattle. 


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