More dollars than sense.
Buzz, thanks for your efforts and for the regular, detailed updates. This issue has legs, it could actually make a difference and break the landlock private owners have long enjoyed on diagonal public land sections.
This from p. 19 resonates: "Despite Elk Mountain Ranch's claims, this common corner is literally composed of equal parts private property and public property. Consequently, the public retains, as both a matter of course and logic, a correspondingly equal right to use and access this common corner."
And from p.23, "The simple fact is that the UIA prohibits Elk Mountain Ranch and other private landowners from preventing corner crossing from one section of public land to another section of public land."
No problem and its a handful of dedicated folks that are working this. Its been as interesting/rewarding as it is frustrating at times having to be the only ones willing to live out on the edge.
I never thought I'd experience some of the things I have when we took this on, some really good, some leaving me shaking my head in total disbelief.
Not to dwell on the bad, but having to go this largely alone isn't comfortable.
The good, is we have received massive support from public land advocates...some have stepped up individually and as companies in a pretty big way. I didn't expect that and when we started the gofundme I was sweating even raising enough for retainers.
Many hunttalkers have stepped up huge as well with donations, time, etc. and in some cases both. Mulecreek and JM77, just to name a couple, deserve a lot more thanks than they'll likely ever get. These guys are solid on public land, hunting, fishing, trapping and all things conservation.
But, what I also found impressive is how many supporters there were that donated what they could, and everyone that threw in even $5 to the gofund me account really left an impression on us. Its pretty obvious folks were giving what they could, when they likely didn't have a lot. The donation from Australia was also a wake-up call to me, that the reach and attraction to public lands in the US is important to more than just our Citizens.
Another positive is the sheer number of attorneys that have reached out to us to offer up whatever help they can to see this thing through. All of them offering help pro-bono. I haven't kept a running total, but at least a dozen, probably more. Our Wyoming Chapter Coordinator has kept track and is contact with them as the case develops and/or putting them in contact with the lawyers defending the hunters.
These things have kept those of us involved most closely fueled to continue on and see this thing through.
On our board call last night, I guess I have the quote of the year according to one of our board members when I said, without really thinking, as we were discussing what we could have done better or differently:
"We have done pretty damn good for not knowing what the F_&^ we're doing"....
More to follow.
