The Dugout Ranch grew from a 320-acre homestead with about 250 cattle to become headquarters for a mega-ranching operation. With at least 8,000 cattle on no less than 3,100 square miles of private, state, and federal lands, there was little doubt that it had more cattle than was sustainable. Overgrazing was widespread in the West, and numerous scientific studies theorized about causes and remedies. But the theories didn't explain how science and politics affected actual ranch operations, and that is what makes the history of the Dugout Ranch unique. 

Although there were bigger ranches in the West, they operated on private lands, whereas the Dugout was completely reliant on federally managed ranges. The Dugout Ranch held the biggest Forest Service cattle permit ever issues to a single outfit and had the largest Bureau of Land Management cattle grazing lease in southeastern Utah, making the ranch possibly the largest public land grazing operation in the nation. 

As ranchers sought economic success, federal agencies strove to monitor and protect the land, creating a sometimes contentious relationship. Scientific theories and procedures often clashed with the reality of droughts, rugged terrain, and insufficient budgets. The resulting struggles and outcomes reveal a unique story of western ranching from the perspectives for both ranchers and government officials. 

Author: Lee Bennett

Softcover

Pages: 412

Size: 9 x 6 inches

#6669