Psalm 128
“Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord,
Who walks in His ways.
When you eat the fruit of the labor of your hands, You will be happy and it will go well for you. Your wife will be like a fruitful vine Within your house, Your children like olive plants Around your table. Behold, for so shall a man Who fears the Lord be blessed. “
Next time some city dork tells you that we need to privatize and sell BLM land because it’s worthless or ugly compared to our national parks, remember that Steens Mountain and its scenic drive exist. One of the most remarkable bighorn sheep restorations in America, native redband trout in the Donner und Blitzen River (named by U.S. Army Captain George Currey when he saw thunder and lightning chasing the Paiute Indians), and a drive that showcases all the ecology of the west.
The BLM reintroduction of California bighorn to Steens Mountain started with just 11 sheep. Over time, the herd stabilized and became the subject of one of the most comprehensive scientific studies of bighorn ever conducted, the Van Dyke Oregon State research (Go Beavs). Much of what we know about population dynamics, habitat use, and lamb survival is from the Steens Herd. Hunter generated revenue paid for much of the bighorn restoration with coveted auction raffle tags providing almost all funding for capture, transfers, research, and habitat. Restoration couldn’t have been paid for without hunters opening their wallets.
BLM land is the ultimate American land, you can hunt, fish, shoot, and bring back iconic American wildlife as is your heritage, American. Maybe you to this drive this summer? Maybe you check out another BLM parcel near you?
“Lord, you have been our refuge in every generation. Before the mountains were born, before you gave birth to the earth and the world, from eternity to eternity, you are God.”