THE CONFLICT BETWEEN CONSERVATION-ORIENTED OFFICIALS ALONG WITH MEMBERS OF THE IZAAK WALTON LEAGUE, AND LAND-USING CATTLE AND SHEEP OWNERS AND THEIR POLITICAL ALLIES IS DETAILED IN THIS MOSTLY CHRONOLOGICAL ACCOUNT. PROBLEMS AROSE WHEN CHANGES IN LAND-USE WERE PROPOSED TO PREVENT THE TOTAL DECIMATION OF PUBLIC LANDS. IN THE EARLY WEST, GRAZING WAS VIRTUALLY UNRESTRICTED, BEFORE ANY MAJOR PART OF THE PUBLIC DOMAIN HAD BEEN PUT UNDER STATUTORY CONTROL. THE CREATION OF THE FOREST SERVICE IN 1905 BEGAN A NEW PHASE OF FEDERAL CONTROL OVER PUBLIC DOMAIN RANGES. THE CHIEF ADVERSARY OF THE FOREST SERVICE WAS THE RANGE-USING PUBLIC, WHICH PROTESTED AN AN EVEN TEMPORARY CURTAILMENT OF ANY LAND USE. THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE PUBLIC DOMAIN UNDER THE BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT, CREATED IN 1946, HAS BEEN CONCERNED WITH FOLLOWING THE GUIDELINES OF THE 1934 TAYLOR GRAZING ACT, WHICH HAS A BUILT-IN BIAS TOWARD THE LIVESTOCK INDUSTRY. THE TAYLOR ACT SET RULES UNDER WHICH RANCHERS WOULD BE CHOSEN TO ENJOY GRAZING PRIVILEGES, FIXED REASONABLE FEES FOR THESE PRIVILEGES, AND ORGANIZED DISTRICTS. THE BOOK EMPHASIZES THE COZY RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LEGISLATORS AND RANCHERS, AND THE ENMITY THESE INDIVIDUALS FELT TOWARD DEDICATED FOREST SERVICE STAFF MEMBERS AND OTHER CONSERVATIONISTS. THE TACTICS AND POLITICAL SCHEMES WHICH WERE USED TO SUBVERT ANY RESTRICTIVE MEASURES ON LAND USE ARE DETAILED, AND EXCERPTS FROM CONGRESSIONAL TESTIMONY ARE INCLUDED. MAPS, TABLES, REFERENCE NOTES, AND AN INDEX ARE PROVIDED. (PRG)