MANCOS, COLORADO — Federal attorneys have filed a lawsuit against a group that fenced off more than 1,400 acres of U.S. Forest Service land near Mancos, Colorado, claiming ownership and posting notices that discouraged public use of the area. The suit, filed Tuesday in the U.S. District Court of Colorado, aims to restore lawful public access to the San Juan National Forest land and prevent future encroachments.
The U.S. Department of Justice alleges that Patrick Pipkin, Bryan Hammon, and other individuals associated with a group calling itself the “Free Land Holder Committee” erected several miles of fencing in October 2024. This activity obstructed public access and violated federal laws, including the Unlawful Inclosures Act of 1885 and civil trespass statutes. While some fencing was dismantled by locals, materials such as barbed wire remain scattered on the land.
The disputed area, part of the Chicken Creek section of the Mancos/Dolores Ranger District, is popular for hiking, biking, grazing, and winter sports. It also hosts 500 cattle during the grazing season and thousands of recreational visits annually, according to the U.S. Forest Service.
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Group Claims Historic and Treaty Rights
Pipkin has publicly asserted that his group’s claims are tied to treaties and historical land rights predating U.S. governance. He specifically cited the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848) and the Treaty of Ghent (1814) as part of the group’s justification for fencing the land.
“We are claiming we have the rights to that land through being the habitants and the free land holder,” Pipkin stated, while declining to identify specific Tribal affiliations of the group’s members. He added that the group does not intend to block public access but emphasized its objection to ongoing Forest Service grazing contracts, which are set to expire this year.
Community Backlash and Legal Developments
Local residents expressed outrage at the fencing, dismantling sections of it in October while under the watch of Montezuma County Sheriff’s deputies. Tim Hunter, a long-time Mancos resident, criticized the group’s tactics. “It’s almost unfathomable the way they are going about this,” Hunter said. “They went behind everyone’s back and put up all that fencing. That is totally dishonest.”
The Montezuma County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that it had worked with the group to pause further fencing until the matter could be resolved in court. Sheriff Steve Nowlin emphasized the need for a judicial ruling, stating, “Let a judge decide who’s right and who’s wrong.”
Federal prosecutors, led by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer Lake and Bill Scarpato, seek a court order to remove remaining fencing materials and block further attempts to claim public lands unlawfully. Acting U.S. Attorney Matt Kirsch reiterated the importance of protecting public lands, stating, “Public lands belong to all of us, not to any individual person or group.”
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Historic Land Status at Stake
The land in question was originally acquired by the U.S. in 1927 from a private owner under the Homestead Act. It has since been managed by the Forest Service for multiple uses, including watershed protection, grazing, and recreation. The lawsuit notes that the Chicken Creek area has become a vital recreational hub for the Mancos community and surrounding regions.
Next Steps
The federal lawsuit is in its early stages, and the claims must be proven in court. Meanwhile, the community awaits resolution, frustrated by the delays inherent in legal and bureaucratic processes.
This case underscores ongoing tensions between federal land management and groups claiming historic or sovereign rights to public lands. Similar disputes across the West highlight the complexities of reconciling modern land use with historical claims and perceived injustices.
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