Republican presidential candidate Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., right, in Mesquite, Nev., with Carol and Cliven Bundy, June 29, 2015. (John Locher / AP)

In Mesquite, Paul fielded questions on public land control -- a contentious topic in a state where more than 80 percent of the land is owned by the federal government. In an interview with The Associated Press, Paul said he'd favor transferring federally owned land back to state control.

"I think almost all land use issues and animal issues, endangered species issues, ought to be handled at the state level," he said in an interview with The Associated Press. "I think that the government shouldn't interfere with state decisions, so if a state decides to have medical marijuana or something like that, it should be respected as a state decision."

Paul's meeting with Bundy recalled one of the more dramatic conflicts over land rights in recent years.

Hundreds of armed supporters joined Bundy in April 2013 to stop a roundup of his cattle near Bunkerville about 80 miles northeast of Las Vegas. The Bureau of Land Management says he owes more than $1 million in grazing fees over more than 20 years. Bundy argues the federal government has no authority there.

Bundy told the AP: "In general, I think we're in tune with each other." He added: "I don't think we need to ask Washington, D.C. for this land. It's our land."

Rand Paul meets Cliven Bundy, agrees 'it's our land,' not the feds'