Corner Crossing: Big Win For Public Land Advocates In MT

Exciting news for the public lands community! A three-judge panel of the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled yesterday that corner crossing on federal land does not violate federal law, at least in six states.

To get you caught up on what this is all about and why it's significant, we've got to go back to 2021. Four hunters in Wyoming corner crossed checkerboarded public land, and a rancher didn't like it. The land belongs to the Elk Mountain Ranch, which is made up of Iron Bar Holdings and a businessman named Fred Eshelman. After a failed attempt to charge the hunters with trespassing, the Iron Bar sued them in civil court to the tune of an alleged $9 million in damages.

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What Is Corner Crossing?

"Corner crossing" refers to the act of crossing from one block of public land to another at the points where the blocks meet. Corner crossers do not set foot on private land, but until now, it's been unclear whether the action is legal under federal law. State legislatures have failed to clarify the issue, and wildlife agencies issued conflicting guidance." - MeatEater

Now that the 10th Circuit Court has made the new clarification, it is now legal to corner cross on federal land in Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Utah, and Wyoming.

MeatEater, the well-known outdoor lifestyle company based right here in Bozeman, stepped up in a big way for hunters in this case. They helped raise over $66,000 for the Wyoming BHA Corner Crossing Defense Fund—money that played a key role in achieving this outcome.

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What Does This Mean for Montana?
This new ruling is a big win for public land advocates, finally paving the way for other states to get much-needed clarity on the long-debated issue of corner crossing. Montana alone has almost 900,000 acres of corner locked land. However, the fight may not be over just yet. Elk Mountain Ranch still has the option to appeal the decision to the 10th Circuit or even petition the Supreme Court.

Whether they take that route remains to be seen, but for now, a new legal precedent has been set—one that could have ripple effects far beyond Wyoming.

Credit: Meateater