Corner crossing SCOTUS appeal

[ropeup79]

Most of the places I hunt are mostly public so if I am using tracking it’s because I just want to know how far I hiked. If and when I have an opportunity to cross a corner, I’ll use/not use tracking depending on situation. In my opinion ($.02) OnX will only prove that I tried my best to cross at a corner and not purposely trespass.

 

[WapitiBob]

Saw this posted on the slide today...

"Had a great talk with two different offices of the Colorado Game And Fish yesterday. You can corner cross in the state now, and you can make contact with the fence if the fence is on the property line. You cannot make contact with the land at any point. You can use a device to assist in crossing the corner if the fence cannot be crossed. You cannot retrieve game or shoot across a corner if you have to cross private land to do so."

 

[blb078]

I wouldn't worry too much about finding an exact pin or marker get as close as you reasonable can using whatever mapping service you have, no court is going to fault you for that. The odd thing is the UIA isn't really even about corner crossing although in this recent case it obviously is. The original intent of the act aside from reducing conflict from range wars is to allow any person legal access to any public land not via just a corner but actually through private property to get to the public land. Now obviously that part has been forgotten about but at one time people where freely able to go through private land on horse/wagon to get to public land. At some point in history we gave that up(probably when hunting started to become a way to make money). It would take another case of someone going through a two tract private road/trail(not saying one should go up to and around someone's residence) or something to get to public to put that to the test(and all the funds needed) but really it should of never even gotten to the point where one has to challenge it legally. The act actually provides for enforcement against landowners by the U.S. via a claim by a citizen for preventing access to any public lands not just corners.

No person, by force, threats, intimidation, or by any fencing or inclosing, or any other unlawful means, shall prevent or obstruct, or shall combine and confederate with others to prevent or obstruct, any person from peaceably entering upon or establishing a settlement or residence on any tract of public land subject to settlement or entry under the public land laws of the United States, or shall prevent or obstruct free passage or transit over or through the public lands:

 

[Thx1138]

If anybody has ever herded sheep then imagine trying to get them across an unmarked corner. The sheep herders didn’t have OnX in the 1890s when the Camfield case was brought up in Wyoming. The Judges relied heavily on the Camfield case to the detriment of Fred Eshelman in the Iron Bars case. The shepherds in the 1890s did their best to follow a fence line but I guarantee you those sheep did NOT cross exactly at a surveyed corner marker and the Federal Judge still ruled in favor of the Sheepherders getting their animals from one public section to the next the best they reasonably could.

 

[Rack Daniels]

If anybody has ever herded sheep then imagine trying to get them across an unmarked corner. The sheep herders didn’t have OnX in the 1890s when the Mackey case was brought up in Wyoming. The Judges relied heavily on the Mackey case to the detriment of Fred Eshelman in the Iron Bars case. The shepherds in the 1890s did their best to follow a fence line but I guarantee you those sheep did NOT cross exactly at a surveyed corner marker and the Federal Judge still ruled in favor of the Sheepherders getting their animals from one public section to the next the best they reasonably could.

Works cited next time?…. But kickass!

 

[Carnage2011]

You guys are making this way too complicated. Find the corner, hop the corner. It’s not rocket science.

 

[Wildabeest]

 

[birdseye]

View attachment 390723View attachment 390724

LOVE IT! Where can I get one to send? Also, anybody have a direct address for that asshole?

 

[BenP]

I'm sure a lot of you also got this email.

 

[birdseye]

this guy must love a good bitch slapping from the likes of Buzz as he keeps on coming back for more: https://wyofile.com/rancher-lobbyis...zing-corner-crossings-court-decided-legality/

 

[birdseye]

I'm sure a lot of you also got this email.

View attachment 391276

Is there a Statute in the Books in Montana that explicitly prohibits CC or is this just another bureaucracy trying to create their own laws?

 

[Rack Daniels]

this guy must love a good bitch slapping from the likes of Buzz as he keeps on coming back for more: https://wyofile.com/rancher-lobbyis...zing-corner-crossings-court-decided-legality/

From the article: Corner crossing … imposes costs on landowners — including trespasses, poaching, littering, fires, predators, and the risk of accidents.

What??!! HAHA!!! trespassers, poachers, litter, fire and predators have absolutely 0 discretion. They just go… in possibly any direction… this guy is pulling crap of his arse because he’s not okay with losing. If I shoot a deer at the publicly open corner, which still abuts the ranch, how am i “traipsing” closer to the ranch by crossing to the other public? It still is abutting the ranch regardless. If I’m on this side of the fence, wtf do you care?

Besides, they’ll just lease the now publicly accessible land to run their stock when they didn’t before…

 

[Straight Arrow]

November 3rd, 2025

FWP reaffirms position on corner-crossing in Montana​ HELENA – In light of the decision by the U.S. Supreme Court not to take up the Federal District Court decision on corner crossing in Wyoming, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks’ Director Christy Clark reaffirmed the agency’s position on the issue Monday. “Corner crossing remains unlawful in Montana, and Montanans should continue to obtain permission from the adjoining landowners before crossing corners from one piece of public land to another,” Director Clark said. “Wardens will continue to report corner crossing cases to local county attorneys to exercise their prosecutorial discretion

 

[Turkeygetpwnd38]

I had zero urge to corner cross until I received that email, now….

 

[Doublecluck]

Say when brother?

I had zero urge to corner cross until I received that email, now….

 

[cgasner1]

Say when brother?


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Sign seems to be impeding on my access probably just have to go around it

 

[Elky Welky]

I truly believe our AG is too afraid to create precedent he doesn't like on this issue and will decline to take up a corner crossing case, but there will/could be local elected county prosecutors that feel they owe it to those that fund their campaigns to try and prosecute over it.

And as I have already said, we have precedent under the federal Unlawful Inclosures Act to sue a landowner that is illegally blocking access at a corner. If we want to create precedent in this state, we shouldn't be hopping and hoping to get prosecuted. We should be taking a proactive position and going after those that want to trample on our rights. @Doublecluck that pic you just posted is illegal under the precedent I just cited. That would be a great place to start.

I'll repost here what I posted on FB with regards to the unfortunate position FWP wants to take on this one to scare people from exercising their rights.

This is simply their opinion, and the law remains undecided in this state. Do not take this statement as law, as the director of FWP is not law enforcement, an attorney, nor a judge. The choice to prosecute still resides with local law enforcement and local county prosecutors.

That said, please continue to follow the advice in the below article, which articulates the current state of the law in MT, notwithstanding the recent 10th circuit decision. Be respectful towards private property owners, know where you are, and know your rights.

Thinking about corner crossing in Montana? Read this first.

In Montana, is Corner Crossing “unlawful,” “illegal,” or something else entirely? Across the country, the concept of “corner crossing” became the hottest topic in the hunting community when a federal judge in Wyoming ruled that, at least for the case in front of him, it did not constitute as...

www.backcountryhunters.org

 

[Forkyfinder]

Sign seems to be impeding on my access probably just have to go around it

Of all signs to not have bullet holes

 

[Doublecluck]

Sign seems to be impeding on my access probably just have to go around it

Of all signs to not have bullet holes

Good bit of trail cameras in the area.


Daughters think we should live stream it and invite the Governor, AG, FWP director, County sheriff, county DA, Elon Musk (for star link), and the landowner.

Could see the headline now. Father and 5 daughters arrested live in Madison county for trying to access state land for elk hunting. Should go over well.

 

[NoWiser]

Say when brother?


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I’d donate to that cause.