MT EQC to determine corner crossing as "illegal"

[Eric Albus]

I personally think that we would be better off working to make the legally accessible lands have the same quality as private/landlocked lands. That would solve this issue, for the most part. I realize there are some who simply want access to all lands held in public trust.
I grew up a public land hunter. I can understand the angst of corner hopping. When I was young, & gung-ho I’d have led the charge to corner cross. Now that I’m a bit older and dumber, I think that if we make the accessible as good it will solve the problem a whole lot easier than fighting each other.

 

[Dave N]

We are looking into what we can do. It’d mean a substantial increase in R license costs.

 

[Eric Albus]

View attachment 409198

It was to a lot of the other representatives in Helena when I dare to mention the thought.

 

[DFS]

I personally think that we would be better off working to make the legally accessible lands have the same quality as private/landlocked lands. That would solve this issue, for the most part. I realize there are some who simply want access to all lands held in public trust.
I grew up a public land hunter. I can understand the angst of corner hopping. When I was young, & gung-ho I’d have led the charge to corner cross. Now that I’m a bit older and dumber, I think that if we make the accessible as good it will solve the problem a whole lot easier than fighting each other.

I’m going to disagree, public lands are invaluable and stepping across a pin does no harm. I worry about the repercussions when the political atmosphere changes though. I come from a ranching family and can show you public grazing allotments that are hammered every year when the adjacent private isn’t. I don’t think opening this can of worms is a good thing for ranchers. Depending on how things go it could potentially lead to a lot more trespassing.

 

[Eric Albus]

I’m going to disagree, public lands are invaluable and stepping across a pin does no harm. I worry about the repercussions when the political atmosphere changes though. I come from a ranching family and can show you public grazing allotments that are hammered every year when the adjacent private isn’t. I don’t think opening this can of worms is a good thing for ranchers. Depending on how things go it could potentially lead to a lot more trespassing.

I do not know where u live or ranch, but appreciate your perspective. I agree, there isn’t much damage to stepping over a corner stake. There is the issue of legality and airspace. Used to be when you bought private land you owned from the center of the earth as high as one could see. Then came the lawyers, surface vs. mineral, airplanes needed airspace, etc.. Landowner rights have been chipped away at, both “public landowners” and private owners.
This is a subject I do not take lightly, and do not want to have to take sides. I’m grew up a public land hunter and at heart will always be, however I’m a private landowner.
I want a SCOTUS RULING on this subject. It’s above my pay grade.

All this aside, we band together and stop the infighting of the hunting community, quit pitting public land vs private, everyone against the outfitter, and sit down find common ground. We can make the hunting in Montana good again. It’ll mean giving on both sides and I think both sides have more in common than not.

 

[MTGomer]

I don’t think corner crossing is illegal and I don’t think there’s a role for the legislature to play to “allow” or “ban” it.

The legislature can’t tell me I cant eat tacos on Tuesday, glass private land elk from a county road, or do any numerous other activities, so how can they decide that I can’t walk on BLM land in a certain manner?
They MAYBE could pass a law that says state trust land isn’t accessible via corner crossing. They have no jurisdiction over BLM land.

It seems like a legal theory question for the courts. The 10th circuit says it’s legal and SCOTUS felt that ruling lacked controversy enough that they wouldn’t hear an appeal.

 

[Hem]

It’s pretty simple, in Montana, ranchers, farmers, and bigger landowners are the chosen ones, anointed by god. No one else does anything or is as important. I grew up in that atmosphere as a rural MT ranch kid. Once you realize this everything else falls in place as far as understanding all this BS

Thanks for making the observation.
I have thought this for a long time.
Though I excuse the multi generational ranchers. They started small but figured out how to be prosperous enough to buy the neighbors who failed. Its a common theme in the history of Montana. They busted their ass for what they got. The arrogance could be toned down a bit.
All the other wealthy riffraff can pound sand.

 

[Pucky Freak]

I’m going bag 10 corners this fall.