Rancher/outfitter close public road in eastern MT

[Forkyfinder]

Rancher blocks public access to BLM land in Eastern Montana

Seven Blackfoot Ranch owner Dave Solberg said he gated the road to the BLM lands and his 30,000-acre ranch last year because no trespassing signs were being ignored.

billingsgazette.com

"Seven Blackfoot Ranch owner Dave Solberg said he gated the road to the BLM lands and his 30,000-acre ranch last year because no trespassing signs were being ignored, mainly by hunters.

“I can’t tell you how many ugly arguments I’ve had with trespassers,” he said, adding that he finally became “disgusted with the whole thing,” gated the Seven Blackfoot Road and leased his land to Sizzlin’ S Outfitters.

When asked why he didn’t place the gate three-quarters of a mile farther down the road, which would have preserved public access to the BLM land, he said that would allow public access to his entire ranch and let people into steep country where they would get their vehicles stuck and then ask him to help pull them out."

Anyone ever been here? Looking at the place on onx - the "ranch" private property blocking access is hardly more than the gate locking it up relative to the size of the public.

Shout out to Matt Rinella's persistence and sharing this with Brett French. I appreciate all of it.

 

[Forkyfinder]

Least ill have a spot to use my b tag

 

[Rack Daniels]

Paywall

 

[Forkyfinder]

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[cgasner1]

I’d be curious to hear the entire story on this. I feel like the gate would have been ripped out of the ground real quick since we groups in this state that is all they do is prevent this kinda thing.

 

[Rack Daniels]

As long as the the right people are informed on the matter, and it is a publicly maintained road, it will be ripped down.

@Forkyfinder I didn’t know you could do that lol

 

[Forkyfinder]

As long as the the right people are informed on the matter, and it is a publicly maintained road, it will be ripped down.

@Forkyfinder I didn’t know you could do that lol

 

[Elky Welky]

PLWA is a great org, and I'm glad they are working on this. We (MT-BHA) are working with them and I'll try to get updates to those interested as we learn more.

 

[Forkyfinder]

All of this is completely contingent on the prosecuting attorney.

If the road is indeed public - i hope there are prosecutions/charges.

 

[Jnasa]

If true I sympathize with the rancher. Still no excuse to block off a public road. I hope it gets resolved and the road is reopened to the public.

Reminder to outdoorsmen that respecting private property is an important part of what we do. Easier to keep a relationship than have to fight something. Plenty of unreasonable landowners no need to alienate more.

 

[Forkyfinder]

If true I sympathize with the rancher.

Why?

 

[Jnasa]

Why?

As stated I do not agree with him blocking the road. Sounded like people were trespassing though and causing some problems. In most cases is bad behavior that triggers something like this.

The Gazette isn’t letting me reread the article so I don’t remember specifics.

Again I do not support closing the road. However, I do not agree with disregarding private property as some people choose to.

 

[andrew11]

Anyone ever been here? Looking at the place on onx - the "ranch" private property blocking access is hardly more than the gate locking it up relative to the size of the public.

I was up there last season and was bummed to run into a locked gate trying to gain access further into that country.

 

[Forkyfinder]

As stated I do not agree with him blocking the road. Sounded like people were trespassing though and causing some problems. In most cases is bad behavior that triggers something like this.

The Gazette isn’t letting me reread the article so I don’t remember specifics.

Again I do not support closing the road. However, I do not agree with disregarding private property as some people choose to.

Criminals deserve prosecution. Whether its the criminal abusing private land or the criminal locking up public property.

 

[Forkyfinder]

I was up there last season and was bummed to run into a locked gate trying to gain access further into that country.

Where is the gate? Would love to see it on onx.

 

[andrew11]

I will shoot you a PM

 

[Jnasa]

Criminals deserve prosecution. Whether its the criminal abusing private land or the criminal locking up public property.

I never said they didn’t.

 

[BourbonSnowCone]

Familiar with the road and outfitter involved. Apparently the road wasn’t a public road registered with the county but was a gas tax road with its mileage counted for fuel tax allocation to the county. According to Montana law, gas tax roads must be open to public travel. But Montana law also allows counties to petition to remove the gas tax designation. Which the outfitter prompted the landowner to do and the Garfield County Commission, which is comprised entirely of other large landowners, agreed with. Now it’s no longer recognized as a gas tax road and no public travel allowed. The accessible public is literally a parking area at the top of the breaks that drops into some of the nastiest terrain in the state. No one is driving in there and getting pulled out by the landowner. He doesn’t even live there.

The gas tax designation could have major implications across the state once other landowners do the same thing. They’ll cut their own throats with reduced road maintenance $$ to the county as long as they spite the dirty public land user. This was entirely about locking up public and had nothing to do with trespassing. That’s a convenient excuse driven by the outfitter who’s a contributor to this forum and also used to be on PL/PW. How ironic. One of the more petty things I’ve seen lately.

 

[Hunt West]

@Big Shooter should know the details?

 

[Forkyfinder]

Familiar with the road and outfitter involved. Apparently the road wasn’t a public road registered with the county but was a gas tax road with its mileage counted for fuel tax allocation to the county. According to Montana law, gas tax roads must be open to public travel. But Montana law also allows counties to petition to remove the gas tax designation. Which the outfitter prompted the landowner to do and the Garfield County Commission, which is comprised entirely of other large landowners, agreed with. Now it’s no longer recognized as a gas tax road and no public travel allowed. The accessible public is literally a parking area at the top of the breaks that drops into some of the nastiest terrain in the state. No one is driving in there and getting pulled out by the landowner. He doesn’t even live there.

The gas tax designation could have major implications across the state once other landowners do the same thing. They’ll cut their own throats with reduced road maintenance $$ to the county as long as they spite the dirty public land user. This was entirely about locking up public and had nothing to do with trespassing. That’s a convenient excuse driven by the outfitter who’s a contributor to this forum and also used to be on PL/PW. How ironic. One of the more petty things I’ve seen lately.

Thanks for the understanding. 1300 acres locking up 25,000. Its simple to find - west side of seven blackfoot wilderness study area.

Would it then - in theory - to just re-enroll in getting gas tax and having access on the road? Meaning - getting the road fixed after potential years of no maintenance.

Looks like access to that is largely impossible other than via that road - as pointed out in the article itd be a long boat ride.