FWP reaffirms position on corner-crossing in Montana

Glendon Mullins

Hillbilly Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Sep 7, 2014
Messages
2,763
Location
Highland County Virginia

Just posting for FYI purposes​

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.”
 
All it's going to take is one person to take this to court. Either the 9th circuit agrees with the precedence that has been set or they disagree and then the SC has to take the case, and we get country-wide resolution.
 
Perhaps we need a cause for gov't eminent domain for the public use and just take those corners. They do it a lot when there is a public need. I think this is a perfect cause for it. The ranchers won't be able to stop it if there was enough public push.
 
Heading to Montana for elk in a few days. If someone knows of some elk on a square of public that requires corner crossing I’ll happily go do it and set the precedent. DM me onx pins. I’ll document everything and share/report back.
I admire your tenacity, but I’d highly recommend that no one tries to set a precedent on this unless they have significant legal and capital backing. You’re exposing yourself to civil litigation as well. The WY hunters were facing a $7,000,000 million dollar lawsuit.

The last thing we need is a case that supports the contrary.. I could throw a rock from my house to a corner crossing between public and 80,000 acres owned by a billionaire here in Montana. It’s a slippery slope that needs to be navigated preciously and carefully.
 
I’d highly recommend that no one tries to set a precedent on this unless they have significant legal and capital backing. You’re exposing yourself to civil litigation as well. The WY hunters were facing a $7,000,000 million dollar lawsuit.
This is really good advice. A lot of issues like this that get deliberately "triggered" to force court rulings have some type of group backing the person doing it, even if indirectly. This isn't something you want to do randomly unless you know you have support behind you when the sh1t hits the fan - because the point is to MAKE the sh1t hit the fan, and you don't want to be standing under it alone when it does.
 
“Wardens will continue to report corner crossing cases to local county attorneys to exercise their prosecutorial discretion.”

There’s a number of county prosecutors that I have been told via Leo’s that won’t take the cases to court. Not sure how true that is and only one way to find out! I’ve been doing it for years but never into landlocked ground. Just easier to access via corner crossing and never had issues.
 
Back
Top