What corner crossing means in Montana as access debate grows

Missoula, MT — Montana lawmakers held a meeting on corner crossing and opened public comment as questions continued over what counts as trespassing between public and private land.

Corner crossing happens when someone tries to move from one section of public land to another at a point where four land sections meet. In Montana, public and private land often sit in a checkerboard pattern, leaving millions of acres landlocked or reachable only through tight property corners.

A court ruled in Wyoming last year that corner crossing is legal. In Montana, Fish, Wildlife and Parks has been told to treat it as trespassing. As of now, corner crossing remained unlawful in Montana and people still needed permission from landowners before crossing.

One speaker at the hearing criticized that approach.

“This administration only takes the side of the wealthy, the powerful and the landed gentry over the average Joe and the people of Montana. Montana hunters and anglers and others in the outdoors should be very wary of this corner crossing executive Fiat,” said Mike Volesky, former FWP director.

Another commenter said access supporters and landowners should work toward common ground. More on Backcountry Hunters and Anglers.

“Backcountry hunters and anglers and access seekers everywhere. Have a huge meet in the middle with private property owners, especially in the agricultural world where we largely just want to be outside and be left alone. And we want to see that landscape, thrive and be a renewable resource,” said Ryan Callaghan, president and CEO of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers.

The discussion also touched on whether someone could pass through one of those corner points without actually touching private land. Isaiah Ruiz explained that cutting a corner without physically touching private land still counted as a civil trespass.

The issue remained unsettled as people pushed for more access to public land and private property owners argued those corners should stay private.