Is “Corner Crossing” Legal In Montana? New Debate Heats Up

Montana’s Corner Crossing Debate Over Public Land Access

Currently there is a land access issue that looks simple on the surface, but the deeper you go, the faster it turns into a debate.

It is called “corner crossing,” and Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks is now asking for public input on how it should be handled going forward here in the state.

What “Corner Crossing” Means In Montana

In the simplest terms, corner crossing is when someone moves from one piece of public land to another at a shared corner point, without actually stepping on private land in between.

Sounds pretty straightforward, but it has turned into a long-running issue that has been building for decades.

The challenge is that there are large stretches of public land, roughly 871,000 acres, that are surrounded by private property. That can make access tricky unless you are able to move through those exact corner points.

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Montana’s Current Position On Corner Crossing Rules

Right now, the Gianforte administration says corner crossing is not legal in Montana and that people should get permission from landowners before doing it.

Supporters argue the opposite, saying clearer rules would help protect public access for everyone, especially hunters and others who rely on that land.

That is why FWP is now asking for public feedback on how to balance private property rights with access to surrounding public land. They have set aside two days for people to weigh in.

You can show up in person on June 1st or 2nd at the FWP Region 6 office in Glasgow or join in virtually through Zoom. More details and sign-up info are available here.