Federal Court Sides with Hunters: Is Montana Next?

As a Montana hunter, I have encountered this issue many times. If you’ve ever looked at a map of public and private land and wondered if stepping over that imaginary line would land you in court, you’re not alone. This is why hunters who did exactly that just won a case in federal appeals court.

What Happened?

Four Missouri hunters decided to hot-foot their way from one parcel of public land to another in Wyoming using a little something they’d brought along on their hunt: a ladder? They never even stepped foot on private property, but the landowner, nonetheless, hit them with a lawsuit saying they were trespassing.

Fast forward through a ton of legal battles, and boom; the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the hunters. The ruling effectively states that if you don’t step on private land, you’re in the clear. Good news for public land hunters like myself, RIGHT? Well…

What About Montana?

Now, before you start packing a stepladder in your truck. This decision only directly impacts Wyoming and a handful of other states within the 10th Circuit (Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Utah). Montana? We’re in the Ninth Circuit, so this decision doesn’t automatically affect us.

Corner crossing is still in legal limbo here in Montana. It’s not explicitly illegal, but there’s no official legal basis either. Some hunters have done so without issue; others have been slapped with trespassing tickets. And, to be honest, no one wants their hunting adventure to devolve into a legal case.

Know your boundaries. Use GPS tools and maps so that you don’t accidentally tread where you shouldn’t. Or simply knock on some doors and ask for permission to hunt.

So for now, the corner crossing argument continues in Montana, but this new ruling may help open more public land access in the future. In the meantime, respect the land, know the law, and keep those hunting trips as drama-free as possible.