Montana hunters need help getting corner crossing law changed

[bobcat]

If it opened up just one section (1 sq mile) of public land, it would still be a worthwhile change to the law in Montana. And as Randy Newberg said, this could lead the way for other states to do the same.

[huntnphool]

If it opened up just one section (1 sq mile) of public land, it would still be a worthwhile change to the law in Montana. And as Randy Newberg said, this could lead the way for other states to do the same.

Agreed

[JLS]

It seems you are intent on amount of acreage.  I'm not.  As you well know, a quality hunting spot might be 640 acres or less.

And, I'm not trying to put words in your mouth so it was an unfair extrapolation on my part to equate your opinions to it not being a big deal.

I don't have any interest in creating a laundry list of places that this would affect.  Your perception of affecting very many places is obviously different than mine.

Anytime you want to grab your maps, I'll grab mine and we can go over them over a beer or two, I think I can show you that in the grand scheme of things this will not open as much land as most people believe it will.

I can show you loads of corner joined sections of public land that still will not be accessable, more so than land that will be accessable with the passing on HB235 is my point.

So to reiterate, I don't have a problem with it and understand it will open up access to some previously locked land.

And you could be absolutely correct, I don't know what folks' perception is about how "much" land will be opened up.  How "much" is significant?  How "much" is insignificant? 

In my humble opinion and my perception (which is my reality ) it would affect a lot of areas. 

[JimmyHoffa]

first I wonder how it can/could be abused--is the crossing only legal at exactly the corner?  Like the corner fence post?  Or will lots of people be crossing at the easy side on someone's private property--'legally' damaging fence.  Who would compensate for the damages to property.
second would be liability.  While in process of crossing through private property (at a corner it is finite point so covers no area), someone gets injured...will the state assume the liability with this law or pass on to the landowners.
 

[huntnphool]

first I wonder how it can/could be abused--is the crossing only legal at exactly the corner?  Like the corner fence post?  Or will lots of people be crossing at the easy side on someone's private property--'legally' damaging fence.  Who would compensate for the damages to property.
second would be liability.  While in process of crossing through private property (at a corner it is finite point so covers no area), someone gets injured...will the state assume the liability with this law or pass on to the landowners.

Liability was another point I was going to bring up but it got interesting enough with the other two points.

[3dvapor]

Someone probably has pprobably mentioned how much land in wyoming is locked up due to not being able to cross at the corner I've seen one county posted on monster muley forum that looked like a giant checker board of ppublic and private. Todays gps's and map programs will take u right to the corner.

[bow-n-head]

Those who say this will do very little for hunters in montana must not have much experience hunting public land in montana. I thought you hunted a good bit in montana  phool?  There are tons of places where this would help hunters, hell I can open just about any page in the montana gazetteer and find places where this would apply.

I didn't say there wasn't, I said there isn't many. I believe people are thinking this will allow them access to public land that is landlocked by private, it won't!!! If you can find a section where a road goes through it that has a adjoining corner section then I see nothing wrong with it, I know several land owners, including myself, that doesn't have a problem with it, but another reason land owners are opposed is because it will be abused with people accessing other areas that are land locked but do not have corner sections. You all know it will happen, lets not get it twisted.

Yea I can access several sections in corner crossings by accessing one by boat.

[bow-n-head]

Land locked state and federal land should go up for sale. I mean the public doesn't get to use it.
There are a select few making money off these acres. Their leases are a joke. Put that land into the tax base.
My father owns a farm, my brother owns a farm/ranch with cattle. And I side with the public on access.

[deerslyr]

I just took a bunch of pics out of pages of the gazetteer to show very large areas where corning hopping would be beneficial. I now dont want to disclose these areas because they could offer some spectacular opportunities. I sure hopes this passes. I found several areas in the area JLS mentioned earlier as well. Dont worry JLS, I have no plans to hunt those areas, I hunt the mnt range to the west of there 

[Bob33]

Im talking about how few places there are where the corners of public land actually come into play here.

Huntnphool,  tell that to Randy Newberg.

Ironically, I saw a show of Randy's on TV recently where he helicopted into totally landlocked public land in Montana to hunt elk for a week. He was completedly surrounded by private land and was into elk all week long. Pretty interesting.

[Curly]

I saw that show too.   

[deerslyr]

If I had the money id be doing that all the time.

[huntnphool]

Im talking about how few places there are where the corners of public land actually come into play here.

Huntnphool,  tell that to Randy Newberg.

Ironically, I saw a show of Randy's on TV recently where he helicopted into totally landlocked public land in Montana to hunt elk for a week. He was completedly surrounded by private land and was into elk all week long. Pretty interesting.

and if you read Randy's write up it clearly says that is illegal.

[bow-n-head]

Shouldn't be illegal anyway. There is a 60 ft right of way on section lines. I have been maintaining and building public roads for 20 years. We can put a road in any section line we want. I don't see why someone can't walk up any section line out there. Not to mention crossing in a corner you would have all that right of way. How small is the line? This needs to go back to the Supreme Court. A section line has to be petitioned to be closed and everyone involved has to agree. The landowners on both sides and both ends of the line. Not many make it.

[bobcat]

Shouldn't be illegal anyway. There is a 60 ft right of way on section lines. I have been maintaining and building public roads for 20 years. We can put a road in any section line we want.

That's not true. The state or county may acquire that right of way for building a road, but the general public does not have a 60 foot wide right of way on every section line across private lands.