Lawmakers Propose Bills to Protect Public Land Access

Wyoming and Montana legislators team up to clarify corner crossing laws and preserve public land rights.

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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Last summer, hunters and anglers helped defeat a proposal by Utah Senator Mike Lee to sell off millions of acres of public land. This victory inspired four elk hunters in Wyoming to build a special ladder to cross from one corner of public land to another, setting in motion a legal process that freed up millions of acres of public land in six states. Now, state legislators in Wyoming and Montana are teaming up to fight for public land access, proposing new legislation to clarify corner crossing laws and protect the public's right to use these lands.

Why it matters

Across the West, millions of acres of public land are still legally open but practically inaccessible due to confusing laws and wealthy landowners blocking access. This threatens to create a two-tiered system where only those who can afford exclusive access can enjoy public lands, diminishing outdoor opportunities for working families and rural communities.

The details

The hunters' creative solution to access public land has become an inspiration. In Wyoming, the question of corner crossing dragged through the courts for years, until a recent Supreme Court ruling established that crossing between public land corners without touching private property does not constitute trespass. However, in Montana, the governor and state wildlife agency have declared corner crossing remains unlawful under state law, putting political clout behind the status quo that favors wealthy landowners.

  • Last summer, hunters and anglers helped defeat a proposal by Utah Senator Mike Lee.
  • In October 2022, the Supreme Court refused to hear a case challenging a lower court decision allowing corner crossing in the 10th Circuit states.
  • Governor Greg Gianforte and the director of Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks recently declared that corner crossing remains unlawful under state law.

The players

Karlee Provenza

A Democrat serving House District 45, Laramie, in the Wyoming House of Representatives.

Joshua A. Seckinger

A Democrat serving House District 62, Bozeman, in the Montana House of Representatives.

Mike Lee

A Utah Senator who proposed selling off millions of acres of public land, a proposal that was ultimately defeated.

Greg Gianforte

The Governor of Montana who has declared that corner crossing remains unlawful under state law.

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What they’re saying

“Corner crossing may be ingenious, but it is not radical. It is a straightforward affirmation that public land needs to be available to the public.”

— Karlee Provenza, Wyoming State Representative (Writers on the Range)

“We can't let confusing court decisions or laws that don't serve the people be the last word on any issue dealing with public land.”

— Joshua A. Seckinger, Montana State Representative (Writers on the Range)

What’s next

The Wyoming and Montana state legislatures are expected to consider bills proposed by Provenza and Seckinger to clarify corner crossing laws and protect public access to these lands.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing battle to preserve public access to millions of acres of public lands across the American West, with lawmakers in Wyoming and Montana taking action to counter efforts by wealthy landowners and politicians to restrict this access.