Montana BHA Encourages Public Participation in Upcoming FWP Access Meeting Focused on Corner Crossing and Landlocked Public Lands 

The Montana Chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers is encouraging all public land users, including hunters, anglers, landowners, farmers and ranchers, to participate in the upcoming Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) Private Land/Public Wildlife (PLPW) Committee meeting June 1-2 in Glasgow, where corner crossing and public land access solutions will take center stage. 

At the request of FWP Director Christy Clark, the committee will review access programs related to corner-to-corner public access scenarios and develop recommendations aimed at increasing landowner participation and improving access to landlocked public lands. 

“While we may disagree with the department's interpretation of the law on corner crossing, we can all agree that protecting the rights of all property owners, public and private, is paramount,” said Jake Schwaller, Chair of the Montana Chapter of BHA. “We look forward to this opportunity to work with our landowning friends to resolve any concerns they may have and leverage the many tools already available to provide durable access solutions.” 

Montana BHA is encouraging the committee to elevate BHA’s Corner Crossing Survey, an ArcGIS-based effort designed to help prevent inadvertent trespass on private lands by identifying, mapping and reporting problem corners. 

The survey will help document on-the-ground realities facing hunters and anglers seeking to locate monument pins or precise corner markers while providing policymakers and stakeholders with better information about where corner crossing conflicts exist and where to focus efforts on collaborative solutions that respect private property and ensure public access to public lands. 

Montana BHA is also encouraging the committee to discuss and elevate the opportunity presented by the passage of House Bill 763 as an important step toward improving voluntary public access opportunities in Montana. Introduced by Rep. Josh Seckinger, HB 763 modernized Montana’s Block Management Program by reducing administrative burdens on participating landowners and creating a new flat-fee option for landowners willing to provide public access corridors to otherwise inaccessible public lands. 

The bipartisan legislation––which passed both chambers with near unanimous support––was championed by Montana BHA during the 2025 legislative session and aims to make participation in access programs simpler and more attractive for landowners while helping improve access opportunities for hunters and anglers. 

Montana BHA encourages members of the public to attend the PLPW meeting in person or virtually and participate in the ongoing conversation surrounding corner crossing and public land access. 

The PLPW meeting will be held June 1-2 at the FWP Region 6 Office located at 1 Airport Road in Glasgow. Members of the public may attend in person or provide comments virtually through Zoom. 

Additional meeting information, agendas, and virtual participation links are available at: 
https://fwp.mt.gov/plpw 

The Problem Corners Mapping Survey can be accessed at: 

https://www.backcountryhunters.org/get-involved/issues/access-and-opportunity/corner-crossing#corner-crossing-survey 

Additional information about Corner Crossing and how you can support public access to public lands can be found here: 

https://www.backcountryhunters.org/get-involved/issues/access-and-opportunity/corner-crossing