Several Montana conservation groups have filed a lawsuit against the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) over a 2024 legal memo that they argue unlawfully restricts public access to federal lands through the practice known as corner crossing.
The lawsuit, filed in Lewis and Clark County District Court on May 14, 2026, challenges the memo issued by FWP Director Dustin Temple. The memo advises that corner crossing—stepping from one public parcel to another at a shared corner without touching private land—is trespassing under Montana law.
Corner crossing is a longstanding issue in the American West, where checkerboard land ownership patterns often leave public lands inaccessible. The plaintiffs, including the Montana Wildlife Federation and Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, argue that the memo contradicts previous legal interpretations and effectively locks up millions of acres of public land.
FWP has defended the memo, stating it reflects current legal advice. The case is expected to set a precedent for public access in Montana and beyond.
