There is a current bill that includes legislation to sell off more Montana State Land. HB 676 would require the state to sell isolated School Trust Lands and their water rights to the private landowner.
Water Rights are generally recognized as a transferable property right in Montana.
Relinquishing State control means that the state will no longer have management control. Future public access would be lost. Over 1 million acres could be impacted.
The problem with half of Montana’s state and public lands is lack of access. Currently, you cannot “Corner Cross” from one parcel of public land to another. Private landowners get to use our public land for grazing and leasing to outfitters, for outdoor recreation. Public access is denied.
If you could fly into a landlocked parcel, you would need to camp for 24 hours before you could hunt, according to current law.
Corner Crossing is an issue in many western states, when it comes to hunting access. Recently Wyoming has been changing their laws to accommodate corner crossing, which creates public access to adjacent public parcels previously closed.
Private landowners, with landlocked State Trust or other public lands would prefer complete control over this land and the water rights. Many of our elected Montana lawmakers own land that has landlocked parcels.
It is possible that future legislation could open these landlocked public lands. Other legislation has been proposed related to corner crossing and public right of ways. If the land is sold, the public will lose any, and all rights, or access.
The state currently negotiates land swaps to trade some of these landlocked parcels for other private land to allow public use. The problem is that even though these swaps may include more private acres of quality public acreage, the potential hunting and fishing potential is much less useful or valuable.
Our original public lands are slowly being whittled away. Wealthy landowners and politicians are gaining valuable land while the public loses out. HB 676 would create another tool to cut away potential future right of way/access for citizens to enjoy state lands for outdoor recreation.
Montana does have many wonderful private landowners that join hunting access and outdoor recreation programs. Their generosity for access is greatly appreciated. Public users need to show their gratitude and appreciation for this privilege.
If the public does not stay diligent to these kinds of public access outdoor recreation issues, we will lose any future opportunities to enjoy access.
Stay alert and informed!
Montana Grant
