Monday, February 16, 2026 |
Photo – Example of corner crossing – Courtesy US Supreme Court Documents
State lawmakers met in committee last week and advanced a bill clarifying when and where corner crossing is allowed. House Bill 19 states that criminal trespass does not occur if a person travels from one parcel of public-owned land to another.
The statue is the result of a case that began here in Carbon County. In 2021, Iron Bar Holdings sued four elk hunters who used corner crossing to move between parcels of public land on the Elk Mountain ranch. Landowner Fred Eshelman argued that by using a ladder at corners to cross onto parcels of public land, the hunters trespassed the airspace over his land.
The Carbon County Sheriff’s Office cited the four hunters from Iowa with criminal trespass. District Court Judge Dawnessa Snyder later acquitted the men. The ranch appealed the case to the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals, which also sided with the hunters.
The appeal court judges cited the Unlawful Inclosures Act of 1885, a federal law that bars private landowners from obstructing access to public lands.
Following the unfavorable verdict, Iron Bar Holdings attorney Robert Reeves Anderson appealed the case to the U.S. Supreme Court. The high court declined to hear the case, leaving the 10th Circuit’s ruling in place.
House Bill 19 attempts to put the intent of 10th Circuit’s ruling—what’s legal and what not—into state law. Bottom line: Citizens are not guilty of trespassing while crossing between two parcels of public land at the corners, provided they do not damage the adjacent private property.
The House Travel, Recreation, Wildlife, and Cultural Resources Committee debated the bill last Thursday, February 12. Casper attorney Ryan Semerad, who successfully defended the four Missouri hunters, told lawmakers that the bill decriminalizes corner crossing.
Semerad said the change will save the state money. Suspected corner crossing cases would be disregarded if the person followed the conditions defined by the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals, which includes crossing onto public land at a corner without damaging private property.
Semerad said House Bill 19 simply codifies the 10th Circuit Court’s decision into state law.
Representative Karlee Provenza offered an amendment favorable to landowners, arguing the bill’s language is too broad. Provenza said a person should not be permitted to drive an ATV across the corner. Instead, the Albany County Democrat proposed limiting corner crossing to those traveling on foot or on horseback.
Representative Steve Harshman added that the bill should align with Chief U.S. District Judge Scott Skavdahl’s opinion that a person may not touch private property while crossing between public lands.
Representative Provenza offered another amendment. The Albany County Democrat said she and Representatives Pam Thayer of Rawlins and Marilyn Connolly agree that the measure should also prohibit individuals from damaging private property while corner crossing.
Representative Robert Wharff of Evanston said property boundaries are not always clearly marked. Even satellite GPS maps, can lead a hunter or sportsman to trespass accidentally at a corner. Representative Wharff argued that the bill should require property owners to clearly mark where their property ends. Attorney Ryan Semerad replied that under the bill, hunters are still responsible for knowing their location. Instead, Semerad said the measure specifically gives law enforcement an easy‑to‑follow guideline when handling corner‑crossing calls.
The Casper attorney said hunters caught wandering around private property can still be charged with criminal trespass.
After hearing from the Committee, Chairman Andrew Byron opened the floor to public comment. Roughly 10 individuals, many wearing hunting clothing for Camo at the Capitol, spoke in support of House Bill 19. Many thanked the Committee for working to legalize corner crossings, saying that clarifying the standard will help eliminate confusion.
Wyoming Wild Sheep Foundation Director Kurt Eisenach said that despite a few details that still need attention, such as how to get pack animals over fences, the bill deserves to advance.
Not everyone who spoke at last week’s meeting supported House Bill 19. Wyoming Stockgrowers Association Board member Jim Magagna said the measure infringes on private property rights and goes too far by demanding access to state trust lands, which, unlike federal public lands, are not guaranteed to be open to the public.
In addition, Magagna said some private property owners already allow access to public lands through an established path, adding that they should not be required to let people cross at the corners. Responding to Representative Wharff’s comments about clearly marking property boundaries, Magagna argued that the government, not landowners, should be responsible for conducting surveys.
On the subject of paths, Committee Chairman Andrew Byron asked if Magagna was suggesting that a person should have to follow an established path to reach public land when corner crossing may be faster and easier. Magna said that landowners would prefer people use the provided path instead of making their own route at the corner. Chairman Byron said Magagna’s suggestion would only serve to confuse and inconvenience hunters.
Other opponents to the proposed measure agreed that it encroaches on private property rights, allowing hunters and sportsmen to potentially damage the private land they’re trying to cross, especially when traveling with pack animals.
Chairman Byron closed the public comment portion of the meeting and asked the Committee to amend the bill. Representative Elissa Campbell recommended removing the mention of pack animals, permitting corner crossing only by foot.
Representative Julie Jarvis agreed, saying that removing the pack animal reference will make the bill more likely to pass into law.
Representative Campbell’s amendment passed.
Representative Steve Harshman also recommended an amendment to specify that a person was prohibited from physically contacting or causing damage to private property while corner-crossing, which also passed.
When the amendments were finalized, the House Travel, Recreation, Wildlife, and Cultural Resources Committee voted to advance the bill to the House of Representatives. However, Committee members noted that because this is a budget year, the House may not take up the measure during this session, although they remained hopeful it will move forward.
