Wyoming lawmakers are moving forward with efforts to clarify the legality of “corner crossing” — the practice of stepping from one parcel of public land to another at the corner where they meet, without touching private land in between, WyoFile reports.
The state’s Travel, Recreation, Wildlife and Cultural Resources Committee voted by a show of hands to begin drafting legislative language that could assist law enforcement in navigating this complex issue.
Corner crossing has been the subject of intense legal and public interest in recent years, especially following a federal appeals court ruling that affirmed the legality of the practice on public land. That decision has provided some guidance, but law enforcement officials say clearer direction in state law would help officers implement it consistently.
Carbon County Sheriff Alex Bakken, whose jurisdiction includes Elk Mountain Ranch — the focal point of a major corner-crossing dispute — said his deputies are following the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals’ ruling, while being “very, very careful” to ensure that no private property is contacted or damaged. He noted, however, that as new deputies come on board and the issue becomes more common, additional legal clarity would be useful.
The committee’s move to consider a statutory update came after hearing differing views on whether now is the right time to act. Some agricultural industry lobbyists urged caution, pointing to the possibility — albeit unlikely — that the US Supreme Court may take up the case. Among them was Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation lobbyist Brett Moline, who testified that lawmakers should wait until the federal legal process is fully resolved.
Similarly, Jim Magagna of the Wyoming Stock Growers Association suggested lawmakers delay any statutory changes until after a possible Supreme Court decision, cautioning that future questions around the scope and method of corner crossing — including the use of equipment or vehicles — may require more detailed legal guidance.
Others, however, urged immediate action to align state law with existing court decisions. Sabrina King, representing the Wyoming chapter of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, said that while the issue is complex, enshrining corner crossing protections in state law would reduce conflicts between landowners and public land users.
Democratic Rep. Karlee Provenza of Laramie, a member of the committee, is among those pushing for legislative clarity. After a previous bill she introduced stalled in the 2025 legislative session, she is now working with staff on a revised version that may gain broader support. She emphasized that a clear state statute would be more accessible and practical for law enforcement than relying on lengthy federal court rulings.
“It’s a whole lot easier to point to a statute in the green book,” Provenza said, referring to the printed collection of state laws, “than it is to say, ‘Here’s this however-many-page court document that tells us that we can do this.'”
The committee is scheduled to meet again on August 19 in Casper, where a draft bill could be reviewed. The outcome may shape the legal future for more than 3 million acres of checkerboarded public land in Wyoming, and potentially influence how other states handle similar land access challenges.
