In this episode, I speak with Ryan Semerad—attorney with Fuller & Semerad Law Firm—who represented the four hunters who were charged with trespass after corner crossing over a private ranch onto public lands in Wyoming. The Supreme Court issued an order on Monday declining to hear the case, upholding the district court ruling dropping the charges. As a result, corner crossing is now legal across the 10th Circuit and likely elsewhere across the country.
Our discussion covers the historical and legal intricacies of corner crossing—a practice whereby the public steps from one public land parcel to another across the corner point of private land onto public land—and how this ruling could influence similar cases outside of the 10th Circuit. Ryan recounts the multi-year litigation journey, the pivotal moments along the way, and the impact of the 10th Circuit ruling, which now prohibits private landowners from using airspace trespassing laws to block access to these public lands. He also sheds light on the broader implications of this legal precedent for hunters, anglers, and public land enthusiasts.
00:57 Legal Victory for Corner Crossing Hunters
02:35 Ryan’s Reflections on the Case
04:44 The Elk Mountain Ranch Incident
08:22 Historical Context of Checkerboard Land Patterns
18:07 Litigation Journey and Supreme Court Decision
22:07 Public and Private Reactions to the Ruling
24:36 Ranchers’ Opposition to Corner Crossing
27:31 Property Rights and Public Lands
28:05 Implications of the 10th Circuit Decision
29:11 Legal Precedents in Other Circuits
30:45 Navigating the Legal Process
31:52 Monumenting Public Land Corners
35:12 Land Exchanges and Consolidations
37:11 Litigation Challenges and Key Moments
47:32 The Importance of Public Lands
49:26 Final Thoughts and Gratitude
https://www.thefullerlawyers.com/
https://montanafreepress.org/2025/10/20/supreme-court-declines-to-take-landowner-appeal-in-corner-crossing-case/
