Champs & Chumps: Fall 2024
Repeat O/B chump, UPOM, is losing the state's favor.
Chumps
Spend much time in central Montana, and you’ll see “Save the Cowboy” signs protesting American Prairie’s gradual accumulation of ranches across the region. Well, the organization behind the signs is the United Property Owners of Montana (UPOM), and they’ve recently attached themselves, lamprey-style, to another cause: corner-crossing. Following the acquittal of four hunters who crossed from one corner of public land to another, to hunt elk in Wyoming, the sue-happy ranch-owner in question appealed the decision to the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals. UPOM submitted a brief on the billionaire’s behalf, outlining the many reasons—ranging from moral principles to obscure legal precedents—they believe corner-crossing constitutes trespass. UPOM also seems to think that the landowner deserves compensation: “Allowing the public to cross private property to access public lands in general, has an economical component and the district court’s decision denies landowners the right to receive compensation for allowing corner crossing.” What? No matter how they frame it, UPOM is working against the public and its rights, instead promoting privileges for the wealthy few. (Important note: American Prairie allows free public access on all its private holdings, allowing hunters full access to public inholdings—that must rankle UPOM something fierce).
Champs
While the corner-crossing debate stews, let’s take a moment to highlight some more sensible decision-making in Montana. In July, Ferguson County District Court Judge Gregory Todd ruled against UPOM in a case brought against FWP over “improper” elk management. UPOM claimed that FWP has allowed elk to be over population goals in the state, causing excessive property damage, and that FWP should authorize additional landowner tags for culling these herds. In his ruling, the judge came down hard against UPOM, essentially telling landowners they need to use non-lethal means to remove elk, like hazing, or consider systems already in place to help push animals off their land, like the Block Management public-hunting program. Todd made clear that landowners shouldn’t be forced to allow public hunting on their property, but pointed out that there are plenty of solutions in place. Also worthy of honorable mention is the Montana State Parks Foundation, who acquired a 26-acre parcel of land and donated it to Missouri Headwaters State Park. Notably, Montana attorney general Austin Knudsen voted in favor of the acquisition (he generally votes against these types of deals), likely because it didn’t involve taxpayer cash—God forbid we grow the state’s public “empire,” as he’s keen to call it. Regardless, the Foundation deserves a hat-tip from all of us for their fundraising and grant-writing efforts to secure the property—for our collective benefit, UPOM be dammed.
