“The time has come the walrus said, to speak of many things”. We in the Public Land Access Association (PLWA) say, “OK let’s speak about roads.”As the reader might know, our organization has been dealing with road and trail access to public land and water for over thirty years. We are aware of some unresolved problems with roads and their status as we have fought many of these access battles.There are a number of roads that exist as established County Roads, but have been blocked gates or other obstacles. Many have been blocked for years. This is a violation of state law. ... (more)
Click map pins for Issue details.
INTERESTING DETAILS ON SPECIFIC ACCESS ISSUES CAN BE OBTAINED BY CLICKING ON THE LOCATION BUBBLES OR "PINS" ABOVE. JUST TRY IT !
Mr. Dale Hall November 20, 2015Chief Executive OfficerDucks UnlimitedOne Waterfowl WayMemphis, TN 38120Dear Mr. HallI am president of the Montana Public Land and Water Access Association, PLWA. ... (more)
Montanas big game herds have become big business. Several properties now advertise a hunt for bull elk at $15,000. It might include a trespass fee or a guided hunt but the elk is the product. ... (more)
The idea has been around for a while now, dating back to the Nevada-based Sage Brush Rebellion of the 1980s. Like a lot of bad ideas, it can be dressed up to look good at first glance: Get those vast, "mismanaged" tracts of western public land out of the hands of the distant, incompetent federal government and into the hands of people who know how to use it right. However, in its current iteration the push to disburse these federal lands represents a greater threat to the future of American hunting than anything the anti-hunters could have come up with in their wildest dreams. ... (more)
It doesn't take much for certain groups and individuals to jump on the “Fantasy Wagon”. Like with so many of these situations, some believe the fantasy and others use it for political advantage. Does anyone really think the citizens of the United States, who own these lands, are going to allow a small state like Montana to take control of a huge chunk of their National Forest and other public ;property? ... (more)
public land news
Boadle Road Settled After 15 Years of Litigation ( 10/26/2015 )
Nov. 15, 2015On October 15th the Montana Supreme Court delivered a stunning 8 to 1 decision Boadle Decision in favor of PLWA in a case that has been around for 15 years.
Swimming Woman County Road Update ( 09/01/2015 )
Swimming Woman Road provides one of the few access points to the south side of Big Snowy Mountains and is popular route for public hunters and outdoor enthusiasts. The public's right to access the road has had to be fought for in 2008, 2011 and again in 2015.
Bullwhacker Road - Big Development ( 10/30/2014 )
BLM Press Release - September 26, 2014 BLM starts process to restore Bullwhacker access with by-pass (LEWISTOWN, Mont.) - The Bureau of Land Management announced today, it has begun the process required to reestablish road access into the Bullwhacker Coulee area of the Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument.
know your rights
Caveat and Disclaimer ( 11/28/2008 )
Information on this site is provided as a matter of information and education only. It is not intended to provide legal advice or counsel .
WHAT IS A PUBLIC ROAD ? ( 12/16/2007 )
If you encounter a closed road or trail ( which is obviously not a federal highway , a state highway, or a city street ) and you believe it may be a legally accessible road, here are some things you can do to check it out :FIRST, is it in a National Forest ? If so check with the Regional Forester office to see if a private easement or fee tile exists.
Tenderfoot Acquisition AdvancesThis is truly one of the most significant public access actions by a government agency - working with private entities - of all time.
Updated June 1,2013Efforts underway since 2006 to acquire 5 miles of railroad right-of-way stretching west from Ringling along Sixteen mile Creek, and accessing an otherwise isolated section of DNRC land for another mile, are now nearing conclusion.
Educating and informing the public on their ownership and access rights.
Monitoring public access routes and identifying access problems.
Initiating legal action when access has been illegally blocked.
Monitoring public land sales exchanges, and purchases to insure that no transfers are made without full consideration of conservation and recreational values.
Initiating programs and policies to expand public land and water access.
Pursuing every legal and ethical avenue to protect and maintain your access to public lands and waters.
What can PLWA Do For You?
Primarily we help hunters, anglers, and other recreationists fight back against the tide of privatization of public land and waters. Montana is changing and part of this change comes from outside interests who think they can grab “ownership” of a river or public land with "No Trespassing" signs, orange paint, barb wire, chains, lawsuits, legislation and other tactics. It takes an organization with “pit bull” mentality like PLWA to deal with these situations. In many cases we are the ones who initiate appropriate legal action and are on the firing line.
PLWA is an all volunteer organization with little overhead. Your donations are almost totally used to press the issue of maintaining access. Member contributions are our only source of income. Usually the deep pockets are on the other side.
We hope you'll take a moment today to join us in our mission to retain the traditional value of access to the public landscapes which make Montana such a special place.
Nov. 15, 2015On October 15th the Montana Supreme Court delivered a stunning 8 to 1 decision Boadle Decision in favor of PLWA in a case that has been around for 15 years.
Swimming Woman Road provides one of the few access points to the south side of Big Snowy Mountains and is popular route for public hunters and outdoor enthusiasts. The public's right to access the road has had to be fought for in 2008, 2011 and again in 2015.
Big Timber, Montana - On Wednesday, July 15, at 9:00 a.m.
BLM Press Release - September 26, 2014 BLM starts process to restore Bullwhacker access with by-pass (LEWISTOWN, Mont.) - The Bureau of Land Management announced today, it has begun the process required to reestablish road access into the Bullwhacker Coulee area of the Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument.
Information on this site is provided as a matter of information and education only. It is not intended to provide legal advice or counsel .
