As far as landowners being the "stewards"...yeah, thats true in some cases.
Its also not true in others.
I can also tell you that the best private "stewards" of wildlife in Montana are NOT allowing public hunters on unless you have a fat wallet or know somebody.
Check this map...the 2011 map of the outfitter leased lands in Montana. This doesnt include private lands that are held by outfitters, only acreage they lease from others.
Of course this also doesnt include all the private leases held by individuals...which I'd reckon would probably nearly double the total amount of leased lands.
Currently, in Montana, about the only way the average guy is going to get a chance to hunt private is either through Block Management or have close friends/family that own private and allow you to hunt.
The days of knocking on doors and getting permission on QUALITY private are over in Montana, Wyoming, really anywhere.
I'm perfectly fine with that, their land, their right to lease it, sell it, outfit it, or not allow hunting.
However, that only increases my desire to see that ALL accessible public lands are open for business to DIY hunters. That includes corner crossing, and frankly, I dont give a flying [bleep] if it pisses off some landowners. The only ones it will piss off are those that are utilizing that public land for private gain at the expense of DIY hunters/public lands.
It also means that the MTFWP/public land hunters are going to have to purchase as much property as possible.
Again, if landowners close their lands down and throw MT sportsmen under the bus, due to the MTFWP/hunters purchasing lands (like they just recently did), then fine...close it down. I dont give a [bleep] about that either, they're just driving the wedge even deeper.
Its always entertaining to read that Hunters need to work with landowners, but that Landowners dont need to work with hunters.
The lines have been drawn by the Montana Outfitters and Guides Association, the Republican Legislature, and Private Landowners in regard to public land, wildlife, and MT hunters.
Anytime any of the above dont get their way, they fling their suckers in the dirt, stomp their feet...and take it out on Montanas Hunters.
I'll return the favor in kind and tell them to go pound sand...I'm looking out for #1 from here on out. They made the decision to pick the fight, I'll gladly end it.
Corner crossing will happen, land purchases will continue to happen, and hunters will continue to be the BEST stewards of wildlife, continue to pay the vast majority for management, etc....count on it.