‘Devil’s’ postcard prompts request to pause corner-crossing

Alleging threats, ranch owner Eshelman wants the judge who ruled against him to keep corner-crossers at bay while he appeals his case.

By WYOFILE | 1 hour ago



A postcard mailed to Elk Mountain Ranch (WyoFile redacted the box number) and addressed to owner Fred Eshelman. (U.S. District Court for Wyoming)

Angus M. Thuermer Jr., WyoFile

Hateful vitriol, including a postcard from “Satan,” has prompted the owner of Elk Mountain Ranch to ask a federal court to stall the judge’s own decision that corner crossing is not trespassing. ... Attorneys for Fredric Eshelman’s Iron Bar Holdings company filed for a stay Friday, telling Wyoming’s Chief U.S. District Judge Scott Skavdahl there’s “a risk of harm” if his decision remains in effect. Eshelman wants to temporarily reverse Skavdahl’s June 1 decision while the ranch owner appeals the case.

Eshelman’s lawyers also claim that the corner-crossing ruling will cause irreparable harm to the North Carolina resident’s business at his 22,045-acre Carbon County ranch. Corner crossing is the act of stepping from one piece of public land to another without setting foot on private property. ... Eshelman’s wildlife-rich ranch enmeshes some 6,000 acres of public land in a checkerboard pattern of ownership. By corner crossing, however, hikers and hunters can reach that public land without setting foot on private property.

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Eshelman’s unsuccessful federal civil suit against four hunters argued that passing through the airspace above ranch property at checkerboard corners constitutes a trespass. The Missouri hunters broke with convention when they corner crossed at Elk Mountain in 2020 and 2021, and Eshelman’s motion predicts more people will now come.

“Currently, the ranch is bracing for an influx of people who will attempt to corner-cross through ranch property,” one employee stated in an affidavit. They could bring ill-intent, lawyers say. ... “[T]here are many people who not only dislike — but actually hate — [Eshelman’s Iron Bar Holdings company] and may seek revenge … by imposing property damage … blatantly trespassing … or threatening Plaintiff’s representatives and employees while corner crossing,” the motion states.

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A ranch gate at Elk Mountain. (Mike Vanata/WyoFile)

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This article was originally published by WyoFile and is republished here with permission. WyoFile is an independent nonprofit news organization focused on Wyoming people, places and policy.