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On May 13, Bryan Hughes wrote a letter thanking the Gianfortes for “being great supporters of public access,” yet cited examples of the Gianfortes graciously granting private access to their lands. There is a difference between individual permission granted to private lands and public access for all. Hughes, a friend, receiving permission from the Gianfortes, is not “public access.”

I feel this letter was a smoke and mirrors, an obfuscation, deflecting attention from the reality of the Gianforte's legal filing against Fish, Wildlife & Parks in 2009, in which the Gianfortes “demanded" FWP "voluntarily extinguish the easement," a perpetual public Recreation Site Easement granted to FWP in 1993, years prior to the Gianfortes purchasing their land.

When a private landowner graciously grants access to their private property, whether to their friends or family, that is their right and it is a privilege, a hospitality extended to those receiving the permission. Hughes wrote about his accessing the Gianforte's property as public access, but that is not general public access. Let's look at private access as oranges.

No one is criticizing or “attacking” the Gianfortes for not being gracious hosts to their friends and family. Let's clear the smoke and remove the distorting mirrors that are confusing this oranges to apples situation.