Two former Republican lawmakers, Jason Priest and Scott Boulanger, along with ex-Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks director Dustin Temple, have pleaded not guilty to criminal trespass charges in Big Horn County Justice Court. They argue that Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks based their misdemeanor citations on inaccurate information. The issue involves a road on the Crow Indian Reservation and questions about whether it is tribal or private property. Priest claims the road was misidentified as private property due to incorrect data from Big Horn County.
The alleged incidents occurred on a road known as South Hay Coulee Road, also recognized as BIA Route 750 or Campbell Road. According to Priest, Bureau of Indian Affairs documents confirm it is tribally owned, rendering the charges groundless. Priest provided documentation to this effect and stated he had a valid permit from the Crow Tribe. Boulanger and Temple, using the OnX public lands mapping app, maintain they were on a public road when cited.
Boulanger and Temple initially accessed the disputed road on November 11, 2025, and were confronted by an employee from Monette Farms, which claims the road is private. Boulanger described the encounter as “concerning,” noting they never exited their vehicle on Monette Farms property. The men insist they were accessing tribal land for hunting, for which they had permits.
On November 23, 2025, Boulanger and Priest accessed the road again, this time with bird dogs, but did not exit their vehicle. Boulanger, a former state Board of Outfitters and Guides member, reiterated their understanding that they were on a tribal road. The men were charged after photographs of their vehicle were taken, and they entered not-guilty pleas on August 31, 2026, in Big Horn County Justice Court.
The case is prosecuted by Michael Gee of Helena law firm Morrison Sherwood Wilson & Deola, not Big Horn County Attorney Jeanne Torske. The county did not clarify why legal work was contracted out. According to court records, a game warden sought clarification from Big Horn County, which labeled the road as private.
For a fee, non-tribal members can access tribal lands for hunting or recreation with proper permits. The road is listed on the National Tribal Transportation Facility Inventory, which requires it to be open for public use. Monette Farms, which is currently listed for sale at $96 million by Premier Land Company, did not comment.
