A large landowner is suing his Wyoming neighbor in an effort to stop him from hunting thousands of acres of “landlocked” public land that he crosses to reach his cabin in the Powder River Basin.
The lawsuit by Corral Maestri LLC and Maestri Ranch Company, LLC — which are managed by Frank and Michael Maestri, respectively, according to legal documents included in the lawsuit — argues that Rozet resident Calvin Ten Braak has been violating the terms of a road easement leading to his property by hunting on public land along the approximately 10-mile-long route. The dispute came to light in June, when Ten Braak was sent a cease-and-desist letter from the Maestris, who had recently purchased thousands of acres of private land that Ten Braak’s easement also cuts through.
“The purpose of the Easement is to allow access to the grantees’ property, not public property,” states the cease-and-desist letter, signed by Sheridan attorney Cole Gustafson. “The Easement shall solely be used for ingress and egress.”
“Simply put,” the letter goes on, “this Easement does not give you a right to cross private land as a thoroughfare to public land for hunting.”
Ten Braak lawyered up. In July, Laramie attorney Alan Harding sent a letter back on Ten Braak’s behalf, arguing that the cease-and-desist letter and trespass notice were “baseless and in bad faith.”
“The Easement does not confer upon your clients any authority to regulate or limit the use of public lands,” reads the retort. “Public lands are held in trust for the benefit of the public, and access to such lands cannot be curtailed by private parties absent statutory authority or ownership interest.”
The exchange precipitated a lawsuit, which was filed less than three weeks later. The case is still in the early stages. Harding filed a motion to dismiss in August and the plaintiffs responded in September. Then last week, Campbell County District Court Judge Mike McGrady held a hearing on the matter. A trial has been scheduled for December 2026.
Reached by WyoFile, Ten Braak declined an interview for this story under the guidance of his attorney, Harding, who also declined.
Frank Maestri, whose family owns a Mexican tequila distillery, returned WyoFile’s call and said he wanted to make a “short and simple” point.
“I just want to be clear: This is a private land case,” he said. “It has nothing to do with access to public land.”
A map of Ten Braak’s easement, which was recorded in November 2024, shows that his access road cuts through Maestri’s and both state-owned and Bureau of Land Management property.
The otherwise inaccessible BLM parcel accessed via the easement totals more than 16,500 acres, according to the GPS mapping app OnX Hunt.
For the past seven years, Ten Braak has shared access to his easement with Hunting with Heroes, a Casper-based nonprofit that takes disabled veterans hunting, fishing and into the outdoors.
Sundance resident Terry Wilkerson has guided the outings, taking combat veterans onto state and BLM land via Ten Braak’s road.
“The first hunt we took out there, he was a 90-year-old Korean War vet,” Wilkerson told WyoFile on Monday. “Couldn’t hardly walk, but we were able to get him a nice bull. We had a 100% disabled Air Force vet that had terminal cancer of the brain, and he got a nice bull. So we’ve done a lot of great things for 100% disabled vets through the years.”
Wilkerson has been paying attention to the legal proceedings. He was surprised that the lawsuit wasn’t immediately dismissed, and he worries about the precedent it’ll create if the judge rules in the Maestri family’s favor.
“I would think it would be a no-brainer that the judge would say, ‘You can’t keep them from going on public land,’” Wilkerson said. “If this is upheld, I think it’s going to have a tremendous negative impact on access to a lot of public land.”
The Campbell County dispute over easement-granted access to public land follows the high-profile years-long legal fight in Carbon County over “corner crossing,” which is stepping from one public parcel to the next where public land meets at the corner. Ultimately, the dispute, which became an international story, shook out in the public’s favor.
This new dispute in northeast Wyoming is also starting to attract attention. It’s come across the radar of Laramie Democratic Rep. Karlee Provenza, who often advocates for state policies encouraging public access to public land.
“This is a demonstration of the lengths that someone will go to, to block access to public land,” Provenza said of the Campbell County dispute. “I’m grateful for Mr. Ten Braak standing up to this and saying no.”
Correction: The caption of the lead photograph was updated to clarify where the pictured bull was killed. The previous caption incorrectly stated the photo was taken on BLM land. An addition was also made specifying the LLCs that are the official plaintiffs. Last, a reference to the Maestris owning Big Horn Spirits was removed. Its owner is listed by the Wyoming Secretary of State as Gregor Studebaker Downey Jr. -Eds.
Keep public lands in the public hands.
Here’s the kicker: this Maestro character does not own the Federal and State parcels, hence cannot control, dictate, establish easements nor sue on behalf of the Feds and State. He ain’t on the deed, PERIOD. The only access easement granted sits solely on parcels of private land and Maestro & Co. can only stand by and watch as Mr. Ten Braak & invited guests uses the easement, 24 hr per day and access and recreate on the Fed and State lands at their leisure. If there gates put up, illegal signage or harassment involved, then the 1885 Federal lands Unlawful Enclosure Act will come into play and this won’t be tried in a Wyoming kangaroo court. The court of public opinion has already decided this current case an maybe Maestro should give a call to the Elk Mountain ranch guy and see how things like this work out.
Without seeing the legal terms of the easement, I hesitate to comment on legality one way or the other. The article does say that the easement was recorded in 2024, but then you have “For the past seven years, Ten Braak has shared access to his easement with Hunting with Heroes” So it appears on face value that when new owners appeared on the horizon it was time to get it recorded. IDK I don’t have all the facts and frankly neither does Koshmrl. I looked at OnX, and it appears to me that his “easement” comes off of a 4 wheel drive or two track road that goes thru two other land owners to his immediate south. And as for the “ten mile” easement, there are a number of private landholdings along that ten miles that probably are benefiting from the easement, at least that I can see. I think perhaps that the statement that it makes 16,500 acres of otherwise inaccessible public land accessible is maybe misleading. As for USFS easements, there are different levels, and one is an administrative easement that allows USFS personnel and contractors access thru private land. This type of easement does not give the public any access rights. Other easements are for public access thru private property, this allows the public ingress and egress along the easement as defined. This two track goes thru State land, BLM land and of course private. Draw you own conclusions
BJ, you’re implying that this ‘easement’ is being used for the general public. Nope. It’s an easement for Ten Braak and his family/guests/plumber etc to use, 24/7/365. The Maestri Ranch doesn’t now own the public parcels and can’t dictate policy on them. Ten Braak and invited associates can access and use these public pieces. Again, old Joe Blow coming over from Wright who has no connection nor invite from Mr. Ten Braak can use this easement to access and use the public pieces. This is just a land grab by Maestri and it’s probably safe to say that he is either outfitting on these public pieces or wants to and ‘eliminate the competition’
WC, there are many unanswered questions about this “easement”, and as I stated I don’t know the legal terms that are applicable here. Best guess on my part, is this is part of a package deal when PEDC sold off parcels. I don’t have a dog in this fight, and I’m not taking sides one way or the other, I’m simply trying to point out some inconsistencies that surround this article. The first one being, BLM does not grant “easements”, they do ROW’s. Taken from the BLM website; “A right of way authorizes specific use of parcels of public land for a specified period of time that is appropriate for the life of the project.” Secondly, maybe I’m missing something here, but the jpg of the “easement”, shows that the easement is thru private land, so……that would mean that those landowners have assigned Ten Braak the right to drive thru their land. The two track as it runs thru public land, is either a legal trail or not. There is no document that shows where Ten Braak or anyone else was granted a ROW thru either State or BLM land. Obviously, both parties think they have legal standing, so let’s let the courts decide.
Missing information. When was this 2 track road originated? How was this road funded? Was it funded with tax dollars? Also, the public lands where fenced, who funded the fences?
Public Land IS NOT PUBLIC WITHOUT ACCESS.
NO BRAINER
In 2016 Maestri said “We’re very pro-America,” Maestri said. “We love our country and our vets and everything.”
He doesn’t appear to be holding those beliefs anymore.
So…if Mr. Ten Braak does indeed enter and recreate on public lands adjacent to his path of easement, who’s going to write him a trespassing ticket? The BLM? Or, is this Maestri fellow going to perform a citizen’s arrest ala Gomer Pyle on the Andy Griffith Show? If this fellow grows a set of balls and doesn’t hide under the skirts of his shyster, sounds like Maestri will be facing either a kick in the mouth or hunter harassment. Add in the disdain for disabled veterans, the “good” name of his booze endeavors is certainly going to take a dive with the court of opinion in session
Move over, Fred E., it looks like a new public lands villain is going to poke the bear! Hope they enjoy the ride as it ain’t going to be pretty
There is a lot of details left out in this. Cal is a private landowner as well. He is controlling access as well. Not just anyone can go in. Frank hasn’t even owned the ground a year yet. Cal has had his chance at working with plenty of people and he always chooses the hard way. Far as taking the vet’s. He signs up for that then asks his neighbors for help and permission to fill them. The picture of the vet is on a neighboring ranch that helped. We all take veterans in this area. So let’s pump the brakes here tell you gents have all the facts. There are 7 of us that have to deal with Cal. I would say he is 0-7. That isn’t counting the previous landowners. A person that Cal is related to in the 320 acres is pissed off and wants to sell. Last I knew they weren’t even speaking.
We gotta stop voting for cowboy hats. Those legislators have no intention of ever giving up landlocked public lands or gaining any easement access for the public. Their loyalty is on their head.
Maestri is one of the many landowners in that area who give ranchers a bad name. You wonder why people with 17 County plates are actually discriminated against, to a high degree. Because you like us, and we don’t like your greedy ways. I hope you get your ass handed to you, Maestri.
The rich keep getting richer and more selfish, treating the public like parasites. Even many of our elected representatives are on the side of the private land barons. Vote for people who are on the side of the public land users so maybe access to it can be made easier.
There is a secondary and even bigger issue here that really needs to be emphasized. Mr. Ten Braak has shared access to his easement with Hunting with Heroes, a Casper-based nonprofit that takes disabled veterans hunting, fishing and into the outdoors. So, what the Maestri Family is really saying is we don’t care about veterans. We don’t care that they have been disabled fighting to preserve our freedom all we care about is locking up public lands. I hope every veteran, all of their families and all of their friends will not only boycott all Big Horn Spirits, Frank-Lin Distillers and Casa Maestri products, but will also take every opportunity to share the way they are treating veterans on every social media outlet.
He also owns Big Horn Merc Pizza in Big Horn. The website of Big Horn spirits lists his wife’s name as Kristin and Kristin Maestri is listed as the agent of Big Horn Merc Pizza LLC on the Secretary of States website. Let me also explain this distillery business to those not in the know. He doesn’t make any whiskey. Both the Wyo Rodeo whiskey and the Throttle to Bottle are made in Canada. A distiller up north makes it then someone bottles it and a label is put on it that says Big Horn Spirits. There is nothing Wyoming or Big Horn about it . I’m sure there is someone out there who thinks Wyo Rodeo Whiskey has something to do with Wyoming. It doesn’t, other than giving this guy money to do something like the things mentioned in this article.
This story has been corrected to remove a reference to the Maestris owning Big Horn Spirits. Its owner is listed by the Wyoming Secretary of State as Gregor Studebaker Downey Jr. -Eds.
This story has been corrected to remove a reference to the Maestris owning Big Horn Spirits. Its owner is listed by the Wyoming Secretary of State as Gregor Studebaker Downey Jr. -Eds.
I can say this I will never purchase anything from big horn spirits and neither should any other public land user
This story has been corrected to remove a reference to the Maestris owning Big Horn Spirits. Its owner is listed by the Wyoming Secretary of State as Gregor Studebaker Downey Jr. -Eds.
It will be interesting to see how this shakes out. Granting access to public land by having to create or maintain an easement across private land is the only way have the public access public land. The cause here in lays with the shortsightedness of the government with its push to develop the railroad system. I believe there should be access, but I also believe that land owners should be compensated by the government when easements need to be established. Eminent domain may have a role to play in these instances even though I hate this process as a whole., because of the abuse it has been used for on so many occasions.
As a 60 year old Wyoming native there should be access to ALL public lands making land locks illegal PERIOD!
That’s a tough one. Even if a landowner does have some landlocked public land in his property should he be required to grant access regardless? It isn’t his fault that the property in question is landlocked? This is an issue that was caused many years ago when this country was offered for homesteading. Also, when the government gave every other section to the railroads as an enticement to build the railroads throughout the west. I do believe people accessing the public lands legally without crossing private property should be allowed to do so. But to force a landowner to allow access through private property is wrong.
The land in this case is not landlocked. There is apparently an easement on record that gets to it. This is a unique situation. I will not pretend to know if there is any relevant case law to this type of situation. It is hard to imagine a legal way of stopping the easement holder from access to public land that lies adjacent to it. You have to see the motives of Maestri as pure greed in wanting to hoard the public land or likely what animals may inhabit it. The whole problem from the beginning is properties being sold with this deeded and leased acres and people thinking they owned the leased. They never did and never will. A grazing lease means you can graze livestock, not own the wildlife that happens to be there or control access to it.
Thank you, Joe. As a rancher with landlocked bits and pieces, I shudder to think what might happen if I were required to allow access to the landlocked pieces in my pastures. Open gates is just one of the unpleasant consequences.
Additionally, many folks believe that these pieces are fenced off from the private land. They are not. So how does someone ensure that they’re on public property? Technology often fails to be accurate.
People really showing what kind of character they possess.
The Maestri name is earning zero respect.
Folks, vote for the people that support YOU- the public. The three Wyoming goofballs do not support you or your use of public land. The orange menace doesn’t either. Join Backcountry Hunters and Anglers or other organizations that support public land and access to them. Boycott business’s that don’t support public land.
This story has been corrected to remove a reference to the Maestris owning Big Horn Spirits. Its owner is listed by the Wyoming Secretary of State as Gregor Studebaker Downey Jr. -Eds.
Time to gain legal access to public lands any legal way possible. New land grabs coming up every month with the Trump administration to get public lands handed over to millionaires. The public own these lands, not the rich few that land lock and want to get title to it. If the welfare ranchers graze public land or if it is leased for any use, the public should have access to it.
About the only thing that Maestra is going to gain by this silly attempt of re-writing the terms of a recorded easement is a thud of a loss, disdain for his name and a boycott of his businesses, the Big Horn Spirits and the Mexican joint. He must not been following the Fred Esheman corner crossing saga… what a laugh!!!
A lot can be said about the on going pursuit to restrict the public from hunting on public land.
The disturbing part is the Maestro family are directly opposing not only public access but a resource for disabled veterans.
This is unamerican at best , a very sad day for Wyoming constituents to act this way towards our veterans.
Frank Maestri, whose family owns Big Horn Spirits and a Mexican tequila distillery, returned WyoFile’s call and said he wanted to make a “short and simple” point.
“I just want to be clear: This is a private land case,” he said. “It has nothing to do with access to public land.” Oh, well, alrighty then. Sounds like no problem for Mr. Ten Braak to access the adjacent public lands along his easement. This hysterical cease and desist letter must of been sent in error
This story has been corrected to remove a reference to the Maestris owning Big Horn Spirits. Its owner is listed by the Wyoming Secretary of State as Gregor Studebaker Downey Jr. -Eds.
Sorry, this keeps getting repeated..I understand your concern about targeting the wrong business but not sure it’s repetitive purpose…I don’t drink so I have no particular “skin in the game”, however, once is enough for ne
It sounds like the terms of the recorded easement do not say “Can’t Access Public Lands”. I’d confer to the Maestri’s (plaintiffs) to get the support of Fred Eshelman’s legal ‘dream team’ along with support from Jim Magagna and the Wyoming Welfare Stockgrowers since they’re going to lose big on this one, might as well ride with these other unsuccessful brands. NOTE: for users of the Shoshone Nat’l Forest near the Pitchfork Ranch, Meeteetse, using County Rd 4DX to NFS Jack Creek Rd, this route goes through both State and BLM lands and the Pitchfork folks would like to wryly tell you that the terms of the easement do not allow you to access these public lands on the way to the forest. Wrong, the recorded isn’t does not state this at all. Maybe they could also retain the Eshelman shysters and Mr. Successful Magagna
Yep, the Cody area Game and Fish have been insync with the Pitchfork by perpetuating a false “no access” policy on that forest service easement that crosses both state and blm properties. It’s alway great to have our very own Game and Fish department working for the big landowners.
Frank Maestri is un-American. Many of us who served rely on public land access, and believe it is one of the greatest aspects of the USA. I hope our legislature takes notice and does what is right for their public and constituents, not the ultra rich.
If he can’t be allowed to access public land then the guy who owns the land he has easement on should be told he can’t access that land from his own property that way he don’t get to landlocked 16,500 acres of public to just him and his family
Unless there is some other precedent, and it seems to me the corner crossing issue as much as anything show access to public land is access to public land and any private owner cannot dictate terms of an easement, regardless of “who got there first”…and any “terms” of an easemrnt implied or otherwise that dictates a purpose other than that of the public land permitted use should be null and void
This case seems petty cut and dry. Unless there’s some legal justification that he somehow cant stop on public land which would be pretty baseless.