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WOLF MOUNTAIN PRESERVE
A once in a lifetime opportunity to own a historical fourth generation ranch in one of the most tightly held areas of Montana. Noted for strong grass and abundant water, this country is perfect for cattle and wildlife. From the headquarters, the ranch runs through beautiful scoria and sandstone buttes westward to the top of the timbered Wolf Mountains. Rosebud Creek traverses the lower end and sub-irrigates the hay meadows. Some of the first Texas trail herds came to this country for its reputation grass in the late 1880’s. The ranch itself was founded in 1887 and remains in the hands of the original family. Over 119 years of cattle and wildlife flourishing on this ranch is a tribute not only to sound management but also to the sustainability of this country for protection, strong grass, and water.
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LOCATION
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HISTORICAL FEATURES
General Custer camped near the headquarters on Rosebud Creek the day before the Battle of the Little Big Horn. Many believe they cached supplies and payroll money in the bluffs on the ranch but so far no one has found the spot. There is an undisturbed buffalo jump and many Indian pictographs on the ranch. This was the traditional home of the Northern Cheyenne and there are artifacts to be discovered throughout the ranch.
RANCH OPERATION
Pride of ownership is evident everywhere you look. Buildings, working facilities, fences, cultivated fields, and range are all in excellent condition. The ranch roads are even maintained with a grader. Water is distributed evenly from wells, pipe lines, and springs. The water is good quality. Wells are around 450’ deep and the springs all stayed flowing during our recent seven year drought. Rosebud Creek runs through the lower end of the ranch and sub-irrigates the hayland. There is no irrigation on the ranch. The dryland winter wheat will average around 40 bushels a year.
The ranch has historically run 400 head of cows. In recent years they have dropped to around 300 cows to eliminate outside labor. Now that moisture has returned to normal, they will probably run some yearlings along with the pairs to utilize the excess feed. There are four sets of working corrals on the ranch so calving, branding, and doctoring are easily done.
IMPROVEMENTS
Home #1 - Completely remodeled, 1,055 sq. ft. with full finished basement, 4 bedrooms – 2 up and 2 down, 2 baths, central air
Home #2 - 1,604 sq. ft. main level, 504 sq. ft. basement. 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, central air
40’ x 100’ Steel shop with concrete floor
Two 3,000 bu granaries
Two 1,000 bu grainaries
Four sets of working corrals, calving sheds
Wells – All good quality water, depths to 450’, three pipelines on wells with generators, numerous springs and stock dams
ENVIRONMENTAL AND GEOLOGICAL STUDIES
This ranch has had a Phase I Environmental Assessment completed by Hydrometrics Inc., Billings, MT.
A Mineral Remoteness Study was conducted by Henry Reed, Geologic Consultant, Billings, MT. It found the ranch to be in compliance with conservation easement requirements. He determined that there is virtually no possibility of development of oil, gas, CBM, or coal on the ranch.
MINERAL RIGHTS: 50% of Sellers interest
TAXES: $3,317.39 In 2005
PRICE: $10,300,000.00
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Located 10 miles south of Colstrip, Montana and 125 miles southeast of Billings, MT. Colstrip has a population of 3000 plus and offers all necessary services including a medical clinic and a paved 5,100’ runway at the airport. Billings, Montana’s largest city, is 90 minutes away and provides all major services including colleges, medical centers, and a commercial airport served by most major carriers. Sheridan, WY is 90 minutes to the south.
Google Earth—You can go to HYPERLINK "http://www.googleearth.com" www.googleearth.com and put in the following coordinates: 45 49 2N, 106 52 38W. This is the northwest corner of the ranch. Turn the photo to the southeast and you are looking over the ranch for 12 miles.
Acres:
Deeded: 8,548 -- With 150 acres sub-irrigated and 400 acres dryland crop
Lease: 1243 acres - State
1243 acres - Private
640 acres - BLM
TOTAL - 11,674 acres
WILDLIFE
Wolf Mountain Preserve has had a Game Management Plan in place for numerous years. They have leased the mule deer hunting to a reputable outfitter to harvest six bucks a year. Thru selective hunting the opportunity to take muleys over 30” has increased dramatically. The genetics and environment are there to consistently produce trophy quality bucks.
They have not leased the elk hunting but have chosen to let a limited number of friends hunt each year. They have taken archery bulls over 390 on this ranch. Bulls with gross P & Y scores of 425 and 415 were taken on the mountain this ranch shares with two other ranches. Once again, the genetics and environment are there to produce monsters every year. Between the limited pressure and the terrain, the elk don’t tend to move out of the area. There are mountain lions and black bear in the high country and antelope in the lower ranch. There is a healthy population of birds including turkey, pheasant, and sharptail. There are several grouse strutting grounds on the ranch.
Habitat
Starting at 3000’ elevation and moving up to 5000’ in the Wolf Mountains provides the perfect environment for trophy game. Rain fall is 14-16 inches on the lower end and considerably higher on the mountains. The lower elevations have all the necessities for ideal mule deer habitat. Excellent native grass, brush covered coulees, cropground, water and interspersed buttes, rimrocks, and timber are the complete package for mule deer security.
The upper end of the ranch is a mixture of heavy timber, grassy meadows, rough canyons, and rocky ridges. There are springs throughout this area so the elk and muleys don’t have to move far for water, feed, and security. The soil types in the meadows would allow food plots to be implemented throughout the area. The combination of genetics, game management, and environment insure a sustainable population of truly trophy quality elk and mule deer.
Hunting Pressure
The Wolf Mountain Preserve is surrounded by several large ranches who also implement game management practices and very limited hunting. There are no public access points in the area or Forest Service land. The Fish and Game offers only very limited rifle elk tags in this area which allows elk to mature to full trophy potential. For resident landowners, licenses for archery elk and rifle/archery mule deer are available over the counter. There are various methods for non-resident landowners to obtain big game licenses including the general State non-resident draw or outfitter guaranteed non-resident licenses.
Game Management
The Wolf Mountain Preserve is already a tribute to 119 years of excellent stewardship by implementing sustainable land management practices that benefit both livestock and wildlife. Further wildlife enhancement is feasible with the development of existing springs and dams to provide wallows and channel water to secluded areas. Food plots could be added almost anywhere there are meadows or grasslands. The annual moisture and soil types on the ranch allow the establishment of a great variety of dryland crops not normally produced on a cattle ranch, but very attractive to elk and deer.
Price: $10,300,000.00
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