In the 1800s, the land southeast of the Yellowstone River expanding all the way to Montana’s south and east boundaries was Crow country. Located within Crow territory, the Crows named the Absaroka Mountains after their nation that the range encompassed. Mission Creek and the nearby Absaroka Mountains nurtured early people and the Crow Indians by providing them essential ground to hunt, fish, live and worship. It is said these people used this area as a vision-quest site. As a result, many artifacts have been left behind for present man to ponder.
EFFICIENT 300-350 CATTLE OPERATION | With exceptional hunting and fishing this Ranch is comprised of 3,567± deeded acres and 160± State lease. There are 320+ irrigated acres and a very productive sub-irrigated riparian corridor along 4+ miles of the Clark Fork River. Improvements include two homes, shop, barns, commercial scale and corrals. This is a much-desired combination of a well-balanced cattle operation with great fishing and hunting for big game and wing-shooters.
FLY FISHING & PIVOT IRRIGATION | Located about 45 minutes from Bozeman, the 768± deeded blocked-up acres with 450± acres under center-pivot irrigation generates about 3.5 tons off of one cutting. Willow Creek, which serpentines through the Farm for about 1.75 miles, provides premier private trout fishing. With recently renovated improvements, this is a rare turn-key operation in the thriving Gallatin Valley.
Clarks Fork Canyon Meadows is conveniently located just 38 road miles from the bustling town of Cody, Wyoming. Buffalo Bill Cody, who founded the town of Cody while visiting his son in the 1870s, had a vision that the area had a lot of potential. Located only 52 miles from the East Entrance of Yellowstone National Park, Cody felt the area may become a potentially high-tourist corridor. In the mid-1890s, he returned, and with the collaboration of others, the town was incorporated in 1901.
One of the most interesting parts of being a ranch broker is that no two ranches are alike. However, this creates complexity when it comes to understanding the operations of each property. Our team of seasoned ranch brokers can help sift through the information, or misinformation, about each property to help buyers find and understand the ranch that fits their individual needs.
A few key points to understand when buying a cattle ranch are the type of operation and suitability for the property, carrying capacity, soil condition and forage health, management of the property, water rights, stock water, irrigation water, and the quality of improvements.
Type of Operation
Following a winter with record-cold temperatures and plentiful snowfall, the spring is warming up with strong recreational ranch sales. This past week Swan Land Company brokers represented the buyers in the purchase of two Montana ranches. Located in separate parts of the state and with very different attributes, we congratulate and are extremely excited for the new owners to take advantage of the great features that both of these exceptional ranches have to offer.
Peterson Ranch is situated in the rolling hills of Central Montana in the famed Judith Basin near Buffalo and about 30 miles southwest of Lewistown. It is comprised of approximately 9,669± total acres, of which 8,549± acres are deeded and 1,120 acres are a State of Montana lease. With over 4,012 acres of dry-land farm ground, Peterson Ranch is a rare opportunity to own one of the premier blocked-up and contiguous dry-land farms in one of the Big Sky State’s most productive basin settings.
Encompassing Mission Creek Canyon with the backdrop of the Absaroka Mountain Range, 63 Ranch, located minutes from Livingston, is in one of the most stunning settings in Montana. The 2,014± deeded acres cover timbered hillsides, lush riparian bottoms along Mission Creek, and rolling meadows of native grasses. Bordering the Gallatin National Forest and the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness Area to the south, the Ranch controls the mouth of the Mission Creek Canyon in what may very well be one of the most dramatic backdrops in the lower 48 states. Traditionally operated as a historic guest ranch, the 63 Ranch would also be ideal as a recreational gentleman’s ranch for the outdoor enthusiast and allow one to run livestock.
BOZEMAN — A new ranching systems degree that is expected to help sustain the agricultural heritage of the northern Great Plains and Intermountain West will be offered at Montana State University beginning this fall as part of a new umbrella program.
Chief Mountain, as seen from North Fork Ranch, is a prominent towering monolith that stands alone facing westerly along the Rocky Mountain Front on the eastern edge of Glacier National Park. Named for its commanding presence, it is also known as “Ninaiistako”, a name given to it by the Blackfeet Indians, translating to “Great Chief". Although it is not the highest peak in Glacier, the 9,085 foot-tall giant can be seen for over a hundred miles away in both Montana and Alberta, Canada. It lies half in Glacier National Park, along the northeast boundary, and half in the Blackfeet Reservation to its east.
© 2019 Swan Land Company
