South Deer Creek Ranch

The South Deer Creek Ranch is a large assemblage of well-managed and watered rangeland and timbered recreational/hunting land located along the southern border of Montana, less than 30 miles from Sheridan, Wyoming. Aside from the extensively developed water system, improved meadows, and fencing for its carefully designed pastures, the property is largely unimproved. It consists of approximately 15,660 total acres, of which about 9,760 are deeded.

South Deer Creek Ranch Highlights
Acreage
15,660± Total
9,760± Deeded
4,4265± BLM
640± State (#2545, #6844, #8060)
1,560± Private Lease

Features
Premier grazing land
All contiguous
No public access to any of the BLM or State land
Hunting, wildlife viewing, photography
Soil carbon capture/sequestration potential
30 minutes to Sheridan, WY
Grass, Water & Regenerative Management

Agricultural Operations
The South Deer Creek Ranch is ideally suited for a summer grazing operation capable of pasturing at least 600 cow/calf pairs or the equivalent number of stockers. (The ranch is currently running both pairs and stockers.) It operates with limited labor requirements and is perfect for the investor who wants a productive, low-overhead ranch. The ranch has a thriving mixture of hardy native grasses and a mosaic of sagebrush, juniper, ponderosa pine, and other deciduous trees native to the area. It lies within the Deer Creek and Badger Hills watershed areas, each with seasonal flowing water, plus numerous springs and reservoirs.

Water Resources and Infrastructure
The ranch’s extensive high-producing wells, coupled with buried 3” HDPE primary water pipelines and 2” HDPE secondary lines, provide a more than dependable and abundant source of water to nearly every pasture on the ranch on an on-demand basis, and most can be used year-round. This ranch is as well watered as any you will find, and nearly all the water tanks use 12½’ diameter tire tanks set up to function through the winter. With all the water and abundance of grass, the ranch can support the grazing demands of its cattle operations in the hottest weather conditions.

Regenerative Grazing
The ranch utilizes a regenerative grazing program, which includes permanently fenced pastures with wildlife-friendly high-tensile wire. Temporary electric fencing further divides the larger pastures. The well-managed grazing system promotes management-intensive grazing (MIG) and allows an owner/manager to move livestock to promote regenerative agriculture practices. Such practices build soil structure through better root systems and soil cover, which helps improve water and carbon cycles, creating a better environment for all systems and enterprises above the soil. For the past 5 years, livestock have been used to build soil and store soil carbon (soil carbon sequestration). When a systems approach to land and ranch management is used, as it is on Holmes Ranch, all things work together for good. As the soil health improves, the grazing enterprises and wildlife resources also improve. Since the most important elements for livestock grazing are already in place, one can get right to it by hauling in truckloads of yearling stockers, pairs, or even sheep.

Hunting and Outdoor Recreation
Hunting opportunities include elk, mule deer, black bear, and many species of upland birds, like Merriam turkeys, Hungarian partridges, and sharptailed grouse. The ranch is a fantastic wildlife and Montana recreation ranch. Aside from the grazing and wildlife, just the pure scenic qualities and location of the ranch provide more non-consumptive enterprises. For instance, with little to no light pollution, the stargazing is unbelievable under these big Montana skies. These vast skies are often filled with spectacular sunrises and sunsets, uninterrupted views of the Milky Way Galaxy, and occasionally northern lights. Not only are the views of the heavens spectacular, but even the views of the landscape and the Bighorn Mountains are truly captivating. Plus, watching wildlife is always entertaining. On this ranch, you will find new opportunities to witness activities that most people never see. Watch elk bathe in reservoirs and listen to them bugling, or watch in amazement as hawks and eagles soar and hunt. The photography that awaits your camera will always amaze you.

Located in Elk and Deer Hunt area 704, which is well known for having monster, record-setting bull elk and trophy mule deer. The ranch’s large size, good grass and water, abundance of deeded land, great cover, and lack of public access to the leased ground make it an ideal habitat and refuge for wildlife.

Broker’s Comments
Chase Brothers is pleased to present the South Deer Creek Ranch, which historically has been a part of the Holmes Ranch. This residentially unimproved land holding presents a solid and reliable investment opportunity in one of the most sought-after real estate markets in the West. With its healthy soils, strong grass, mild climate, abundance of water, and the easy commute to Sheridan, WY, this beautiful ranch reflects the best attributes of Montana and the western way of life.