chief joseph cattle ranch

Chief Joseph Cattle RanchW I S D O M , M O N T A N A

H u n t i n g | R a n c h i n g | F l y F i s h i n g | C o n s e r v a t i o n

Introduction

Chief Joseph Cattle Ranch is a 2,545+ deeded-acre ranch located

in the pristine upper Big Hole Valley of southwest Montana. The

ranch is extremely productive, well-watered and features a turn-key

income-producing cattle operation. An abundance of water fed by

multiple creeks and countless springs, moves easily and is gravity fed to

nearly every corner of the ranch. The ranch is fenced and cross fenced

for ease of rotating stock.

Aside from excellent production, Chief Joseph Cattle Ranch offers

outstanding recreational opportunities, both on the ranch and in the

adjacent Beaverhead National Forest. Wildlife thrives on the ranch,

most notably large herds of elk, as well as other big game such as moose,

whitetail and mule deer. Chief Joseph Cattle Ranch is an opportunity to

own a ranch with strong production and spectacular recreation located in

a private setting under a backdrop of the peaks of the Continental Divide.

Chief Joseph Cattle RanchW I S D O M , M O N T A N A

Hunting | Ranching | Fly Fishing | Conservation

w w w . l i v e w a t e r p r o p e r t i e s . c o m

ContactsM A T T M A C M I L L A N

a s s o c i a t e b r o k e r3 0 7 . 4 1 3 . 3 1 5 5

m a t t @ l i v e w a t e r p r o p e r t i e s . c o m

D A N M A H O N E Y a s s o c i a t e b r o k e r

4 0 6 . 3 6 0 . 7 3 7 3d a n @ l i v e w a t e r p r o p e r t i e s . c o m

Location

Located in a valley where cattle outnumber people and views of the surrounding mountains are unobstructed, the Chief Joseph Cattle Ranch offers

incredible privacy, yet still remains convenient and accessible. Tucked up against the National Forest on the West side of the upper Big Hole Valley, the

ranch is accessed via Twin Lakes Road. The small towns of Wisdom and Jackson are 15 miles and 19 miles away, respectively. Both Wisdom and Jackson

are true Montana small towns offering basic amenities each with a few restaurants, bars and overnight accommodations, including the regionally acclaimed

Jackson Hot Springs Lodge. Approximately 65 miles from the ranch, and less than an hour’s drive away is the town of Dillon, population just over 4,000,

where all necessary services can be found including shopping, dining and groceries. While the Dillon airport offers FBO services and two asphalt runways,

the closest commercial air service is at Bert Mooney (BTM), located outside of the city of Butte about an hour and half ’s drive from the ranch. There is a

3,400 ft grass airstrip in Wisdom, which accommodates small planes. Two of Montana’s most vibrant cities, Missoula and Bozeman, are conveniently less than

three hours from the ranch as well.

The Main Residence at the Chief Joseph Cattle Ranch is a 6,200 sqft log home,

thoughtfully designed as a family getaway retreat. An open main floor with guest suites spreads across

three levels and comfortably sleeps in excess of 20 people. This log home has all of the modern systems

and updated finishes, including a beautiful rock fireplace in the great room. The home was strategically

placed adjacent to BLM land looking east across the valley. From the back door, one can walk directly

into thousands of acres of public land. Out the front door there are views of rolling pastures, and one can

watch the sun rise across the entire Big Hole Valley.

Improvements• 6,200 sqft log home• Historic ranch headquarters• Stocked trout pond • Flood irrigated

The Historic Ranch Headquarters are located ¾ of a mile

north of the main residence. This charming picturesque set of improvements consists of a manager’s

home, barn, bunk house, sheds and a quality set of wooden corrals with certified scales, and loading

chutes round out the headquarters area. Other improvements on Chief Joseph Ranch include a

stocked trout pond measuring approximately two acres in size, two additional sets of corrals, updated

fencing and a well maintained ditch system with headgates, which deliver irrigation water to the 13

individual pastures. All furniture and ranch equipment will transfer upon the sale.



Cattle Operation

The Chief Joseph Cattle Ranch has been assembled by an experienced cattleman, whose attention to detail and passion for ranching is obvious as one

walks the property. For the past 25 years, the ranch has been a critical and valuable summer grazing unit for the owner’s cow/calf operation, which is

based in nearby Idaho. The high mountain protein rich grass present on the ranch, supports approximately 1,200 cow/calf pairs for the summer months. On

an average year, pairs are moved on the ranch at the beginning of June and graze through early November, when shipping begins.

Chief Joseph Cattle Ranch is fenced and cross fenced into 13 pastures, which are supplemented with State of Montana and US Forest Service grazing leases.

The three State of Montana units are fenced into the ranch and are seamlessly managed in conjunction with the deeded acreage. The National Forest lease

is adjacent to the West. The adjacent nature of both the federal and state leases makes for an efficient grazing operation. As currently managed, the ranch

has one full-time employee who moves cattle and manages the irrigation water. Additional day help is brought on for sorting and shipping days. The three

State of Montana grazing leases allow for 395 AUM’s while the National Forest lease allows for 150 head to graze for six weeks in August and September. The

combination of deeded, state and federal leases allows the ranch to easily support 1,200 pairs for the summer season. Due to the blocked up nature of the

ranch, an alternative management would be to run a yearling operation. Grass in the upper Big Hole Valley is highly sought after, so for the absentee owner

who would like to lease out the grazing, tenant opportunities are readily available.


Area HistoryThis area is rich with Native American history, and the ranch is named after Chief Joseph; his

Nez Perce tribe fought against the US Cavalry here in 1877, as they fled to Canada. The Battle of

the Big Hole was the largest battle fought between the Nez Perce and the US Government. The

battlefield has been preserved by the National Park Service and a year-round visitor center is

nearby and open to the public.


Current ownership has focused first on cattle grazing with limited hunting, however, the elk have continued

to thrive and coexist with the cattle. On occasion, current ownership will allow a guest to come harvest a

bull, but in general, the elk view the ranch as a refuge and feel comfortable. The elk herd begins to utilize

the rich meadows of Chief Joseph Ranch in the spring when they drop their calves and continue to use the

ranch through the fall months before migrating up and over the Continental Divide for the winter. While

herd sizes can vary, a consistent number of 80 to 100+ head are regularly observed on the ranch.

In addition to the elk, the Big Hole Valley is home to a high percentage of Montana’s diverse wildlife.

Moose are a common sight on the ranch as they thrive on the woody vegetation growing along the creeks

and springs. Both mule deer and whitetail deer can be found on the ranch and are available in huntable

numbers. The Upper Big Hole Valley is a wild area with large operational ranches giving way to millions of

acres of public lands, home to an incredibly diverse list of wildlife. Large predators like wolves, wolverine,

coyotes, bobcat, lynx, mountain lion, grizzly and black bear can all be seen nearby. Rocky Mountain goats

and big horn sheep inhabit the high country of the Continental Divide behind the ranch.

Hunting and WildlifeChief Joseph Cattle Ranch is an archery elk hunter’s dream and was previously owned by country music star Hank Williams Jr., who owned and managed the ranch exclusively as an elk hunting retreat.

Area RecreationThe Big Hole Valley is the ideal place to experience the adventure of the Montana outdoors throughout all

seasons. In the summer, enjoy world class fly fishing on the nearby Big Hole River, most known for its tea

colored water and trophy brown trout. Over 450,000 acres of public land in the Beaverhead National Forest

beg for exploration and allow for unlimited hiking, horseback riding and backcountry opportunities. Explore

the area during winter months by snowshoe or snowmobile. Downhill skiing is nearby at Maverick Mountain,

a less-discovered, quaint ski mountain, where the powder is always deep, and the locals are friendly. Follow up

a day of skiing with a soak in geothermal, mineral rich hot water, at Jackson Hot Springs Resort.

In a valley where water holds increasing value, Chief Joseph Cattle Ranch is rich with resources. Multiple creeks flow throughout the property with the

primary source of water coming from Rock Creek, a cold-water tributary, which spills out of the Beaverhead Mountains from its headwaters along the

Continental Divide. In addition to the named creeks on the property, innumerable springs pepper the landscape. This clean groundwater not only irrigates

the land, but also cools the existing streams, making better habitat for fish and wildlife. It is also important to note that all of this water drains toward the

Upper Big Hole River, located just down the road. These cold-water inputs play an important role in sustaining the last of the native fluvial Arctic Grayling

populations in the lower 48.

Live Water

SummarySeldom do we see ranches at this price point, which have a meaningful income

component, while also being inherently beautiful and rich in recreation.

Chief Joseph Cattle Ranch possesses these attributes.

Set in one of the most pristine and authentic valleys in the western United

States, this ranch sits in a premier location on the western flank of the highly

sought after Big Hole Valley. The stunning vistas of the Pioneer, Beaverhead and

Pintlar Mountain Ranges provide the back drop for limitless family recreation

potential with little interference from the outside world.

The underpinning for value on Chief Joseph Cattle Ranch is the stable

and consistent cattle production, insured by exceptional water rights and

supplemented by the adjacent federal and state grazing leases. Added to

the production are a first class hunting component, wildlife diversity and

spectacular viewscape and privacy. These ingredients, along with a public

land border, lack of conservation easement encumbrances and a superior

Southwest Montana location make for a ranch that is truly investment grade

in nature.

LISTING PRICE: $11,250,000Taxes: $7,823.73 in 2020

CONTACTSFor more information please contact Matt MacMillan at 307.413.3582 or

Dan Mahoney at 406.360.7373

Notes:1) This is an exclusive listing of Live Water Properties LLC; an agent of Live Water Properties must be present to conduct a showing. The owners respectfully request that other agents and/or prospective buyers contact Live Water Properties in advance

to schedule a proper showing and do not attempt to tour or trespass the property on their own. Thank you. 2) Offering subject to errors, omissions, prior sale, change or withdrawal without notice, and approval of purchase by owner. Information provided herein is intended as a general guideline and has been provided by sources deemed reliable, but the accuracy of which we cannot guarantee. 3) Live Water Properties LLC represents the Seller as a Seller’s Agent.

Conservation Easement OpportunityThere are no conservation easements, or deed restrictions of any kind, which currently encumber the Chief Joseph

Ranch. However, the ranch’s significant water resources and acreage as well as wildlife and scenic value, make it an

excellent candidate for a conservation easement. These voluntary legal agreements provide a future safeguard for the

ranch’s character and natural resources, while allowing the new owner to realize significant tax benefits or cash ben-

efits. Partnership with a local land trust also gives a new landowner access to the expert knowledge and tools needed

to manage the property in a wildlife-friendly and resource-efficient manner.

Water Rights

Chief Joseph Cattle Ranch - Aerial Map••Maps are for visual aid only accuracy is not guaranteed.



Chief Joseph Cattle Ranch - Location Map••Maps are for visual aid only accuracy is not guaranteed.



Chief Joseph Cattle Ranch - Public Lands Map••Maps are for visual aid only accuracy is not guaranteed.



Chief Joseph Cattle Ranch - Topography Map••Maps are for visual aid only accuracy is not guaranteed.



chief joseph cattle ranch

Documents