Sixteenmile Mountain Ranch

Maudlow, Montana
$1,200,000

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The 960± acres of the Sixteenmile Mountain Ranch are private and scenic. An unnamed tributary of the Middle Fork of Sixteenmile Creek flows through grassy mountainsides mixed with evergreen forested slopes. Pockets of aspen populate mountain and creek-side springs. From higher elevations, views are of the 9,000 foot Bridger Mountains and Big Belt Mountains. This is a somewhat remote setting among large operating cattle ranches, with the nearest grocery store being 45 minutes away. Yet, one of the largest and most active commercial airports in the state is just over one hour’s drive away. There is a county road to the ranch gate but electric power lines are distant and living “off the grid” is most likely. Elk and deer are often in view either on the ranch or the adjoining state or national forest lands. Fishing in the locally famous Sixteenmile Creek is within minutes of the ranch gate.

The Sixteenmile Mountain Ranch is just over one hour’s drive to one of the largest commercial air service in the state, at Bozeman. It is also about 45 minute’s drive to the nearest grocery store, in White Sulphur Springs.

Maudlow is the closest spot on the map, however it is more of a historic area name than a town. It lies 16 miles to the southwest, but nowadays consists of just a few occupied and a few abandoned houses with no services. On the other hand, continuing to the southwest for another 26 miles one arrives at the Belgrade area with its commercial airport. United, Delta, Northwest, Alaska, Frontier and Allegiant Airlines offer service there. Bozeman, with a population in excess of 30,000 residents, is another 12 miles beyond the airport and offers a plethora of shopping, art galleries and services. The drive from the ranch to Belgrade includes 30 miles of gravel roads and takes a little over one hour.

Towns to the northeast are slightly closer. Ringling is 17 miles from the ranch. The road there is all gravel and takes half an hour to drive. However, this “town” is limited to a few occupied houses and a bar/café, which is open most days. The good news is that upon reaching Ringling one joins the two-lane paved state Highway 89 and the larger town of White Sulphur Springs is only 15 minutes from there. With a population of around 1,200 and the county seat of Meagher County, it offers restaurants, groceries, gasoline, building and repair services and a jet-capable airport just 45 minutes from the ranch.

As remote as the ranch is, the Sixteenmile Creek Road is not maintained by either of the responsible counties in the winter. Access to the ranch would be best accomplished with a vehicle equipped with rubber tracks in place of tires at those times. This arrangement would allow access over snow, mud and bare dirt, which at times can be the road surface conditions in parts of the fall, winter and spring.

The Sixteenmile Mountain Ranch lies in southwestern Montana, north of the 9,000 foot Bridger Mountains and south of the Big Belt Mountains. The dominant stream giving name to this region and ranch is Sixteenmile Creek, which gets its name from its confluence with the Missouri which lies 16 miles from the river’s inception. This “16 Mile” country, as it is often called, is composed of large operating cattle ranches. Several are very large for mountain ranches, ranging from 15,000 to 85,000 acres in size. Very few properties come for sale in this region. One could feel somewhat privileged to buy into this neighborhood. In addition to the occasional cowboy in a pickup and horse trailer, Gore-Tex clad fishermen make Sixteenmile Creek something of a destination for pursuing trout with a fly rod. In the fall many make their way into this area with elk hunting on their minds. Access is limited for the general public due to the large blocks of private land, as is the case with most of the lands here. For locals in the know, the drive along the Sixteenmile Creek and through its beautiful limestone rock-walled canyon is an annual event, especially when the cool of the fall turns the creek-side cottonwoods yellow.

There have only been two families to own this property over its 111 years of private ownership. Emil Miller homesteaded the ranch in 1898. Thirty years later the great-grandfather of the current owners started buying parts of it. It was used to raise hay and to support a few milk cows and sheep. In those days they put the hay up with horses.

The nearest reporting weather station is 25 miles away and 1,500 feet lower in elevation. Obviously the ranch is cooler and wetter than what is reported there. Though the station shows a 50-year average total annual precipitation of 14 inches, experience tells us to expect 16 to 18 inches at the ranch. Total annual snowfall is reported at 17 inches with average maximum accumulations of one inch. One would expect closer to 50 inches of total snowfall and accumulations of 18 inches to three feet on the level. Temperatures are not reported. However, experience tells us to expect daytime summer highs to average in the high 70s to low 80s on the Farenheit scale with evenings cooling into the 60s.

The immediate setting of the Sixteenmile Mountain Ranch is a mountain basin lying under the 7,600-foot Hatfield Mountain with elevations at the bottom of the ranch starting at 5,600 feet. The dominant geographic and topographic features of this landscape are timbered and grassy mountains interspersed with numerous smaller creeks. These all flow westward into the Missouri River. The vistas are huge in this “16 Mile” country, leading the eye for many miles in every direction. On the ranch these views take in mostly grassy hillsides but also many evergreen timbered slopes with the occasional aspen grove indicating seeping springs. Sagebrush occurs but is subordinate to the native mountain grasses.

One enters the ranch from the north along an unnamed tributary to the Middle Fork of Sixteenmile Creek. At the entrance a spring creek emanates from a side ravine. This leads to an enchanting forest of aspen surrounding a grass meadow with an old homestead often frequented by whitetail deer. From that point a grassy ridge rises for two miles and over 1,000 feet along the eastern border of the ranch. At its southeastern corner the ranch reaches its highest point at 6,700 feet where it joins a mostly timbered section of State land. Mule deer mix with elk in grassy hideaways between sage and Douglas fir. The western third of the property is a small private valley through which flows the main creek. Aspen and willow mark its course leading one to the heart of the ranch - the old Miller homestead. Here the old house is wonderfully set among the aspens along the creek. The log barns, sheds and corrals lie nearby also along the creek.

When touring the ranch one encounters numerous pleasant surprises. Smaller timbered ravines, lush spring-fed hideaways and elevated benchland meadows bordered by conifer forests stud the landscape. Some of these sites are truly inspiring as they offer views of the 10,000-foot granite peaks of the Bridger Mountains.

The Sixteenmile Mountain Ranch does not offer any habitable buildings. At least two homesteader houses and several barns are located on the ranch. One road has been graded through the property, including the necessary stream crossings with installed culverts. About one-half of the property is fenced with barbed wire, with the balance unfenced. The nearest power and telephone lines are many miles away. Fortunately the potential for solar and wind-generated electricity is great. With easy vehicular access and available delivery services for propane gas, primary or backup gas-generated power is also possible.

This ranch has been grazed by cattle in the summer-fall season for decades. With abundant water sources and productive grasses it is a sought-after summer pasture for any number of local ranchers. Currently about one-half of the perimeter of the ranch is fenced. Historically, the current owner and the immediate neighbor have leased the grazing together. This could possibly be continued or the remainder could be fenced.

The area surrounding the Sixteenmile Mountain Ranch is known for abundant and quality elk and the ranch shares this reputation. While enjoying any season of the year, one can almost always find wildlife to view. Mule and whitetail deer are the most frequently sighted of the larger animal species. Elk seasonally appear and migrate between the several large ranch neighbors. There will be the occasional moose, black bear and elusive mountain lion, not to mention the many birds and non-game animals.

Three parties have historic rights to pass through the property to access their adjoining ranches. These historic rights provide access for the purpose of moving livestock, scattering salt, fencing and in two cases, the adjoining owners have seasonal cabins.

960±

925± Acres of Grazing Land
35± Acres of Forest Land

Cash

The ownership of the underlying mineral rights is quite fractured with the succession of multi-generational interests within the family. All the interest held by the current owners will transfer to the new owner.

The ranch has two water rights filed. Both are for developed springs for watering livestock.

The property taxes are estimated to be $822 per annum.

MANAGEMENT SERVICES – Hall and Hall’s Management Division has a very clear mission – To represent the owner and to ensure that his or her experience is a positive one. Services are customized to suit the owner’s needs. They often begin with the recruiting and hiring of a suitable ranch manager or caretaker and are followed by the development of a management or operating plan along with appropriate budgets. Ongoing services include bill paying, ranch oversight, and consulting services as needed. Even the most sophisticated and experienced ranch owners appreciate the value of a management firm representing them and providing advice on local area practices and costs. Wes Oja and Jerome Chvilicek at (406) 656-7500 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              (406) 656-7500      end_of_the_skype_highlighting or Randy Clavel at (303) 861-8282 are available to describe and discuss these services in detail and welcome your call.

RESOURCE ENHANCEMENT SERVICES – Increasingly the value of a ranch is measured by the quality of each and every one of its resources. Coincidentally the enhancement of a ranch’s resources also increases the pleasure that one derives from the ownership of a ranch. Our management services have included the assessment of everything from wildlife habitat to bird habitat to water resources and fisheries and the subsequent oversight of the process involved with the enhancement of these resources. Wes Oja or Jerome Chvilicek at (406) 656-7500 are available to describe and discuss these services in detail and welcome your call.

SPECIALIZED LENDING - Over the past 59 years Hall and Hall has created a legacy by efficiently providing capital to the intermountain west. In addition to traditional farm and ranch loans, we specialize in understanding the unique aspects of placing loans on ranches where value may be influenced by recreational features, location and improvements and repayment may come from outside sources. Our extensive experience and strong relationships with our lenders allows us to quickly tell you whether we can provide the required financing.

Competitive Pricing ● Flexible Terms ● Efficient Processing
In-House Appraisals ● Common Sense Underwriting
Dave Roddy ● (406) 656-7500
Mike Hall, Judy Chirila, or Randy Clavel ● (303) 861-8282
Monte Lyons ● (806) 698-6882