B grew up in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. In 1988, he graduated from the University of North Carolina with a degree in Business Administration. He then moved to Colorado and began a nine-year career in the ranch and resort industries. His admiration for the wide-open spaces and the abundance of recreational opportunities in Montana inspired his move in 1997. After farming and ranching in central Montana, B settled in the Bozeman area and guided fly fishermen on southwest Montana’s renowned waters for seven years. He was licensed in real estate sales in 1999 and is currently a licensed broker in Montana and Wyoming. His lifelong recreational interests and professional background in ranching and the resort industries naturally led to a real estate focus in ranch and recreational properties. B treasures the time spent with his family on their small ranch and home along the Madison River. He is also an avid outdoorsman and enjoys backcountry adventures and hunting and fishing throughout Montana.
The Axes Canyon Smith Unit's 5,777± deeded acres and 398± state lease acres lie along the foothills of the Ruby Mountains, just five miles from Dillon, Montana. Bordering public lands and offering a diverse landscape that transitions from foothill grasslands to timbered uplands, the ranch offers an excellent blend of wildlife habitat and four-season livestock grazing. The location overlooking irrigated hay fields along the Blacktail Deer Creek drainage makes the ranch ideal for elk hunting during the fall archery and rifle seasons. A well-developed stock water system and improved pastures enhance grazing capacity. Situated in an area characterized by large, tightly held operating ranches, the ranch has broad appeal for land investment, ranching, hunting, and residential development in one of southwest Montana’s finest areas for outdoor recreation.
Approaching the Axes Canyon Smith Unit in a southeasterly direction from Dillon, the Ruby Mountains and Blacktail Mountains, divided by the Blacktail Deer Creek drainage, dominate the landscape. The property’s elevation rises from west to east, featuring hundreds of acres of sagebrush-free improved rangeland at the lower elevations transitioning into steeper foothills, with deep draws, and scattered timber at the higher elevations. The ranch boasts expansive views of the Beaverhead Valley, the town of Dillon, and surrounding mountain ranges, with a largely undeveloped Montana landscape in all directions.
The Axes Canyon Smith Unit represents a rare opportunity to acquire a significant landholding in the foothills of the Ruby Range near the thriving community of Dillon. The ranch is well-suited for seasonal grazing and big game hunting. The potential for coupling the property with a nearby irrigated winter base makes it an attractive option for those seeking a balanced cattle operation. Additionally, the convenience of Dillon and its access to Montana's premier fishing and hunting resources enhance the property’s appeal as a year-round ranch retreat for outdoor enthusiasts. Its close proximity to the expanding community of Dillon provides an opportunity for conservation. Whether for investment, recreation, or a combination of both, the Axes Canyon Smith Unit stands out as an exceptional offering in Montana’s highly sought-after ranch market.
The Axes Canyon Smith Unit is located approximately five miles from Dillon, Montana, and is easily accessible via paved and gravel roads. Dillon boasts a public airport capable of accommodating most private jets, with its longest runway measuring 6,501’x75’. For commercial air travel, Bozeman's Yellowstone International Airport, the busiest in Montana, is about a one-hour forty-five-minute drive (107 miles), while Butte's Bert Mooney Airport is approximately one hour away (68 miles). Idaho Falls Regional Airport, offering additional travel options, is a two-hour drive (142 miles).
Dillon, home to the University of Montana Western, is a charming community with a rich ranching heritage. With an undergraduate enrollment of 1,200 to 1,330 students, one unique aspect of the university is its Department of Equine Studies, which offers the only bachelor’s degree in Natural Horsemanship in the nation. The town of Dillon, with a population between 4,000 and 5,000, serves as the heart of Montana’s largest cattle-producing county. Nearly two-thirds of the lands in Beaverhead County are public. With a population density of fewer than 1.7 people per square mile, cattle are estimated to outnumber people sixteen to one. Surrounded by mountains, Dillon is a hub for outdoor enthusiasts, offering world-class fly fishing in the Beaverhead, Big Hole, Ruby, and upper Jefferson Rivers. Maverick Mountain Ski Area, located near Polaris, is a forty-five-minute drive, while Discovery Ski Area near Anaconda is about one hour and forty-five minutes away.
Located at approximately 5,100 feet above sea level, Dillon experiences a high desert climate with abundant sunshine. Annual precipitation averages 12 inches, with 14 inches of snowfall. As the elevation increases into the surrounding mountains, precipitation and snowfall rise, contributing to the transition from grasslands to forests.
The ranch encompasses 5,777± deeded acres and 398± state lease acres. The land is composed primarily of native and improved rangeland, with areas of timbered uplands, foothills, and canyons providing excellent wildlife habitat. The 1,280± acres east of Smith Road are divided into eight 160± acre parcels with developed road access and utilities.
There are no major structural improvements on the property aside from fencing and stock water systems. However, multiple potential home sites exist, offering breathtaking views and an ideal setting for the development of a primary or secondary residence.
The ranch holds numerous stock water rights and a 1906 irrigation right out of Axes Canyon Creek. Wells supply the stock water system, with cisterns feeding stock tanks distributed across the ranch. A detailed map of the stock water system and DNRC abstracts are available on request. Axes Canyon Creek is a perennial stream in the upper reaches and a seasonal stream in the lower reaches. A livestock pond is located below the mouth of Axes Canyon, providing additional water sources for livestock and wildlife.
Annual property taxes are to be determined.
The Axes Canyon Smith Unit is located near some of Montana's best public fisheries. Dillon is an epicenter of world-class trout fishing, with an abundance of local rivers.
The four primary home waters of Dillon are the Beaverhead, Big Hole, Ruby, and Jefferson Rivers. All offer exceptional angling and a diversity of hatches, hatch timing, and fishing opportunities. The combination of tailwater, freestone waters, and mountains to agricultural valley environments means you can easily fish different waters, different hatches, and different techniques in a single day, right out of Dillon. From streamers to Salmon Fly dries, and micro nymphing to match the hatch topwater, the Dillon area has it all in abundance.
Overshadowed by the famous fisheries are a number of small stream and stillwater opportunities that warrant exploration. Several reputable fly shops in Dillon offer quality guide services and fly selections.
Elk are particularly abundant on the ranch due to its proximity to irrigated hay fields in the Blacktail Deer Creek drainage. As the native grasses dry in late summer, elk migrate toward the fields, utilizing the ranch as a prime bedding and resting habitat. Elk quality on the ranch is typical of most of southwestern Montana, with an abundance of elk and average bull quality. Because of the large private holdings in the area, trophy bulls in the 300-350 range also exist. The ranch has been outfitted in recent years, allowing 15 bulls to be harvested in 2024. There is certainly potential to enhance habitat and water resources for the elk, as past efforts have been more focused on livestock grazing. Other wildlife is plentiful and diverse, including whitetail and mule deer, antelope, and moose, as well as predators such as mountain lions, bears, coyotes, and wolves. Raptors abound, and the primary upland bird species are Hungarian partridge and grouse in the higher elevations.
Beyond hunting and fishing, the ranch offers excellent hiking, horseback riding, and ATV exploration across its varied terrain. The surrounding region provides access to skiing at Maverick Mountain and Discovery Ski Area, as well as extensive public lands for year-round recreation.
The Axes Canyon Smith Unit is currently leased for summer grazing and big game hunting. Recent stocking rates have been approximately 2,000 AUMs, including the 800± acres comprising the adjoining Axes Canyon Hunting Getaway, with substantial acreage planted to improve range and a well-developed stock water system. The hunting lease, focused primarily on elk, allowed 15 bulls to be harvested in 2024.
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