Raised in Northern California and the son of a vintner, Deke grew up firmly embedded in the region’s burgeoning wine industry. It was there he learned to appreciate those rich landscapes and the bounty they sustained. After visiting Montana several times as a teenager and seeing the natural beauty, he knew that someday he would make his home there. In 2005, he made the move to Missoula where he now resides with his partner in life, Deana.
Licensed in 2010, Deke offers a decade of real estate related transactional work to his buying and selling clients. To complement his love of the land, he is active in local open space conservation, sitting on two municipal commissions over the last five years. Additionally, he is active in local real estate governance and leadership. He is a graduate of CSU Sacramento with a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice.
Befitting a treasure state denizen, Deke avails himself of all that western Montana has to offer. He is an avid fly fisherman, snowboarder, and hunter. He is a world traveler and makes international adventure travel a priority.
Currently, Deke is licensed as a broker in the state of Montana.
Efficient and compact in a setting that rivals some of the best in the West, Hart Bench Ranch sets a new bar for what a small scale agricultural operation can be. Situated on an eponymous bench in the shadows of the Bitterroot Mountains’ most scenic peaks lies a near-perfect assemblage of irrigated meadows, riparian-influenced gullies, and a complete set of operational and residential improvements.
With views of Trapper Peak and the most impressive prominences in the southern Bitterroot Range, the 2,895± square foot main home sits to the south of the Ranch’s improvement cluster. Constructed in 2001, the log home imbues turn-of-the-century charm, reminiscent of some of the West’s most adventurous eras. A guest home, two-car garage, two large shops, a greenhouse, and a Western-style saloon complement the residential components.
Supporting the agricultural operation, the ranch boasts a new, 9,288± square-foot hay barn with equipment storage and a five-stall horse barn with wash station, tack, and vet room. With 56± acres under irrigation, the ranch provides sufficient feed for livestock. Nearly five miles of new split rail fencing tie it together, creating several pastures, paddocks, and perimeter enclosure.
Recreationally, the ranch is home to deer and elk and fishing is available in the pond. Two stems of the Bitterroot River flow nearby, creating the main channel just north of the ranch. There are multiple access points locally into the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness, one of the largest roadless areas in the lower 48, providing a vast array of recreational opportunities.
Darby, just ten minutes north, is a charming Western town offering staples and dining with Hamilton and its more robust population center and FBO, roughly 30 minutes north. Missoula, Montana’s second-largest metro area, is roughly one hour and thirty minutes to the north.
Hart Bench Ranch provides a rare opportunity to own a complete yet manageable operation in a true Western setting.
Hart Bench Ranch is situated on an elevated moraine in the foothills of the Bitterroot Mountain Range. From the paved county road, the driveway ascends gradually until the famed Trapper Peak comes into view as the primary backdrop behind the exceptionally manicured residential and operational cluster. Continuing west through the headquarters and along the verdant irrigated meadows the road follows a small creek to a pond, which provides both stock water and cool respite for local wildlife. The northwest corner of the property is parked out ponderosa savanna with the balance in irrigated ground and improved pasture. Views of both the Sapphire Range and jagged, snow-capped Bitterroot Mountains are ubiquitous from nearly every location.
Productive, scenic, and perfectly appointed, Hart Bench Ranch offers the perfect setting and all the amenities to realize the Montana dream.
Hart Bench Ranch is located five miles south of the quaint western community of Darby, which offers some lodging, groceries, and basic services. Hamiliton, a community of roughly 5,000 and the county seat for Ravalli County, is 25 minutes to the north. Hamilton offers a more robust set of services including a jet capable airport with FBO, hospital, lodging, and fine dining. For those traveling commercial, Missoula’s remodeled airport is one and one half hours to the north. Missoula is a full-service metropolitan area with two regional hospitals, the University of Montana, shopping, and extensive lodging options.
The Bitterroot Valley is arguably the most beautiful valley in Montana, if not the Northern Rockies. When combined with its immediate accessibility to modern goods and services, it is hard to find a more desirable setting. The towering, jagged peaks of the Bitterroot Mountain Range descend to the western edge of the valley, while the eastern edge of the valley is graced with the gentler horizon of the Sapphire Range. The Bitterroot Range is also the eastern edge of the largest wilderness complex in the lower 48 states. The Selway, Frank Church, and River of No Return Wilderness Areas total nearly three million acres of wild and scenic terrain serviced by an extensive network of trails that originate along the valley’s western flank. The Bitterroot Valley is one of the more populous valleys in Montana and therefore offers an array of services that are often lacking in more remote locations. The valley is dotted with pastoral Montana towns. Finally, the literal and figurative heart of the valley is the Bitterroot River itself. Running over 75 miles in a northerly direction to its confluence with the Clark Fork River in Missoula, it provides legendary dry fly fishing from March through October, an unusually long season that owes its existence to the Bitterroot’s mild climate.
Darby, Montana, experiences an arid continental climate characterized by cold winters, mild summers, and year-round precipitation. Average annual temperatures range from lows of 10 to 20 degrees in December to highs of 80 to 85 degrees in July. The town receives approximately 15 inches of precipitation annually, with June being the wettest month at two inches. Snowfall averages 49 inches per year, with December typically being the snowiest month.
Summers are generally warm and dry, with July and August averaging highs around 84 degrees and lows in the upper 40s. Winters are cold, with January lows averaging 20 degrees and highs around 35 degrees. Humidity levels are relatively low throughout the year, contributing to the area's dry climate.
Darby experiences approximately 157 sunny days annually and about 109 days with measurable precipitation. The growing season is relatively short, with the average last frost occurring between June 1 and June 10 and the first frost between September 11 and September 20. The region falls within USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 5b, indicating average minimum temperatures between -15 degrees and -10 degrees.
Overall, Darby's climate offers distinct seasonal variations, with warm, dry summers and cold, snowy winters, making it suitable for those who appreciate a full range of seasonal weather patterns.
Deeded acreage totaling 155± acres, with 56± acres irrigated by wheel line and some handline.
Personal Property
Hart Bench Ranch can be purchased turnkey with equipment and home furnishings.
Conservation
The ranch is unencumbered by a conservation easement. Due to development pressure and diminishing agricultural soils in the Bitterroot Valley, it would be an ideal candidate for preservation.
The ranch is heavily but thoughtfully improved with both residential and operational improvements. Situated in a picturesque setting, this property offers a thoughtfully designed and meticulously maintained collection of structures tailored for comfortable living, entertaining, and ranch operations. The main house is a 2,895± square foot log home featuring four bedrooms and three bathrooms. It boasts a great room with vaulted ceilings, an open concept kitchen outfitted with high-end appliances, and a walkout basement. Comfort is prioritized with propane forced air, wood heat, air conditioning, spa, fire pit, and a wrap-around deck.
The guest house provides an additional 2,225± square feet of living space with three bedrooms and two bathrooms. It includes a main-level laundry room, open kitchen with luxury appliances, and a cozy loft with a full bathroom. A finished basement features a sleeping area and a workout room. Both front and rear porches offer covered sitting areas. Heating and cooling are efficiently managed by propane forced air, a propane fireplace, and air conditioning.
A detached two-bay garage includes 944± square feet of ground-level storage and an upper-level one-bedroom apartment complete with a full kitchen, bathroom, wood stove, and central HVAC. Nearby, the enclosed equipment storage area spans 2,376± square feet across three bays, including shelving and oversized roll-up doors (one with an automatic opener).
The 3,808± square foot shop/saloon provides both a workspace and event headquarters. It includes a pull-through shop with large roll-up doors, a wood stove, radiant floor heating, ample tool storage, a spray room with dual exhaust fans, a full kitchen, and bathroom. An adjoining western-themed saloon with a custom bar, saddle barstools, and outdoor seating creates an inviting venue for gatherings.
The horse barn is 3,360± square feet with a concrete floor, five stalls with exterior corrals and Drinking Posts®, a heated washroom with dog wash and bathroom, a tack and vet/grain room, and an attached round pen leading to fenced pastures. It also features pull-through automatic roll-up doors and a dedicated chicken coop and run.
For agricultural needs, the 9,632± square foot hay barn offers ample storage for hay, equipment, and fuel tanks. For cattle handling, hydraulic squeeze chute, tub, and dedicated calving stalls are located for convenience and efficiency. For the home gardener the ranch comes with a 30’x50’ tunnel-style greenhouse complete with automated watering, heat, thermostatic venting systems, raised beds, a water hydrant, and a fenced garden area designed to resist elk intrusion.
Rounding out this remarkable estate is a 120’x200’ outdoor riding arena, perfect for equestrian training or events, making this property an exceptional blend of rustic elegance, practicality, and recreation.
The ranch has significant domestic, irrigation, and stock water rights from multiple sources including springs, surface water, and wells. A full inventory of water rights is available upon request.
All hay fields are irrigated via gravity by wheel and hand line so little pumping costs are incurred. Sprinkling for the lawns and flower beds around the improvement cluster is also gravity fed with a local booster pump to provide additional pressure.
A pond on the property provides both stock water and riparian ambiance, while a small creek meanders through the northwestern corner of the property.
Sellers will convey 100 percent of the mineral rights they own, if any. Buyers and their agents concerned with the subsurface estate are encouraged to research further.
The annual estimated taxes are $11,050 based upon past years.
The ranch is known to attract significant elk and deer to its verdant meadows and abundant water. In addition to game animals, many birds and non-game species call Hart Bench’s open meadows and forested hideaways home.
The southern Bitterroot Valley offers a wealth of outdoor recreational opportunities year-round.
Lake Como and Painted Rocks Reservoir
Located just north of Darby, Lake Como is a scenic reservoir surrounded by the Bitterroot National Forest. Visitors can enjoy swimming, boating, kayaking, and fishing. The eight-mile Lake Como Loop Trail offers hiking and mountain biking with views of waterfalls and mountain scenery. Campgrounds can accommodate tents, RVs, and horse trailers, providing amenities like water, toilets, and picnic areas.
Approximately 24 miles south of Darby, Painted Rocks Reservoir, in the West Fork Valley of the Bitterroot Mountains, offers a tranquil setting for boating, fishing, swimming, and camping. The reservoir is named for the colorful lichens adorning the granite and rhyolite cliffs. Anglers can fish for trout and other game species. The park features 25 campsites, a boat ramp, and dock, all set within a remote coniferous forest.
Hunting and Fishing
The Bitterroot Valley is renowned for its hunting and fishing. Anglers can fish in the Bitterroot River and nearby alpine lakes which dot the public ground. Hunters pursue elk, deer, and upland birds in the surrounding forests and public lands. The ranch is situated in Hunting District 240, with over the counter tags and special permit drawings available.
Lost Trail Powder Mountain
Approximately 45 minutes south of Darby, Lost Trail Powder Mountain offers skiing and snowboarding on over 60 trails across 900 acres. With an average annual snowfall of 300 inches, the resort caters to all skill levels with terrain parks and a vertical drop of 1,800 feet. Operating Thursday through Sunday and holidays, it is a family-friendly destination for winter sports enthusiasts.
Whether it is summer adventures at Lake Como, hunting and fishing in the valley, or winter fun at Lost Trail Powder Mountain, Darby provides a diverse array of recreational activities for outdoor enthusiasts.
Hart Bench Ranch offers all of the quality amenities one could want for a small-scale cattle, hay and/or equine operation.
The ranch produces and is able to store roughly 95 tons of grass hay per year split between large (750 pound) and small (50 pound) bales providing feed for 38 cows, nine horses, and 38 sheep. With proper grazing management, this is sufficiently balanced to negate the need to purchase additional feed in the winter. The ranch is perimeter and cross-fenced with miles of new split rail fencing allowing for rotational grazing throughout the season. Current management is primarily a cow-calf, calving in March and shipping in the fall.
In addition to cattle, the ranch offers significant equine amenities in the new five-stall horse barn. Each stall has a frost free Drinking Post® and access to adjacent pasture.
The ranch is well watered for stock direct from source or from waterers conveniently located around the operational improvements.
With 800± deeded acres and adjoining public lands, this property provides excellent hunting for elk and other big game. It features one mile of Axes Canyon Creek and offers high-quality hunting opportunities at an attractive price.
Dramatically beautiful and water-rich 2,217± acre working ranch, a short drive north of Livingston, Bozeman, and Bridger Bowl Ski Resort. Also offered as separate 814± and 1,404± acre units.
229± acres substantially surrounded by Lolo National Forest. Lodge facility with two commercial kitchens and bar, plus several additional residences. Ideal for hosting events, gatherings, or short-term rentals.
686± acre mountain ranch east of Nye bordering the USFS. The ranch is a near-perfect mosaic of mountain hay meadows, live water, and timber, creating high-quality ranching and habitat.
Brand Rock Ranch represents a solid combination of trophy big game, upland bird, and waterfowl hunting in concert with production ag suitable for registered or commercial cattle in a great location.
