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 2,217± acre Muddy Creek Ranch enjoys a dramatically beautiful setting on the west side of the Shields Valley between the communities of Wilsall and Sedan. The ease of access to the town of Livingston to the southeast and Bridger Bowl Ski Resort and Bozeman to the southwest makes this quiet, ranching community a highly coveted location. A grass-fed beef operation specializing in American Aberdeen cattle, Muddy Creek uses regenerative agricultural practices to produce nutrient-dense, grass-finished beef.
A primary feature of the ranch is its irrigation rights, with an abundance of early priority rights supplying five pivots covering 570± acres, plus additional flood irrigation. Additional water features include approximately two and a quarter miles of Muddy Creek and two ponds. The Muddy Creek headquarters totals 1,404± total acres, including a 180± acre state lease. The headquarters has a ranch residence and entertainment barn, bull pen facilities, one additional residential building site, and full indoor and outdoor livestock working facilities. The Sedan Pasture unit lies three and a half miles west of the headquarters and totals 814± deeded acres with no structural improvements, one building envelope within the eased acreage, plus a 20-acre unencumbered parcel. The ranch may be purchased in its entirety or as separate parcels.
The 1,404± acre Muddy Creek Headquarters is the central portion of the 2,217± acre Muddy Creek Ranch. The Headquarters is on Highway 86, just a few miles west of Wilsall. A grass-fed beef operation specializing in American Aberdeen cattle, Muddy Creek is family operated using regenerative agricultural practices.
A primary feature of the Headquarters is its irrigation rights, with an abundance of early priority rights supplying five pivots covering 570± acres, plus additional flood irrigated acres. Additional water features include approximately two miles of Muddy Creek and two ponds. The Ranch Headquarters has efficient, well-constructed livestock facilities spanning over 30,000 square feet, with steel indoor and outdoor pens, an indoor heated chute, and a vet room. Two separate building areas along Highway 86 include a ranch residence and entertainment barn, bull pen facilities, and one additional building site.
The 814± acre Muddy Creek Sedan Pasture is the summer grazing portion of the 2,217± acre Muddy Creek Ranch. The pasture unit is three and a half miles west of the Headquarters near the area known as Sedan. It has varied, mountain foothill terrain with fabulous views in a dramatically beautiful setting. There are no structural improvements, one building envelope within the eased acreage, plus a 20-acre unencumbered parcel.
Muddy Creek is an investment-quality ranch property in a desirable and visually stunning location that is convenient to southwest Montana’s most alluring urban destinations in and around Bozeman and Livingston, but just far enough away to remain undeveloped. The rural ranching community, combined with the proximity to downhill skiing, entertainment, and cultural amenities, is ideal in many ways. An abundance of water rights makes the ranch highly productive and attractive to wildlife. Ranch properties in this area rarely come available, making Muddy Creek a unique opportunity to join the community.
Muddy Creek Ranch lies on the western side of the Shields Valley, between the communities of Wilsall and Sedan. The location is unique in its dramatic beauty, predominantly ranching community, and proximity to Bozeman's cultural amenities. The buzzing community of Bozeman is a scenic 45-minute drive along Highway 86 through the Bridger Mountains. Along the route to Bozeman, Bridger Bowl Ski Resort is only 30 minutes from the ranch. Livingston, also 30 minutes from the ranch, is reached by Highway 89, which travels south along the Shields River to its confluence with the Yellowstone River. The north entrance of Yellowstone National Park at the town of Gardiner is 90 minutes south of the ranch.
There is a jet-capable airstrip near Livingston with commercial air services at Bozeman. The Bozeman/Yellowstone International Airport provides the most extensive air service in Montana and is approximately an hour's drive from the ranch.
The small town of Wilsall (population approximately 250) is just a few miles east of the ranch. Eight miles south of Wilsall is the town of Clyde Park (population 300-400). Shields Valley Elementary School is in Wilsall, and the Shields Valley Junior High/High School is in Clyde Park.
Ranches around Wilsall and Sedan rarely trade hands. The rugged, rocky peaks on the north end of the Bridger Mountains rise to the west. The equally dramatic Crazy Mountains jut skyward to the east, providing a snowcapped contrast to the lush valley for much of the year. The greater area surrounding Muddy Creek includes some extensive private holdings owned by a combination of old-line ranching families and more recent owners who desire to maintain the integrity and privacy of this region.
The pace of the community of Wilsall offers a striking contrast to the bustle of Bozeman. You can meet someone “in Wilsall” with no further instruction. You will likely find one another along the main street between the General Store and the Bank Bar and Vault Restaurant. Don’t be surprised if you feel the urge to poke around town before continuing along your way.
Livingston, gateway to the Paradise Valley and Yellowstone National Park, supports numerous art galleries, a wine cellar, gourmet restaurants, theaters, fly shops, and antique stores. The world-famous Yellowstone River rushes through town and represents the spirit of this exciting small community. Livingston has a rich history in the fly-fishing community and is home to the International Federation of Fly Fishers.
Bozeman, southwest Montana's cultural, retail, and transportation hub, requires little introduction. It has a historic and attractive downtown area and is home to Montana State University (enrollment of 17,144 students in 2024). Its location north of Yellowstone National Park and Big Sky Resort, abundance of world-class flyfishing and many other outdoor recreational opportunities, and the broadest range of restaurants, cultural events, and shopping in Montana make it a great place to visit.
The Headquarters is 1,404± total acres (1,224± deeded, 180± state lease), including 570± acres under five pivots, plus additional flood irrigation. The Headquarters has two ponds and is traversed by approximately two miles of Muddy Creek.
The Sedan Pasture is 814± deeded acres of mountain foothill pasture with approximately one-third mile of Muddy Creek.
The ranch has abundant irrigation water from Flathead Creek and its tributaries, which supplies the 570± pivot irrigated acres. Approximately 80 acres of the 180-acre State lease are flood irrigated from Flathead Creek, as are approximately 20 deeded acres. Much of the pastureland at the Headquarters is sub-irrigated through natural springs and irrigation discharge, adding significantly to the grazing capacity. Approximately 60 acres on the north side of the ranch are flood irrigated from Muddy Creek.
Annual property taxes average around $10,500.
The Shields River is a short drive from the ranch and offers good fishing for a variety of trout. The river is accessible at public access points, and Montana stream access laws allow walking, wading, or floating below the high water mark. Floating the Shields is uncommon because of the river’s size and flow. It's better used as a wading stream and consequently has less traffic than larger rivers nearby.
The Shields joins the Yellowstone River approximately twenty-five minutes south of the ranch. The Yellowstone is the longest free-flowing river in the continental United States and is renowned as a world-class trout fishery. To maximize an angling experience on the Yellowstone, consider fishing from a drift boat or wading along the gravel bars and islands that separate the river channels.
A variety of wildlife frequents the ranch. Elk, mule deer, and antelope are common during fall archery and rifle hunting seasons. Hunting on the ranch has been available through the Land Trust at https://landtrust.com/. Hungarian Partridge is the predominant upland game bird, and waterfowl frequent the ranch ponds and wetlands.
Muddy Creek Ranch is a pasture-to-plate grass finished beef operation featuring American Aberdeen and Speckled Park cattle. The ranch sells Muddy Creek beef directly to consumers, and Muddy Creek beef is served at the local Bank Bar and Vault Restaurant in Wilsall. The predominantly registered herd has typically fluctuated around 150 mother cows with yearlings grass-finished on the ranch pivots and sold at 18 months. Excess hay is sold, with the amount depending on stocking rate and field rotation. To learn more about the Muddy Creek Ranch operation, visit https://muddycreekranch.com/.
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