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“Sage Creek Ranch” is a somewhat isolated, functional, ranch located 18 miles northeast of Dell, Montana. Access is via Interstate 15 to Dell, and then a County maintained road to the ranch. The ranch consists of 7,126.4 deeded acres and historical BLM and State of Montana grazing leases. Currently, with proper management, the ranch carries 1,200 cow-calf pairs for the summer / fall grazing season.
This ranch lies in the heart of Southwest Montana, noted for its recreational opportunities! “Outdoor Life” in the March 2008 issue characterized the area surrounding Dillon, Montana as “Paradise Found” with “Leading Appeals: Public land elk hunting in every direction from town, plus one of the best small-river trout fisheries in the West.”
Dillon, Montana is the center of trade for Sage Creek Ranch. Dillon has a population of 4,056 full time residents all amenities of a modern small western city, including Western Montana College, which adds sophistication and a stable economy to the local area. History is rich in this area, and extends back to Lewis & Clark who camped on the present site, flooded by Clark Canyon Reservoir, before they trekked up the Horse Prairie and found the headwater’s of the Missouri River 30 miles south and west of Dillon. Rich silver and gold deposit’s, discovered in the early 1860’s brought miners, and all of the supporting industries, except law and order. Citizen Vigilante’s brought law and order, to the Montana Territory and forever memorialized the trademark of the Vigilante’s 3-7-77!
To this day, 3-7-77 is part of the Great Seal of Montana, and every Montana Highway Patrol car carries this trademark. The translation of 3-7-77 was never written, but generally when a person had overstayed his welcome, 3-7-77 was painted above his doorway and gave notice to leave the territory with in 24 hours, or be facedown in a grave 3 feet wide, 7 feet long, and 77 inches deep! Hundreds of novels and books have been written outlining the history of Southwestern Montana, and my favorite is a Decent & Orderly Lynching by Frederick Allen.
Sage Creek Ranch lies in the northwest corner of the Centennial Valley. The Valley is characterized as the largest wetland and undeveloped watershed in the Yellowstone Ecosystem! The heart of the valley is the 45,000 acre Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge established in 1935 to protect trumpeter swans and wildlife habitat. The Red Rock River headwaters are formed in this area, and run westerly through the valley, until they turn south at Dell, Montana. The Red Rock runs north until it flows into the Clark Canyon Reservoir. The outflow is the world famous Beaverhead River! Sage Creek meanders through the lower meadows of the ranch for 2 miles, and provides an excellent wild trout fishery. Various springs and creeks head on the ranch, and provide outstanding brook and cutthroat trout fishing. The ranch does support a small creek and pond that supports West Slope Cutthroat Trout! If the avid fly-fisherman needs more; Henry’s Lake Idaho and the upper Madison River lie just an hour west of Sage Creek Ranch.
Sage Creek Ranch has abundant big game, and the ranch has harvestable populations of Trophy Elk, Mule Deer, Moose, and Pronghorn Antelope. Upland birds such as Sharptail Grouse, Hungarian Partridge, and Sage Grouse are present, and waterfowl frequent the ranch in the spring and fall.
The following water rights are on file with the State of Montana DNRC and are appurtenant to Sage Creek Ranch, This list is considered accurate, but may or may not be complete. Due the complexity of Montana Water Law and the intrinsic value of water rights, Western Agri Financial, Inc encourages any potential purchaser to verify water rights through an outside specialist or water rights attorney to their satisfaction.
View Sage Creek Ranch USGS Property Map
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| Number | Rate cubic feet per second | Source |
| W110589 | 2.00 | McKinley Spring |
| W110590 | .13 | Freeman Springs |
| W110591 | .25 | Casper Lang Springs |
| W110592 | .25 | Bell Basin Spring |
| W110593 | .25 | Hoenstine Springs |
| W110594 | .13 | Smallhorn Spring |
| W110595 | .13 | Horse Mountain Spring |
| W110596 | .50 | Horse Creek |
| W110597 | 1.88 | Crooked Creek |
| W110598 | .75 | Bear Gulch |
| W110599 | 1.25 | Jordan Creek |
| W110600 | 4.00 | Squaw Creek |
| W110601 | 4.00 | Burnt Willow Creek |
| W110602 | 1.50 | Long Creek |
| W110603 | 5.00 | East Creek |
| W110604 | 1.50 | Bull Creek |
| W110605 | 4.00 | Beech Creek |
| W110606 | 1.88 | Sage Creek |
| W110607 | 6.25 | Long Creek |
| W110608 | 5.00 | East Creek |
| W110609 | 1.50 | Bull Creek |
| W110610 | 1.88 | Sage Creek |
| W110611 | 4.00 | Beech Creek |
| W110612 | 6.25 | Long Creek |
| W110613 | 1.50 | Long Creek |
| W110696 | .38 | Sam Parker Spring |
Western Agri Financial, Inc. is pleased to offer this truly flawless ranch to a discriminating investor.
Ranch properties of this size, with all the amenities required of today’s buyer are difficult to find at any price. This ranch is offered for sale at $11,500,000 or $1,613 per acre which is con-sidered conservative to the market, for comparable ranches in this area. The ranch will be shown by appointment only, by Western Agri Financial, Inc., to qualified buyers.
Information has been obtained from sources deemed reliable, but for which neither Broker nor Seller accepts responsibility for accuracy or changes. Buyer and Buyer’s representative should verify all information and satisfy themselves as to the source and reliability therefor. Offering is subject to change, withdrawal, error, omission and prior sale without notice. Any potential sale is subject to Seller’s electing and involving subject property in IRC 1031 tax deferred exchange and is subject to Seller’s approval of all terms and conditions of offer.
Buyer Brokers
Western Agri Financial, Inc. is pleased to cooperate with buyer brokers, and offers excellent “Showing House Commissions”. However, with today’s global information system, and our aggressive advertising program, your commission is at risk unless you register your buyer with Western Agri Financial, Inc. Our requirement for registration is simple and consists of one of the following:
A) Buyer Broker Agreement signed by the client and broker
B) Buyer Agent/Broker physically showing, the actual buyer, our listing while accompanied by a Western Agri Financial, Inc., representative.
WE DO NOT ACCEPT AGENT/BROKER SINGLE PARTY ACKNOWLEDGMENT, WITHOUT CONFIRMATION FROM THE BUYER!
Due to an increased number of “financially non-qualified” buyers entering into sales contracts, and not executing the contract due to “lack of financing”; Western Agri Financial, Inc. will require verification of “financial ability to purchase” from unknown buyers. As mortgage bankers, Western Agri Financial, Inc. has this capability and it is our responsibility to our listing clients. Please notify your buyer of this requirement to prevent an embarrassing situation during the negotiation process!
Western Agri Financial, Inc. is truly pleased to cooperate with Buyer Brokers. We further consider this cooperation an integral part of our business, and a responsibility to our listing clients. Please do not hesitate to call with questions or to set a showing appointment.
500 West Bench Rd. • Roberts/Red Lodge, MT 59070 • (406) 855-1884