Medicine Bow River Ranch | Recreational Property, Investment Property, Hunting Land

Topography	The Medicine Bow River Ranch ranges in elevation from 6,500-7,600 feet. Its major geographic feature is the valley formed by the Medicine Bow River, which ribbons through the ranch for 20+ miles creating a beautiful meadow. Wagon Hound Creek, in the southwest portion of the ranch, cuts a valley to drain into the Medicine Bow for roughly 6 miles. Along the Medicine Bow River are hay meadows with cottonwoods along the banks underneath grass hills that are interspersed with rocky cliffs. Elk Mountain, towering in the distance, overlooks the entire ranch and is mostly snowcapped at 11,162 feet. The Wagon Hound Creek valley is more rugged and narrow with pockets of Aspen and Conifer where the big mule bucks and elk hang out. Outside the creek valleys are long stretches of grassy plains and rocky promontories that give way to the Foot Creek drainage on the south and east areas of the ranch. Foote Creek runs through the ranch for almost 20 miles.The ranch has an average precipitation zone of 14-16 inches per year, with most of the moisture occurring in the months of April, May, June, September and October. Winters can be relatively mild and snow free leaving mountain passes and roads open throughout the entire year.Como Bluff and Dinosaur Museum, just north of the ranch, and Fossil Ridge on the northeast corner of the ranch are well known dinosaur digging areas, prompting one archeologist to dub Wyoming the Dinosaur State, in addition its Cowboy State moniker.
Vegetation & Wildlife	The ranch encompasses nearly 21 miles of the Medicine Bow River and 6 miles of the Wagon Hound Creek. The river has its origins in the Snowy Range of the Medicine Bow Mountains and it flows about 30 miles from these mountains through foothills before entering the ranch. Through the ranch the river is a meandering gravel bottom prairie stream with numerous switchbacks and old oxbows that have been cut off as the channel evolved, forming wetland areas for waterfowl and wildlife.The Medicine Bow River harbors brown, rainbow, cutthroat and some cutbow trout. A few years ago, a fish biologist was retained to evaluate the existing habitat and to make recommendations for improving the trout population and quality. River banks were shaped and planted with desired brush, grasses and other feed and shade habitat. Gravel beds in the river have been excavated to form occasional deep pools and rapids. These efforts have proved very successful in increasing numbers of trout and the frequent 2 to 5 pound size of the population is very impressive. The river can be waded in most areas and is conductive to some exciting fly fishing which may launch on a commercial basis soon.The predominant "Big Game" specie on the ranch is Antelope, which number in the thousands. Mule Deer are abundant and inhabit the river bottom and sage brush draws. Elk are to be found mostly in the Wagon Hound Creek portion of the ranch and numbers are increasing. The southern portion of the ranch adjoins the Wick Wildlife Habitat for several miles. The Wick Wildlife Habitat is owned by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department and is managed for winter range for +/- 600 Elk. There is a multitude of waterfowl, both geese and ducks in addition to myriad populations of song birds and birds of prey, including numerous eagles. Upland game birds, including grouse, partridge and dove also frequent the ranch and adhere to seasonal patterns throughout the year.
Improvements	One of the most outstanding characteristics of the Medicine Bow River Ranch is the quality of its improvements. There are two beautiful custom log residences situated about two miles apart, with the ranch headquarter and managerial housing located in between. All are located along the river valley in beautiful settings. Majestic Log Homes of Fort Collins, Colorado, built both houses with expert craftsmanship in 1988 and 1989, respectively.The South Lodge is 4,200 +/- square feet and sits above the valley floor overlooking a large pond and the curves of the Medicine Bow River. Across the valley are unique and beautiful rock formations known as the Alligator Rock and the Bible Rock. The house is beautifully sited and landscaped. It has three bedrooms, four bathrooms, a huge great room with a cathedral ceiling, a modern kitchen, a loft office area, a formal dining room and a laundry room. The house also features a large stone fireplace and is custom finished through out from the cabinets to the stairway. On the exterior is 4,000 feet of wrap around deck overlooking the valley.The North Lodge contains nearly 7,500 square feet. It has four bedrooms, a playroom area over the garage, and a 2,000 square foot finished basement with a library and large office, playroom, fireplace, large family kitchen and dining area that is a great place to gather.The headquarter area consists of two ranch houses plus a mobile home, a modern shop, corrals, scales and barn. There are pipe working corrals with scales on the north end of the ranch. Two private trout ponds are situated near the house, which are licensed to the ranch which provides the opportunity to allocate fishing rights at will.
Current Usage Notes	Currently, the ranch is supporting a cowherd of about 700 cows, plus bulls. Steer calves typically mean at +/-600 pounds. In addition, the ranch can run 1,000 to 2,000 yearlings from May through October. As a yearling only operation, the ranch should summer 5,000 to 6,000 head. The ranch produces approximately 1,500 tons of hay, which is enough to sustain the cowherd through the winters. Presently, the ranch also maintains 200 +/- rodeo horses on a monthly pasturage basis.Hunting and fishing are being added as commercial operations. The ranch is well managed by qualified personnel who would like to continue working for a new owner.