This ranch is located approximately 38 miles east of Crane, Or. and 23 miles west of Juntura, Or. Boise, Idaho is about 2.5 hours to the east and Bend, Or. is 3.5 hours to the west.
There are 1200 acres of deeded land consisting of acres irrigated land and the balance in rangeland. Federal land consists of 28,000 acres of BLM with a 240 head permit that runs from April 1 to October 1. A railroad lease of 676 acres is also included. The acreage is split up having about 400 acres a few miles west of the main ranch. It has 3 ponds on it plus the South Fork of the Malheur River. That river also runs through the main ranch. All in all the river comprises approximately 3.5 miles through the ranch. The western parcel is called the Luce Ranch and has water rights from a hot spring that is not on the deeded land. It goes into a pond which part of it will stay ice free in the winter.
Two h...
Two homes are on the property as well as a new shop, corrals, and barns. One of the homes has a life time estate for a fellow in his 80s. At that home there are tall, stately Lombardy Poplars that are identify the ranch.
The weather is mild with small amounts of snow in the winter. It may get cold but the precipitation is very low at that time of year. Rainfall amounts to about 6-10 a year. This is a high desert ranch with grasses adapted to low rainfall. Summers are warm with an excellent growing season for irrigated hay.
The elevations will be about 3500 at the main ranch with variations throughout the BLM.
There are quite a few ways to run cattle on the ranch. With the low snowfall you can opt to winter graze some of the cattle. The BLM can be contacted to allow a winter graze system on some of the lands. Some of the ranchers in the immediate vicinity have done that and it has worked out extremely well. That cuts down feeding and lessens the need for producing hay thus grazing some irrigated land. Also, yearlings can be run or fall calving can by initiated because of the absolutely great early feed in this country. Very high percentages of bred heifers and cows are obtained from this nutritious early feed. The owner states that he can run 300 head on this ranch with the irrigated land, deeded range, BLM, and railroad lease. This is a mild area with no serious winter snow problems.
Deer, elk, migratory waterfowl, upland birds, and predators inhabit the area. Elk come through but as in most ranches dont call it home. The deer will stay in one area though. As in most ranches, the deer population can be increased and the trophy material enlarged by judicious hunting and culling. Geese and ducks are on the river and also in the ponds on the Luce Ranch. Chukars are in abundance not only on the deeded land but on the BLM as well. On the Luce Ranch, the ODFW said from 750-1000 pheasants could be sustained depending on management. From 400-500 pheasants could live on the home ranch. There is a lot of natural feed along the river and fields of triticale next to the river. You can fish the river with some really nice trout being taken. Warm Springs Reservoir is close to the ranch with fishing there also. A flyway is present from Warm Springs to the outlying fields all the way to Burns and beyond. The waterfowl stop at the Luce Ranch and up and down the river from there.
This ranch is in a mild area with very good cattle feed on the BLM. The deeded ground is being reworked to get the maximum feed from it and use it in an optimal way. The irrigated land is also being reworked with the valves and pumps put into excellent operating condition. This high desert ranch is from a culture far removed from present day urban living. It is the West with work, neighbors and a handshake.
Price: $2.2m
Wilburn Ranch Brokerage
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