The 3900 acres of native pasture consists of large blocks of honey mesquite, steep escarpments and cedar breaks, and rolling hills with hackberry trees and wild plum. The mesquite pastures have an excellent stand of forbs and grasses that provide grazing for livestock, as well as bedding areas for wildlife.

There are nineteen cultivated fields, located primarily around the ranch's perimeter. These fields vary from 10 to 400 acres in size and are separated by either tree groves or long stretches of pasture. The fields have been terraced where necessary to prevent erosion and channel water to the tanks and lakes. They are primarily flat, some slightly sloped, and average 35-40 bushels/acre wheat under the current owner's no-till farming system. This productive ground is also capable of growing oats, sudan, milo, haygrazer, bermuda, or could be sewn in a variety of wildlife grasses.

The 700 acres of bottom land is located off of the south ridge, between it and the river, and abounds in tall hardwood trees and bushy shrubs. You can see the bulk of this land from on top of the bluff running long it from east to west, and offers the ranch's best bow-hunting areas.

Abundant Water:

You just can't go to a part of this ranch where there's not water! Twenty water tanks are in place, all of which are well situated along draws and springs to keep them full year around. They vary in size, and include a 14 acre lake called "Moss Lake", and a 5 acre lake known as "Horseshoe Lake". With the ranch's many draws and small canyons, the potential for a couple of 50+ acre lakes exists too. The water tanks are strategically located around the edge of the fields and pastures and are easily accessible by the ranch's inner road system.

The property follows the Brazos River along its south border, allowing for over five miles of frontage. The Brazos is fed by multiple springs and creeks before it reaches the Cato Ranch, ensuring it flows all year long here. It winds north and south along the border and creates a beautiful scene virually anywhere along its banks.

Additional water is provided by Red Creek, which transverses through the heart of the ranch for three miles before merging with the Brazos near the southeast corner. Red Creek is seasonal in nature and acts as a funnel for any rainfall or runoff going through the ravines and draws across the pastures.

Excellent Hunting:

The Cato Ranch is loaded with wildlife - even in the dead summer heat you will see game running as you drive through the property! This is whitetail country at its finest, with the abundant cover, forage areas, farm land, and water sources needed to grow trophy Boone & Crockett bucks. Native whitetails scoring into the 160-170s have been harvested in recent years. The ranch has only been lightly hunted over the last five years, so the deer have been able to multiply tremendously.

The ranch also carries a strong population of Rio Grande turkeys. With roosting areas and water tanks located off of most of the fields, turkeys have everything they need here to grow and thrive. The rolling grass hills and plum thickets down by the river are conducive to the bobwhite quail of this region and allow for upland bird hunting as well.

There are many feral hogs on the ranch, which are normally found roaming in groups of over thirty. Some hogs have grown so large they have been mistaken for stray steers when seen from a distance. Bobcats, coyotes, and other predators create year around sport too.

Dove hunting in the Fall is great, and some of the smaller cultivated fields would be ideal places to put in sunflower plots. The Brazos River is a natural flyway for migrating waterfowl, and the two larger lakes on the property are perfect for pulling them in. The Cato Ranch is located just five miles east of Lake Davis (500 acres large) and Lake Catherine (300 acres), both of which house thousands of ducks and geese in the winter time; the ranch benefits tremendously from this. Knox County is one of the few counties in this region of Texas that has a defined javelina season as well.

The 14 and 5 acre lakes are suitable to bass, catfish, and crappie, and could be stocked to provide the ranch with fishing opportunities. Several of the smaller tanks would be fitting for this too.

Income Potential:

In addition to farming, the ranch is set up as an excellent cow/calf operation. With winter grazing from the wheat fields and plenty of grass in the pastures, the ranch will run 350 head year around. There are a couple sets of pens in place and several traps for driving cattle from one pasture to the next. In the middle of the ranch at the headquarters, a 25 acre coastal trap is used to gather the herd together before working calves or shipping to market. There is also a large metal hay barn on site.

While it is not under any leases right now, the ranch has been sited for a wind farm by various energy companies over the last few years, mainly because it has over six miles of transmission lines running across it. The seller will convey 50% of the wind rights at closing, as well as 100% of the wind executory leasing rights, to give the new owner complete control over this potential development.

Some mineral rights are available as well. There is currently no active production on the ranch.

Improvements:

The ranch has excellent perimeter fences, and most of the cross fences are in good shape too. The property sits at the intersection of Highway 114/82 and Ranch Rd 267 and has a total of six miles of paved, public road frontage. A rural water line runs down Highway 82 in front of the ranch, and several lines have been tapped off of this and run onto the ranch for stock tanks for cattle.

Besides the metal hay barn, the only other structure is an old farmhouse, which probably needs to be bulldozed. There are several excellent locations to build a hunting lodge or ranch home, as views abound across the Brazos River valley.

Asking Price: $1000/acre

The Cato Red Creek Ranch is a classic, working Texas ranch, one with country charm and character, excellent hunting and agriculture, and future development potential. It is surrounded by other ranches 5000+ acres in size, good neighbors, and wide open West Texas skies. Call us for more information and to arrange a private tour of this property.

Land Agent:

- Beau Byars, (940) 224-3183