23,665 Acres in Decker, MT - $21,000,000

The Holmes Ranch is a large cattle ranch comprised of 23,665 total acres of grazing land, situated in the Tongue River basin less than 30 miles from Sheridan, Wyoming. It is currently owner-rated to conservatively run 600 cows annually and very realistically 1000 cow/calf pairs, or 3,000 to 3,500 yearlings for the grazing season. The ranch is currently running both pairs and stockers. It operates with limited labor requirements and is perfect for the investor seeking a productive, low-overhead ranch. The ranch has a thriving mixture of hardy native grasses and a mosaic of sagebrush, juniper, ponderosa pine, and other deciduous trees native to the area. It lies within the Deer Creek and Badger Hills watershed areas, each with seasonal flowing water, plus numerous springs and reservoirs.

Regenerative Management Water Resources and Pastures

Comprising 23,665 contiguous acres, the Holmes Ranch has excellent grass, water, and fencing infrastructure providing numerous and diverse enterprise opportunities for return on investment (ROI). Ranches like this used to be marketed as chaps and spur ranches, meaning all you needed to operate them was good horses and cowboys. And while it is still a place to ride and be a cowboy, new in-place management systems focus more on improving the landscape and soil.

The ranch has over 48 recorded water rights, some of which are surface rights on Deer Creek. The ranchs extensive hi-producing wells with buried 3 HDPE primary water pipeline and 2 HDPE secondary lines provide a more than dependable and abundant source of water to nearly every pasture on the ranch on an on-demand basis, and most can be used year on a year-round basis. This ranch is as well watered as any you will find. Six of the wells produce about 50 gpm, with more being added. Nearly all the water tanks use 12 diameter tire tanks set up to function through the winter. With all the water and abundance of grass, the ranch can support the grazing demands of its cattle operations in the hottest weather conditions.

The ranch utilizes a regenerative grazing program, which includes 37 permanently fenced pastures with wildlife-friendly hi-tensile wire. Temporary electric fencing further divides the larger pastures. The well-managed grazing system promotes management-intensive grazing (MIG) and allows an owner/manager to move livestock to promote regenerative agriculture practices. Such practices build soil structure through better root systems and soil cover, which helps improve water and carbon cycles, creating a better environment for all systems and enterprises above the soil. For the past 5 years, livestock have been used to build soil and store soil carbon (soil carbon sequestration). When a systems approach to land and ranch management is used, as it is on Holmes Ranch, all things work together for good. As the soil health improves, the grazing enterprises and wildlife resources also improve. Since the most important elements for livestock grazing are already in place, one can get right to it by hauling in truckloads of yearling stockers, pairs, or even sheep.

Carbon Sequestration

Through extensive improvements of over $1,500,000 spent on water and fencing the last 4 years that form, 37 paddocks added for intensive mob grazing practices, the health of the ranchs soils is excellent as demonstrated by the abundance of grass. Its excellent rangeland health reflects the abundance of stored soil carbon with potential real marketable value.

A proposed deal with the company, GrassRoots Carbon, would pay the Holmes Ranch $473,000 for the first 5 years and end up at $450k/year in 30 years. The deal is based on the current inventory of measured soil carbon reserves and assumes carbon sequestration of 0.56 tons/acre/year. This is a conservative amount as it is an assumed, or average rate for the U.S. lower 48 state program. Ranches, like the Holmes Ranch, should be one of the overachievers.

Improvements

Owners Residence

Located on the divide overlooking the Deer Creek and Tongue River Valleys, the views of the surrounding area and the Bighorn Mountains are spectacular. This ranch-style home was built in 2016 and has 3 bedrooms and two baths. The contemporary open living spaces, professional appliances, kitchen, master bedroom, and bath are all very nice. It has a detached garage/shop and one other outbuilding.

Newer Foreman/Managers Home

New in 2022, a very well cared for inside and out, 3 bedroom 2 bath home located at the headquarters.

Original Ranch House

Located at the headquarters, it was originally built in the mid-1800s and then remodeled and additions in 1942 and more recently remodeled and renovated. The traditional two-story farmhouse design and well-kept surrounding fenced-in yard and gardens reflect the look and feel of a Montana ranch. Details include 5-bedroom, 3-Baths 2,217 sf living area 1.5 Story Farm House.

Out Buildings

Indoor Arena

The Holmes Ranch also boasts of its incredible 300 x 125, all-steel, clear-span construction indoor arena. It is fully insulated and heated for the busiest competitive events, which can be held year-round. Inside it, youll be surprised to find a commercial kitchen, and numerous guest rooms and bathrooms used for retreats, guests, and other events. Though currently used for only private events, the arena is equipped with a Priefert air-powered roping chute, roping boxes, and a return alley that in the past, has been used commercially for ropings, barrel racing, and other equestrian events.

Corrals and Working Pens

Outside the arena is a great set of steel working corrals that includes pens, sorting alleys, holding pens, platform scale, load-out chutes for both semi-trucks and pickup trailers and a Silencer hydraulic chute, all of which are large enough to meet the needs of the ranchs cattle operation and thoughtfully designed to make processing and cattle handling less stressful and more efficient for livestock and people. Working and shipping 2000 head of yearlings in a day is possible. Maintenance is also easier, as many of the panels can be removed to allow access for cleaning.

Hunting and Outdoor Recreation

Hunting opportunities include elk, mule deer, black bear, dove, and sharp-tailed grouse. The Holmes Ranch is a fantastic wildlife and recreation ranch. Not only is it a premier big game hunting ranch, due to the thoughtfully managed grazing that supports better deer, elk, and pronghorn populations, but it also improves cover and vegetation for upland bird hunting and other recreation amenities. Aside from the grazing and wildlife, just the pure scenic qualities and location of the ranch provide more non-consumptive enterprises. For instance, with little to no light pollution, the stargazing is unbelievable under these big Montana skies. These vast skies are often filled with spectacular sunrises and sunsets, uninterrupted views of the Milky Way Galaxy, and occasionally northern lights. Not only are the views of the heavens spectacular, but even the views of the landscape, and Bighorn Mountains are truly captivating. Plus, watching wildlife is always entertaining. On this ranch, you will find new opportunities to witness activities that most people never see. Watch elk bathe in reservoirs and listen to them bugling, or watch in amazement as hawks and eagles soar and hunt. The photography that awaits your camera will always amaze you.

Located in Elk and Deer Hunt area 704, it is well known for having monster, record-setting bull elk, and trophy mule deer. The ranchs large size, good grass, water, abundance of deeded land, great cover, and lack of public access to the leased ground make it an ideal habitat and refuge for wildlife.

Location

Just an easy 30-minute drive to downtown Sheridan, WY, the Holmes Ranch has easy access to a great community with all the necessary goods and services; as well as top schools, good restaurants, shopping, recreation, and medical facilities that include a surgical center, cancer treatment facility, and regional hospital; plus, it has a jet-accessible, commercial airport.

Billings, MT is about 2 hours away if a bigger town is needed and has major shopping, premier health care facilities, and Logan International Airport.

The nearby Bighorn Mountains and Bighorn National Forest are an outdoor paradise filled with recreational opportunities including hunting, fishing, camping, hiking and backpacking, horseback riding, mountain biking, picnicking, sightseeing, photography, snowmobiling, skiing, and sledding.

Brokers Comments

Chase Brothers is pleased to present the Holmes Ranch for sale for only the second time in its history. A solid and reliable investment opportunity in one of the most sought-after real estate markets in the West, the offering represents the same qualities and attributes apparent to George Bernard Holmes, who arrived in the Tongue River Basin of south-central Montana in the early 1930s. Mr. Holmes was the very first land patent holder for the ranch and wisely recognized the strength of the grass, the mild climate, the abundance of water, and the easy commute to Sheridan, WY. In this area, its not often that ranches of its size and scale come on the market, especially with its carrying capacity and wildlife operation. The beautiful Holmes Ranch reflects the best attributes of a legacy ranch. The views of the landscape formed by the Tongue River Reservoir and the Badger Creek divide on its western side to the Hanging Woman Creek divide on its east side, are incredible. The Bighorn Mountains and the peaks of Blacktooth and Cloud Peak frame the southern views, and to the west lie the Wolf Mountains and the beautiful Tongue River Valley as it continues making its way to the north and the Yellowstone River.

Chase Brothers knows of no better or purer form of wealth creation than what can derive from land. The Holmes Ranch is no exception, currently offering diverse income opportunities, including enterprises like livestock grazing, recreational use, trophy hunting, and the sale of carbon credits, plus the potential for other opportunities that only the land can provide. Coupled with the annual land appreciation rates we have seen for this area over the last 30 years, the ranch is set up to support itself operationally and be a reliable store for wealth and wealth creation.