MUDDY GAP, WYOMING Introduction the Split Rock Ranch Is a Vast, Productive Wyoming Cattle Ranch, Strong on Production and Wildlife and Steeped in Western History
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SplitMUDDY Rock GAP, WYOMING Ranch Hunting | Ranching | Fly Fishing | Conservation Split Rock Ranch MUDDY GAP, WYOMING Introduction The Split Rock Ranch is a vast, productive Wyoming cattle ranch, strong on production and wildlife and steeped in western history. Located in south central Wyoming along the Oregon Trail, the ranch spans more than 35 miles from north to south, encompassing three counties and running on 196,962 total acres. Primarily operated as a cattle ranch, the Split Rock Ranch has a conservative carrying capacity of 1,200 animal units. The deeded lands include 16,891 acres of diverse landscape including lush river bottom, rocky outcroppings and miles of rolling sage flats and meadows. The Sweetwater River courses through the deeded land for approximately 14 miles providing secure private river frontage. The river delivers irrigation water to four center pivots, which irrigate 614 acres of cropland. Strong on the recreational front, the river is the lifeblood for area wildlife including elk, mule deer, white-tailed, deer and pronghorn antelope, all that are present in prolific numbers supporting a well-managed ranch hunting program. The Sweetwater River provides onsite fishing and adds a live water component that is very unique for its location. Split Rock Ranch presents the opportunity to own a large and diverse Wyoming ranch with strong production and spectacular recreational attributes. www.livewaterproperties.com Contacts MATT MACMILLAN associate broker 307.413.3582 TOBY GRIFFITH 307.272.8629 plit Rock Ranch lies in Natrona, Fremont, and Carbon counties in south central Wyoming. The ranch Location Sis roughly 35 miles from north to south, and over 20 miles wide from east to west. Split Rock Ranch has SPLIT ROCK RANCH IS three distinct camps or headquarters: The Block, Cross L and the Hook. Each of these were independent ROUGHLY 35 MILES FROM ranches prior to the assemblage of the Split Rock. The closest town to the ranch is Muddy Gap, Wyoming, NORTH TO SOUTH, AND which is home to a service station and small market. The ranch is positioned 80 miles southeast of Lander OVER 20 MILES WIDE.Hunting | Randanching 80 | Fly milesFishing | Conse southwestrvation of Casper; both towns provide all the services one needs. The current population of Casper is shy of 60,000 while the recreational mecca of Lander is home to 9,500 residents. The Casper/ Natrona County Airport provides the closest commercial air services, a little over an hour drive from the Cross L Headquarters. This portion of Wyoming looks much the same as it did hundreds of years ago. This is big Wyoming cattle country that is rich in wildlife and long on views and open spaces. Improvements Hunting lodge 6,500 sqft. he hunting lodge is a modern style lodge with 6 bedrooms and 3.5 baths. The lodge setting is spectacular, Manager’s home 1 1,500 sqft. Tlocated on the banks of the Sweetwater River overlooking the irrigated hay fields. The lodge has all Manager’s home 2 1,500 sqft. modern finishes and systems, complete with a large great room, gourmet kitchen and recreational room with Bunkhouse 1 1,000 sqft. a bar and pool table. The deck provides front Huntingrow |seating Ranching | Ftoly Fishing watch | Conse thervation elk, deer and pronghorn feed in the Bunkhouse 2 1,300 sqft. irrigated fields, and the trout rise on the Sweetwater River. The additional improvements provide support for Workshop 4,000 sqft. the cattle operation, with onsite housing for managers and staff. Calving barn 12,000 sqft. Operational he ranch currently leases out the cattle grazing to a tenant who runs approximately 1200 cow/calf pairs Income Component Ton the ranch. In addition to the 16,891 acres of deeded land, the ranch grazes on 168,447 acres of BLM leased land and 11,624 acres of Wyoming State lease. There are 13 different BLM allotments and 6 separate THE SPLIT ROCK RANCH state allotments that benefit the ranch. Traditionally run as a cow/calf operation, Split Rock Ranch has been GENERATES INCOME successfully able to calve their heifers and mother cows near the headquarters during the early spring, turn FROM 3 DISTINCT AREAS; out the livestock in late spring thru the summer to early fall, effectively rotating pastures according to the CATTLE GRAZING, HAY lease agreements. During late fall, the cow/calf pairs are gathered, sorted, the calves weaned and shipped, and SALES AND HUNTING. mother cows trailed back toward the headquarters where they finish out the late fall and winter grazing on residual alfalfa growth and/or supplemental hay previously cut from the pivots. There are 4 center pivots which irrigate approximately 614 acres. The current crop is alfalfa hay, the average production has been in the 4-5 ton per acre range on 2 cuttings. The hay production is currently managed separately from the grazing. Depending on cattle feed requirements, the hay is either sold to the cattle lessee or sold to market. The hunting on Split Rock Ranch has been leased to the same tenant, a top outfiter, for several years. The current outfiter’s conservative management strategy has ensured the harvest of top end animals which has generated an auxiliary income stream to supplement the hay and grazing operation. plit Rock Ranch offers a variety of outstanding big game hunting opportunities for trophy elk, mule Hunting & Wildlife Sdeer, whitetail deer and pronghorn antelope. The quality and quantity of game is obvious immediately THE GREEN MOUNTAIN AREA upon arriving at the ranch headquarters. While looking out over the river, it is common to see hundreds OFFERS HIGH ELK ACTIVITY of deer, pronghorn and elk feeding in the alfalfa fields. IN THE FALL MONTHS. Due to the exceptional hunting component, Split Rock Ranch currently leases out the hunting to a well- respected outfitter who carefully manages the big game herds for high quality animals. The ranch has qualified for elk, deer and pronghorn tags in the past. During the spring, summer and early fall months the elk spend most of their time in the high elevations near Green Mountain in the southern portions of the ranch. The Green Mountain unit is a well-known trophy elk area with resident and nonresident tags offered on a limited quota basis. Archery elk hunting during the September rut in the Green Mountain unit can be incredibly special on the Split Rock Ranch, where there is an abundant amount of water, good cover and no hunting pressure. Later in the fall, when the majority of elk begin to move north to lower elevations and eventually cross Highway 287, they enter the general elk unit. Here the elk will find irrigated alfalfa fields, river bottom protection and rough, rocky terrain for escape. Since the ranch has deeded land in the two units, the owner has the choice to hunt the mountain or lower country. yoming is known for its huge numbers and trophy quality Wantelope. When it comes to producing the biggest and the best, Unit 68 is always amongst the leaders. Split Rock Ranch is located in the epicenter of Unit 68 and has produced bucks exceeding 85” Boone and Crocket records regularly. Archery hunters can also enjoy great success either by spot and stalk methods or setting up blinds along fence lines, water holes or travel corridors. ith over fourteen miles of the Sweetwater River Wflowing through the Split Rock Ranch and four productive pivots located adjacent to this rich riparian corridor, white-tailed and mule deer populations are thriving. Trophy scoring mule deer and white-tailed deer are harvested on the ranch regularly. he Sweetwater River itself is a productive fishery supporting Tpopulations of rainbow and brown trout as well as native cutthroat trout. Fish in the section of river flowing through the property average 12 to 18 inches in length; at times fish in the 20 plus inch range are caught. The prolific insect hatches in early spring and the arrival of summer hoppers make dry fly fishing Live Water quite enjoyable. Located east and an hour’s drive THE SWEETWATER RIVER of the ranch, is the famed tailwater sections of the BISECTS THE SPLIT ROCK North Platte River, which include Miracle Mile RANCH AND OFFERS and Grey Reef. Together with Seminoe, Pathfinder COMPLETELY PRIVATE and Alcova Reservoirs, these fisheries are known FISHING RIGHTS. to produce “monster” trout as well as some warm water species in the reservoirs. It is important to note that the fishing on Split Rock Ranch is 100% private. Unlike some other western states, in Wyoming the landowner owns the streambed and the public does not have any access rights along the river corridor. This allows the incoming ranch owners the luxury of managing the fishing program as they see fit. History he Sweetwater Valley contains three distinctive granite landmarks: Independence Rock, TDevil’s Gate and Split Rock. The last of these, Split Rock, with its unforgettable gun sight notch, was visible to emigrants for two days or more as they approached and then left it behind them. Some emigrants on the Oregon, California and Mormon Trail, all one road at this point— found this landmark in the Rattlesnake Range a useful navigational tool as they made their way west up the Sweetwater. Rising 1,000 feet above the sagebrush prairie, Split Rock aimed westbound emigrants directly at South Pass still more than 75 miles away. The relatively gentle landscape offered them a short, but much needed, respite in their long journey. Emigrants were struck by the rock’s beauty, too. “The picture was worthy the pencil of an artist,” William Carter wrote late in 1857. “Our camp was near what is called the Split in the Rock, a remarkable cleft in the top of the mountain which can be seen at a great distance in either direction.” Split Rock Station is located a short distance west of Split Rock between Cranner Rock and the south bank of the Sweetwater River in what is now a hay meadow.