At the end of the day,
our reputation stands.
–John D. Pearson, Broker

We are what we repeatedly do.
Excellence, then,
is not an act, but a habit.
– Aristotle

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DESCRIPTION

A genuine working cattle ranch situated in a scenic valley below the majestic Tendoy Mountains in southwestern Montana.

LOCATION: 3 MILES SOUTHWEST OF DELL, MONTANA
1,384± ACRES DEEDED | 12,863± ACRES TOTAL
ELK AND DEER HUNTING | SCENIC SETTING
473± IRRIGATED ACRES | TWO PIVOTS | EXCELLENT WATER RIGHTS
USDA FOREST SERVICE & BLM GRAZING PERMITS | TWO HOMES

THE LOCATION

The Quarter Circle C Ranch Headquarters are located 3 miles southwest of the small town of Dell, Montana in Beaverhead County.  Dell has a jet capable airport. Interstate Highway 15 is just 3 miles east of the deeded land and headquarters, making year around access very convenient to the county road that leads to the property.

Beaverhead County is the largest county in Montana and ranching remains its economic backbone.  Dillon, the county seat, is a bustling community and major trading area in Beaverhead and western Madison counties and is a top  agricultural center in one of Montana’s largest cattle and hay producing areas.  It is the headquarters of the Beaverhead-Deer Lodge National Forest, the Dillon Field Office of the Bureau of Land Management, the University of Montana Western and the national franchise office of Great Harvest Bread Company.  The Montana Handbook aptly describes the town:
 “Dillon is an authentic old trade town that has managed to endure the recent economic malaise of the agricultural West without facing extinction or resorting to survival as a self-parody for tourists.  Filled with historic architecture but kept young by the presence of students at Western Montana College, blessed with fine restaurants, and faithful to the old bars that — then as now — have consoled cowboys, sheepherders, and miners.  Dillon is one of Montana’s most bewitching small cities.”

Interstate 15 and several major highways junction at Dillon and form a natural marketing hub.  All the essential services are provided in Dillon including several banks, numerous churches, equipment and car dealers, agricultural supply stores, movie theatre, grocery stores and fine dining.  The Barrett Memorial Hospital provides a surprisingly wide array of medical services and specialists for the community and surrounding region.

ABOUT THE RANCH

The Quarter Circle C Ranch is a true working ranch that has been owned and operated by the same family for 34 years.  Historically a cow/calf operation, the ranch is presently owner-rated at 425 - 450 animal units year around.

The ranch has two private USDA Forest Service grazing permits in the Beaverhead National Forest lying west of the headquarters.  Permit No. 20541 is for 200 cow/calf pairs from 7/1 to 9/12 in the Graphite Mountain Grazing Allotment.  Permit No. 20187 is for 50 head (variable) of dry cows from 12/5 to 1/5 in the Dry Canyon Allotment.  These permits are administered by the Beaverhead-Deer Lodge National Forest (Dillon Ranger District, in Dillon, Montana.  There is also a BLM grazing permit on 2,020 acres.

THE CATTLE OPERATION

The ranch’s large irrigated hay base along with BLM and Forest Service summer grazing permits make the Quarter Circle C Ranch a well-balanced cattle operation.  After calving out at the headquarters, the cow/calf pairs are turned out on the BLM Allotment that is contiguous to the deeded land.  Around July 1st a majority of the pairs are trailed to the Forest Service Graphite Mountain Allotment for the summer. Calves are usually weaned and sold in late Fall.  Because the ranch lies within close proximity to the Tendoy Mountains and at an elevation of 6,119 feet (at the headquarters), snow cover during the winter months can be quite heavy and supplemental feeding of hay is required at an estimated 2 tons per cow.

IRRIGATED MEADOWS & HAY PRODUCTION

Approximately 473 acres are irrigated: 224 acres and 125 acres under two separate pivot systems, 40 acres under a wheel line system, and 84 acres are flood irrigated. A large irrigated hay base with BLM and Forest Service summer grazing permits make the Quarter Circle C Ranch a well-balanced cattle operation. 

On average, the ranch will harvest between 710 and 946 tons of hay annually.

WATER RIGHTS

The ranch has excellent early priority water rights out of Big Sheep Creek for irrigation.  The priority dates are 1885 and 1886 to irrigate 473 acres.  There is a head gate on Big Sheep Creek that diverts water into an irrigation ditch, the water is then pumped to the two pivot sprinklers, the wheel line sprinkler, and flood irrigated meadows.  There is no cost for this irrigation water.  The only expense to the owner is the cost to pump the water to the irrigated fields.

WILDLIFE AND NATURAL RESOURCES

The foothill-mountain country surrounding the Quarter Circle C Ranch is the perfect habitat for many varieties of wildlife.  Beaverhead County is renowned for its fine big game hunting and provides excellent hunting for county residents and visitors. Hunting big game, waterfowl, and upland game birds has been a traditional part of life in southwestern Montana even before the first settlers. 

Large numbers of mule deer and white-tailed deer can often be found grazing in the meadows on the ranch.  Elk herds also migrate through the ranch at various times of the year.

RANCH IMPROVEMENTS

The facilities on the ranch are in good condition and compliment the well-managed cattle operation. Building improvements include a large log/wood barn, three shop/equipment buildings, large set of pipe corrals, pens, working alleys, and chutes, loafing/feeding pens with windbreaks, numerous storage buildings and granaries. 

There are two homes on the ranch: a 3-bedroom, 2-bath brick home with a fireplace; and a 3-bedroom, 2-bath modular.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

MINERAL RIGHTS— Seller will convey the ranch without reservation; however, no representations are made as to the quantity or quality of any appurtenant mineral or other subsurface rights.

REAL ESTATE TAXES — The taxes for 2010 taxes are estimated at $6,907.

OFFERING DETAILS

The Quarter Circle C Ranch consisting of approximately 1,384 acres deeded land and including all improvements and water rights, is offered for $4,000,000 (Four Million Dollars).  Seller shall require an all cash sale.

Seller reserves the right to effectuate a 1031 tax deferred exchange in accordance with IRS regulations.  This exchange will not incur any expense or liability on part of the buyer.