Marks Ranch
Listing Price:
$1,299,000
The Marks Ranch is situated between the Big Belt Mountains and Canyon Ferry Lake and offers possibilities and enjoyment for anglers, hunters, horsemen and outdoor enthusiasts. The ranch is well-kept and easily maintained, located in the very desirable southwestern part of Montana. The ranch is private and considered to be “off the beaten path”, yet accessible at the same time.
The property is comprised of 990 acres including 510 acres with 269 irrigated and 241 dry land acres plus 480 state-leased acres of dry pasture. The Marks Ranch has varied terrain including flat irrigated ground, rolling grass lands and riparian lands. The property was previously planted with wheat and is now covered with tame grass.
The ranch boasts a modern and comfortable three bedroom, two bath home with an open floor plan. The residence is just over 4,000 square feet with expansive windows featuring great mountain views, and there is also a river rock fireplace. Just a few steps from the home, is an six-stall, heated and insulated horse barn and shop. The barn is basic and functional and is located on the 40-acre pasture that is completely fenced with smooth wire and ready for horses.
The Marks Ranch has a small spring-fed creek in addition to wetlands along the southern side of the property that drain into the Canyon Ferry Reservoir. Although it is too small to be a fishery, it does offer moisture for trees, brush and habitat in that portion of the property. This part of southwest Montana is home to some of the world’s greatest trout fisheries. A list of highlights include the Yellowstone, Madison, Gallatin, Jefferson, Smith and Missouri Rivers.
It takes years for one to learn the nooks and crannies of the streams, lakes and ponds in the area. If an angler likes variety, this is the place. The angler’s obvious quarry are the rainbow, brown, brook and cutthroat trout, and some anglers target grayling, bass, pike and even carp in area waters. The winter offers extraordinary ice fishing on Canyon Ferry, Houser and Holter Lakes, where trout, walleye, perch and kokanee are abundant. Warm water fish include Largemouth and Smallmouth bass, walleye, pike, ling and perch.
Drive almost any direction from the property and upland bird hunters will find opportunities to chase pheasants, Hungarian partridge, Sharptail grouse, as well as Blue and Rough grouse in the surrounding mountains. Upland birds, antelope and Whitetail deer are almost constant residents of the Marks Ranch, and food plots and basic habitat enhancement would help all area game and non-game animals flourish. Elk pass through the property and are becoming more and more prevalent. An incoming owner can hunt for Mountain grouse, deer and elk in the national forest in the Big Belt Mountains ten minutes away. The Elkhorn Mountains, across the lake are managed through a limited draw system and offer some of the largest trophy bulls in the state.