Lucas Ranch

Details & Features

The 8,134-acre Lucas Ranch is one of the most significant land offerings on the market today and consists of over 12 square miles of diverse terrain on the western slope of the Crazy Mountains. Irrigated farmland ascends to expansive rolling pasture divvied by multiple creek drainages. Above it, all stands timbered slopes of lodgepole, ponderosa, and aspen with incredible views of the five surrounding mountain ranges. A family-run 500-pair cow-calf operation is supported by ample hay production and extensive acreage for grazing. The ranch’s diverse habitats create a haven for wildlife, and the topography and vegetation throughout the acreage provide world-class elk hunting. The transportation hub of Bozeman is less than 60 miles away, with basic amenities even closer in the charming small towns of Livingston and White Sulphur Springs.

Location
The Lucas Ranch is well-positioned and accessible between the cities of Bozeman and Helena, located 60 miles and 80 miles respectively from the ranch, with each city providing commercial air service and unlimited cultural and recreational amenities. Less than an hour from the ranch is the town of Livingston, known for its charm and access to legendary fly fishing. The county seat of White Sulphur Springs is a short 20 minutes down the road, complete with small town values, a geothermal hot springs, and a few welcoming local watering holes.

Ranching Operation
The Lucas Ranch has historically run a 500 pair cow/calf operation and features 985 acres of cropland. Two pivots irrigating a total of 175 acres contribute to an abundance of hay for the operation and extensive summer pasture eliminates the need for any offsite grazing, keeping the ranch’s cattle inside ranch boundaries year-round. The cows are turned loose around June 1st, where they are free to graze the topography and lush grass of the ranch’s highlands before returning home to the valley floor for calving in the winter months.

Hunting and Wildlife
The Lucas Ranch supports seasonal and resident elk herds with populations topping out in the 400’s at certain times of the year. During archery season the elk fall into a predictable and very huntable routine beginning with a morning ascent from feeding in the ranch’s irrigated grounds, to the bedding cover of broken up slopes of upland timber. During rifle season bulls seek refuge in the folds of terrain and large groups of cows migrate in and out. The hunting rights are currently leased to an outfitter on an annual basis. His 100% rate of client return is a testament to the resource and the quality of hunting on the ranch. In addition to the resident elk herds, huntable populations of mule deer, antelope, and Hungarian partridge can be found throughout the ranch as well.

Water and Water Rights
The Lucas Ranch has extensive water rights, some of which dating back to the 1890’s. Several small bodies of water: Youngs Creek, Woodson Creek, and Canyon Creek, and their associated unnamed tributaries and springs, provide a direct source of water for wildlife and stock. The main source of irrigation water comes from Sixteen Mile creek, which also flows through the ranch and provides seasonal fishing for brookies. A summary of water rights can be provided upon request.

Ranch History
Originally a bull whacker, John Lucas hauled freight from Townsend to White Sulphur and Livingston to Castle before falling in love with an area next to Sixteen Mile creek where he settled and began the ranching operation that is still run by his family today. Now, for the first time in 133 years, this generational ranch is on the market, creating an opportunity for a new family legacy in the foothills of the Crazy Mountains.

Area History
The small town of Ringling, Montana has a storied past, and is named after John Ringling of Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus, who became endeared with the valley and started buying land in the early 1900’s, eventually putting together a collection of ranches totaling around 100,000 acres. Rumors of circus animals roaming the prairies in the area are still whispered by locals today.

Conservation Easement Opportunity
There are no conservation easements or deed restrictions currently encumbering the Lucas Ranch. However, the ranch’s significant resources and scenic and wildlife values make it a potential candidate for a future owner. These voluntary legal agreements provide future safeguard for the Ranch’s character and natural resources, while allowing the ranch owner to realize significant tax and/or cash benefits. Partnership with a local land trust also gives a new landowner access to expert knowledge and the tools needed to manage the property in a wildlife-friendly and resource-efficient manner.

Summary
Set in the western foothills of the Crazy Mountains and spanning over twelve miles of contiguous private acres, the Lucas Ranch is a fourth-generation cattle ranch, which until now has never before been offered on the open market. The Lucas Ranch’s expansive acreage and production capability, combined with world class recreation, form a blend that is rare if not singular in Montana’s current ranch market.

• 8,134 +/- deeded acre multi-generational working ranch located in the foothills of the Crazy Mountains
• Productive cattle operation combined with an excellent big game hunting component and world class elk hunting
• Private setting with extraordinary views of five mountain ranges.
• 20 mins from services in White Sulphur Springs and just over an hour to all cultural amenities of Bozeman, MT