Brewer Ranch

The Brewer Ranch represents a rare opportunity to own a working and recreational ranch with a uniquely private end-of-road location in the beautiful foothills of the Big Horn Mountains near Story, Wyoming. The ranch is a very productive multiple use ranch, including hay, cattle, equestrian, and recreational attributes. Approximately 694 deeded acres, the property includes approximately 235 acres of hayable ground, rolling grasslands, and numerous wooded draws. This Wyoming ranch is wildlife rich, providing excellent habitat for upland game birds, turkey, deer, pronghorn, occasionally elk, as well as many other non-game wildlife species.

Bordering approximately 800 acres of Wyoming State lands, the property provides access to additional recreational opportunities, such as hunting, horseback riding, hiking, and fishing on Piney Creek. This Wyoming ranch has excellent water rights for irrigation and many upgrades to the irrigation equipment, fencing, and ranch buildings, making it a true turn-key operation. For the equestrian or polo enthusiast, the ranch is ideally located within minutes of the historical Bighorn Equestrian Center and the Flying H Polo Club.

Land Overview

The Brewer Ranch consists of approximately 694 deeded acres of highly productive irrigated meadows and rolling foothills at the base of the scenic Big Horn Mountains, Wyoming. The ranch ranges in elevation from 4,510 to 5,140 feet, and encompasses a diversity of terrain and habitat, running from the irrigated hay meadows along Jenks and Peno Creeks in the headquarters area up onto the top of Lodge Trail Ridge. The ranch lies adjacent to approximately 800 acres of accessible Wyoming State lands, which not only provide additional recreational opportunities but also include the historic Fetterman Battlefield and a section of the Bozeman Trail.

Locale

The Brewer Ranch is located approximately two miles from the quaint and picturesque mountain community of Story, and just 15 miles south of Sheridan, Wyoming. Sheridan is a highly coveted community, and was recently selected as the #1 Western Town, by True West Magazine. Sheridan, Wyoming boasts fine dining, shopping, arts, equestrian events, polo, professional rodeo, and world-class golf. Sheridan is also equipped with a commercial airport with daily flights to and from Denver, Colorado. The ranch is within minutes of the Bighorn National Forest, providing excellent hunting, fishing, and other recreational opportunities on hundreds of thousands of acres of public lands.

Improvements

The residence improvements include the original ranch owners home (3 bedroom, 1 bath 2,128 sq ft), ranch manager house (3 bedroom, 2 bath 1,728 sq ft), and bunkhouse (1 bed, 1 bath 352 sq ft). The ranch managers house and bunkhouse were newly constructed in 2006. There is also a very well kept horse barn with turnout stalls, paddocks, feed room, tack room, and hayloft. Adjacent to the barn is a cattle working facility, metal corrals, and older cattle scale. In addition, there is a very nice heated and insulated shop with concrete floor, and several smaller outbuildings and lean-to structures for equipment, hay, and irrigation equipment storage.

The residence homes are serviced by two water wells, and a very good spring development that services the automatic waterers in and around the barn, corrals, and paddocks, as well as the outdoor hydrants around the ranch complex.

Climate

The annual precipitation, in this area of Wyoming, ranges from 16-20”, with most of the precipitation occurring during spring and again in fall months. Winters are mild, with average lows below freezing and highs averaging 35-45 F, December through March. The Wyoming Summers have lows in the mid-50s and highs in the 80s. A unique weather attribute for the immediate area is the Chinook (warm) winds that occur regularly during winter months, allowing for open pasture conditions and spring like temperatures.

The Brewer Ranch offers a diversity of possibilities for the outdoor enthusiast and sportsman. The ranch is located in the heart of some of the best fishing, big-game and upland bird hunting in the Wyoming Rocky Mountain region.

Recreation

• The Wyoming Bighorn National Forest  is accessible in minutes, and has world-class elk and deer hunting, fly-fishing on scenic mountain lakes and streams, countless miles of horseback and hiking trails, snowmobiling, and skiing.

Hunting

• The Wyoming ranch historically has had mule deer, white-tailed deer, pronghorn, and elk all inhabit the property seasonally.
• The brushy draws and irrigated hay meadows provide excellent white-tailed deer habitat, with trophy class deer harvested annually.
• The upland bird habitat supports exceptional wild populations of pheasant, Hungarian partridge, sharp-tailed grouse, and occasionally turkey.

Fishing

• There is a small reservoir, capable of supporting a pond fishery, as well as access to excellent trout stream fishing on Piney Creek on the adjacent Wyoming State lands.

Ranch Operations

The present ranch operation includes livestock grazing and hay production. The current owners have implemented a conservative livestock grazing program of approximately 60 cow/calf pairs for seven months, and yearlong grazing for approximately 6-10 horses. Pastures are managed for light to moderate utilization to insure quality wildlife habitat and robust range health. The ranch produces up to approximately 300 tons of grass hay each year, mainly a mix of orchard grass, timothy, and brome which makes excellent horse and cattle feed. Hay production could be increased significantly with conversion back into alfalfa hay. Historically, small grain crops also were stored on the ranch, using three small on-site silos.

The current owners have upgraded and improved the pipeline irrigation system, with a new center pivot and a smaller side-roll system increasing irrigation efficiency and water conservation, which is much needed in Wyoming. The balance of irrigated ground can be watered via big-gun reel lines. Irrigation water is provided by gravity flow via the Prairie Dog Ditch, therefore there are no pumping costs associated with irrigation. Pressure and sediment reducers have been installed along the center pivot and side-roll delivery line as well. Much of the ranch interior and perimeter fence has been either replaced or upgraded, and is in very good working condition.

Water Rights

The Brewer Ranch includes excellent water rights, with Wyoming State adjudicated rights dating back to 1880, as well as additional Kearney Lake Reservoir storage rights.

Mineral Rights

Substantial mineral rights will convey with the sale of the ranch.