Six Shooter Ranch

At over 36,000 contiguous deeded acres, Six Shooter Ranch is a vast and beautiful intermountain hunting/recreation/wilderness property located just a short drive from the renowned charm and sophistication of Bend, Oregon.

Listed in cooperation with Jones Lang LaSalle Brokerage, Inc. & exclusively marketed by Mirr Ranch Group LLC.

Summary

Because of its sheer size, vast resources and diversity of terrain, Six Shooter Ranch, at over 36,000 deeded contiguous acres, is one of only a few properties in North America which is, by all accounts and in all earnestness, akin to a national park. The property consists, almost half and half, of two very distinct ecosystems. Terrain on the lower half of the ranch is characterized by gently rolling grassy meadows– some irrigated or sub-irrigated–interspersed with long, lush creek bottoms and draws. The draws and creeks are lined with cottonwoods, and the hills are intermittently covered with Gambel oak, live oak, mountain mahogany, western juniper, sage and chokecherry.

The upper country is characterized by huge swaths of timber (mostly Ponderosa, Douglas fir, aspens and some tamarack, or western larch), interspersed with lush green sub-irrigated meadows ranging in size from a half acre up through hundreds of acres. During late spring and early summer the lush meadows are rife with wildflowers and calving elk. The upper country is more dramatic than the lower half, but it is still relatively gentle terrain with a few dramatic rock cliffs and outcroppings.

There are over 60 springs, lakes and creeks on the property. There is water, literally, everywhere. An elk would never have to walk more than a few hundred yards to find water during any season.

Locale

The ranch is only 80 miles from the world-renowned charm and sophistication of Bend, Oregon. With a population of 75,000, Bend is a global destination for outdoor enthusiasts including hikers, fishermen, bikers, and skiers. Bend is situated along the beautiful Decshutes River at the base of the High Cascades and Mt. Bachelor, one of the top ski resorts in the nation. The Deschutes River is a world-renowned steelhead fishery, with some of the best stretches running right through the middle of town.

Downtown Bend and the adjacent Mill District are bustling with numerous trendy restaurants offering cool casual to elegant fine dining. Quaint streets are lined with sidewalk cafes, brewpubs (there are 14 breweries in Bend), wine bars and coffeehouses. There are over 10 art galleries and countless locally owned specialty shops and studios in Bend.

Bend also enjoys all the amenities of a typical larger town, including hospitals and a commercial airport with daily nonstop service to Portland, Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Salt Lake City and Denver.

Mitchell, Oregon is a quaint mountain town conveniently located less than 10 minutes from the ranch headquarters. Mitchell features a grocery/general store, three restaurants, an espresso stand, a gas station, and two motels.

Improvements

The property includes four homes and multiple outbuildings. All of the buildings have been meticulously maintained, are tight, and in clean, excellent working condition. The setting for the ranch headquarters is pastoral with many big, mature trees and beautiful landscaping.

Buildings at the headquarters include three homes: two 3 bedroom/two bath homes, and one 2 bedroom/1 bath home. The headquarters also includes a restored historic barn; a large, modern steel shop with two enclosed bays, concrete floors and heat, excellent working pens/corrals, and certified scales. All of the buildings at the headquarters are on the grid.

Miles away from headquarters, on the other side of the ranch, is a beautiful remote hunting cabin which can easily sleep up to 12. This cabin is solar-powered with a backup generator and propane appliances and water heater. There are two bedrooms, two baths, a huge loft/sleeping area, a large kitchen/eating area, and a fabulous great room with satellite TV and a wood stove. There is a large detached garage next to the hunting cabin, and a game shed.

There is an impressive system of super-high-quality gravel and two-track roads on the ranch. Virtually any place on the ranch is accessible via a 4-wheel drive automobile.

Location

Six Shooter Ranch is located in the Ochoco Mountains of central Oregon. The property lies directly north and east of Mitchell in Wheeler County.

Climate

Six Shooter Ranch, when compared with typical intermountain properties, enjoys an unusually mild and moderate four-season climate. Winter is rarely very cold, with daytime temperatures usually reaching into the low 40s to mid 50s. Higher elevations of the property are generally snow-covered from mid-December to March, while the lower parts of the ranch will be intermittently snow-covered and open as storms and warm-ups come and go. Summertime highs rarely exceed 85, while nighttime lows generally reach the 50s. Six Shooter Ranch enjoys over 300 days of sunshine and between 12 and 15 inches of precipitation each year.

Listed in cooperation with Jones Lang LaSalle Brokerage, Inc. & exclusively marketed by Mirr Ranch Group LLC.

Six Shooter Ranch provides endless outstanding recreation opportunities, from elk, deer, buffalo, bear, and bird hunting to fabulous lake and stream fishing for brook trout, rainbow trout, Donaldson Steelhead, smallmouth bass, and even sturgeon. The diversity of terrain and sweeping views create an ideal environment for horse and ATV enthusiasts as well.

Fishing

• There is a beautiful 8.6 acre stocked lake on the property. The lake is stocked with Donaldson Steelhead and smallmouth bass. Both species have thrived here. 2-3 pound smallmouth can be caught all day long. The Steelhead are now 6-7 years old, with many exceeding 10 pounds. This lake also has a few sturgeon and rainbow trout in it.
• There is also a smaller trout/bass pond on the property.
• Some of the bigger creeks hold brookies up to 14”.

Hunting

• Six Shooter is home to a year-round herd of thousands of elk. In an effort to improve the trophy quality of the bucks and bulls on the ranch, the current owner has allowed almost no hunting over the last 5 years on the property. Because the elk and deer never have to leave the property, Six Shooter affords the rare ability to truly “manage” elk and deer herds for trophy quality. Trophy management here is eminently achievable, and any western landowner understands that because of these animals’ summer/winter range, habitat and space requirements, this is indeed an unusual luxury. The results are evident. Bulls up to 380” have been seen on this property, and 300”+ bulls are very common.
• The ranch is located in the Fossil Unit. Huntin’ Fool owner Garth Carter refers to this unit as “the best sleeper unit in Oregon for big bulls.”
• September archery bull elk tags are available over-the-counter.
• There are two rifle seasons. One in late October, and one in early November. The ranch annually receives 8 fully transferable landowner bull elk rifle permits. The rifle season tags are available via limited draw, but both seasons have been “undersubscribed” in the past. Thus, the odds of drawing the tags have been 100%.
• The mule deer herd has made a tremendous comeback on this ranch. Last year a 180”+ buck was harvested, and the herd is generally very impressive in numbers and trophy quality. Driving around the property in the evenings, hundreds of deer can be seen—an experience wonderfully reminiscent of the good old days when mule deer herds were robust and healthy.
• The ranch is also inhabited by a feral herd of Bison, and these animals can be hunted and harvested without a license.

Listed in cooperation with Jones Lang LaSalle Brokerage, Inc. & exclusively marketed by Mirr Ranch Group LLC.

Ranch Operations

Current ownership/management highly esteems the virtues of prioritizing ranch management for the benefit of ideal wildlife conditions. As such, the ranch has been subject to only extremely limited cattle grazing over the last 5 years. In the past the property has accommodated up to 1000 cow/calf pairs year-round. There is an incredible abundance of high quality grass and water on this ranch. With over 60 developed springs, and many creeks, tanks, and ponds, no cow would ever walk more than 1/8 of a mile before finding water.

Water Rights

Under Oregon Law, all water is publicly owned. But the ranch is permitted via the Oregon Water Resources Department to 176.5 acres of irrigation water and over 330,000 gallons of storage. The domestic wells are all sound, high-production wells.

Mineral Rights

Virtually 100% of the mineral rights are owned by the seller, and these rights will be conveyed at sale.

Timber Rights

Virtually 100% of the timber rights are owned by the seller, and these rights will be conveyed at sale. Primary timber species are Ponderosa pine, Douglas fir, White fir, aspen, and tamarac (western larch). Approximately 40% of the ranch is covered in timber. There are millions of board feet of marketable timber, but there has been no recent cruise.

Conservation Value

Six Shooter Ranch, with its extraordinary wildlife, timber, and water resources would be an excellent candidate for a conservation easement.

Investment Value

Intermountain properties of this size and scope are simply not common. Those that do exist rarely grace the market. Because of the scarcity of this resource and the highly compelling price, the short and long-term investment value here is inherently high.

Listed in cooperation with Jones Lang LaSalle Brokerage, Inc. & exclusively marketed by Mirr Ranch Group LLC.