What to Expect from a Nebraska Ranch

Nebraska’s varied environments and wildlife make choice land for ranch properties. Forests of cedar and evergreen, wetlands and fens, salt flats and savannas, tall- and short-grass prairies—there is something for everyone here. If you are a hunter, you would be in trophy elk and waterfowl territory. If you are in the cattle or horse industry, there is land abound for just that purpose. And if you are just looking to get away, you would struggle to find a more beautiful and varied location in the United States. Nebraska ranch real estate can put you in the heart of it all!

Wildlife

Whitetail deer, bighorn sheep, pronghorns, and wild turkey are some of the many animals you’ll find roaming the Nebraskan pastures and forests. The state’s abundant resources and lush environment make for some very large elk, thus great trophy hunting, once you acquire the necessary licenses.

The bodies of water and wetlands of Nebraska are also filled with life. Pheasants, quail, ducks, and geese line the lakes and rivers, birds of all types and colors fill the sky, and fish are bountiful, including walleye, crappie, white bass, largemouth bass, and catfish.

Environment

Wide-open pastures, forested hillsides, and iconic rock outcroppings and faults make up Nebraska’s iconic landscape. The woods are filled with a variety of tree species such as cottonwood, bur oak, bitternut hickory, white elm, green ash, and walnut. The marshes and wetlands teem with lilies, willows, bur reeds, and switchgrass. And the famous prairies stretch out as far as the eye can see, often outlined by the shrubbery and brush that grow in the ravines and depressions around them.

You will never forget the first time you see a thicket of wild plum in full bloom, a blanket of ripe yucca plants in the dustier plains, or wild sage and vibrant flowers sprinkled throughout rocky narrow passes, rolling prairies, and forested ridges that the pioneers once roamed.

Recreation

Nebraskan ranch land will give you access to lands suitable for trophy hunting, cattle grazing, and horse rearing. As mentioned earlier, the large elk make for excellent hunting. But there is plenty of deer, wild turkey, waterfowl, and more to hunt as well. And if you are more of a fisherman, there’s no shortage of fish to catch!

For campers and sightseers who are more interested in taking in the scenery in peace and quiet, there are great nature conservancy lands around the state that are closed to motorized vehicles to allow for wonderful hiking, mountain biking, bird watching, backpacking, and sometimes camping. Horseback riding on the scenic trails has also become a popular pastime, along with water skiing and canoeing.

When winter comes, you won’t need to be shut indoors. The land will still be great for hunting, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, snowboarding, snow skiing, and so much more. And if you never want to be too far away from grocery stores, airports, medical facilities, and other activities like golfing, dining out, or visiting museums, you can always purchase land near major cities or smaller towns.

 

What Makes Utah Ranches Incredible?

Few ranch locations in the United States have landscapes as iconic and contrasting as Utah ranches. Lush forest-topped mountains, giant red-and-white-striped rock formations, arid and dusty deserts, and salt flats that extend far off into the horizon all make Utah an unforgettably scenic state. Every plot of land holds promise for farming, herding, mountain climbing, hunting, river boating, trail hiking, camping, and so much more. And with so many natural landmarks and national parks and forests to visit, you will always have something fun to do!

Game and More

Wherever your ideal ranch will be located, it will no doubt be brimming with the many species that make up Utah’s wildlife. Mule deer, elk, moose, bull, antelope, and bighorn sheep are some of the many animals that freely roam this state’s landscapes, and wild turkeys, waterfowl, and sandhill cranes can often be found lining the rivers. If your more of a bird watcher, you will be happy to learn that condors, eagles, and falcons can often be spotted in their nests or gliding through the sky.

The Utah rivers are also teeming with diverse species of fish, including cutthroat, brown, and golden trout, tiger muskie, kokanee salmon, walleye, bass, and yellow perch, all of which will make for incredible fishing.

Diverse Landscapes

Utah’s landscapes and vegetation are also incredibly diverse, ranging from the famous sandstone cliffs, dusty valleys, sagebrush steppes, and cottonwood-lined rivers to the green mountains, lush woodlands, and wildflower covered hills. Whether you like marshes or meadows, mountains or valleys, there is certainly something here that you will find beautiful!

Some properties even border or contain sites rich in history, like pre-historic ruins, the remains of pioneer structures, beautiful rock formation that have stood for ages, the Green River down which John Wesley Powell traveled during his historic 1869 expedition, ancient caves in which fossils and petroglyphs have been discovered, and countless other rarities you might struggle to find anywhere else.

No Shortage of Fun!

A plot of Utah ranch land will give you access to some of the best trophy elk and waterfowl hunting around, and the rivers and lakes make for great fishing and fly-fishing. But for those who would rather just take in the scenery, there are properties bordering famous national parks and forests that offer all manner of activities like hiking, mountain biking, bird watching, backpacking or taking a relaxing canoe ride through the state’s iconic landscape.

White-water rafting is a popular use of some of Utah’s rivers, and when winter comes, the land is great for skiing, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling. The salt flats, ravines, and white striped canyons make for incredible sightseeing as well, and the Utah night sky simply cannot be matched. Unobstructed by artificial light and pollution, the impossibly dark nights will reveal so many new stars that you will have trouble finding even the most identifiable constellations.

For those who never want to be too far away from city life, there are plenty of ranches near major tourist areas like Salt Lake City, and if you are of the small-town variety, there are plenty of calm and sparsely populated towns that will make you feel right at home.

What Makes Colorado Mountain Ranches So Special?

Colorado mountain ranches are simply unmatched in their rich history, stunning scenery, and diverse wildlife. Those who are looking for adventure will have no shortage of activities to sate their wild sides, such as mountain climbing, big game hunting, trail hiking, horseback riding, and snowmobiling. Those who are looking for relaxation will certainly find it while fishing in the crisp mountain streams, taking a walk through the wildflower meadows and red-gold forests, reading a book by a campfire, or falling asleep under the clear night sky. No matter who you are, you will fall in love with every acre of a Colorado mountain ranch.

Wildlife

The Coloradoan mountains and the environments around them are home to a bounty of wildlife that you will have to see to believe. This makes it a great spot for wildlife viewing or big game hunting. Deer, elk, bears, bulls, goats, pronghorns, beavers, coyotes—you name it! And keep an eye on the sky—you might just see a falcon, such as the Peregrine falcon, one of the fastest birds in the world, or some of the many species of pigeons, sparrows, eagles, doves, and owls native to the state.

The streams, ponds, lakes, and rivers are also brimming with trout, salmon, bass, panfish, and many other species. If you are considering a ranch for hunting, consider what type of wildlife will be available and what rules and licenses you will need to follow and attain.

Environment

Any plot of land on or around the Colorado mountains is sure to be vast and scenic. Expect to see meadows of vibrant wildflowers, forests of aspen, fir, juniper, and pine, snow-capped mountaintops, and sprawling valleys interrupted only by free-flowing streams and rivers.

In the spring and summer seasons, the forests are an emerald green. But once the fall comes around, the trees turn a fiery red and gold. No matter what your definition of beauty is, you can find it here. Every acre is a postcard-perfect getaway from the stress of modern urban life.

Recreation

There’s really no limit to all of the activities that a mountain ranch can offer. The right plot of land can be used for just about any outdoor hobby. You can test your mettle by rock climbing the many mountains and peaks sprinkled over Colorado’s topography, and then you can take a break with some fishing in a mountain stream. You can go white-water rafting in the undammed rapids, and then you can take a nice hike through dense forests or open valleys.

Hunters will be happy to find choice big game and diverse wildlife, and campers will find no shortage of scenery and suitable grounds for campsites. Some ranches are only a short drive from charming little towns and all of the amenities and services they have to offer. Theaters, grocery stores, medical services, airports, and other such comforts do not have to be far away! And the fun is not over when winter comes. Great winter activities like snowmobiling, skiing, snowboarding, ice fishing, hunting, and snowshoeing will keep you busy all season long!

What does a Kansas Ranch Have to Offer?

Kansas is a state of opportunity—and there are Kansas ranches for sale that match any interest. This diverse landscape can be used for livestock, farming, hunting, fishing, camping, or just settling down and relaxing. It has one of the highest populations of whitetails in the nation, and one of the most diverse collections of upland game birds in the world. For fishers, there is no shortage of lakes, rivers, and ponds to try your luck at catching some of the one hundred fish species that fill the Kansas waterways. And if you are really good, you might even qualify for the state’s Master Angler award!

Kansas Wildlife

The floodplains and wetlands of Kansas abound with waterfowl: for ducks, you can find mallards, wood ducks, canvasbacks, gadwall, and pintails. For geese, Canadian, white-fronted, and snow- and blue-light geese are often seen. Trophy big game such as antelope, deer, and elk roam the landscape, and small game such as pheasants, quail, doves, woodcocks, sandhill cranes, teal, and snipe can be found as well.

Kansas is also home to some of the best Turkey hunting in all of the United States—not only are wild turkey heavily populated but some of the most desired breeds for hunting, such as Merriam’s, can be found here in tall supply. You can also reel in largemouth, stripped, warmouth, and spotted bass, walleye, wiper, catfish, crappie, sunfish, and so much more.

From Prairies to Plains

Wide open prairies of cordgrass, buffalograss, prairie reeds, wheat, and other tall- and short-grasses give way to sand plains of sagebrush, bluestem, and sand reed adorning dunes and depressions. Forests of oak, hickory, elm, willow, and walnut cover green flatlands and hills colored red by shale and sandstone.

The many floodplains of Kansas, led by the state’s expansive network of rivers, produce wetlands and marshes that are teeming with life and lined with the many types of minerals washed downstream. Such plains are filled with tall grasses and cottonwood forests that thrive in the alluvial soils while oak and hickory trees grow along the bluffs.

Recreation

A ranch property in this lively state would be your key to some incredible world-class activities. Though Kansas is known for its beautiful trails that are perfect for horseback riding, its landscapes make for wonderful camping and hiking, as well.

We have already talked about some of the incredible big game, small game, and waterfowl hunting opportunities that the state can provide, but it is also great for hunting and trapping furbearers like beaver, muskrat, raccoons, opossum, skunks, and woodchucks. The fishing is great too—Kansas has a prestigious angler recognition program that looks for qualifying “Master Anglers” each year.

If your plot of land is close to a city or town, you can rest assured that you are never too far away from grocery stores, transportation, airports, or medical facilities. And there are plenty of great museums, historic sites, and monuments worth a visit when you need a break from relaxing in great Kansas outdoors!

What are the Perks of a Montana Ranch?

The plains, mountains, and forests are all present on Montana hunting ranches for sale. Whether you are interested in hunting, fishing, camping, farming, managing livestock, or just relaxing, the varied landscapes and breadth of wildlife species will have much to offer. No matter the season, the environment is also stunning, and there is always something exciting going on. The warmer seasons are great for kayaking, camping, and hiking, and the winter season brings with it a host of new activities like skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling, and ice fishing. There is simply nothing like a Montana retreat.

Diverse Wildlife

Montana is home to a pretty diverse batch of larger animals. To name just a few, you can find grizzly bears, pronghorn antelopes, swift foxes, mule deer, coyotes, bobcats, mountain goats, wolverines, and even Canadian lynxes. The smaller animals tend to inhabit the brush, forest, or prairie regions. You can often find multiple species of hare, porcupine, and squirrel, and also some long-tailed weasels, pygmy rabbits, and chipmunks.

There are plenty of birds too—some of the smaller species tend to make a home in the sagebrush like grouse, sandpipers, sparrows, shrike, thrashers, and meadowlarks. But you can also find larger birds like sandhill cranes, owls, falcons, hawks, and even bald eagles.

The state has a rich collection of fish in its rivers and lakes as well, including burbot, whitefish, rocky mountain sculpin, pearl dace, mountain sucker, stonechat, and trout—and in the warmer waters of the plain rivers, paddlefish, blue suckers, pallid sturgeons, and goldeyes can be found.

Environment

Montana’s iconic dusty plains are covered by needle-and-thread, bluestem, blue grama, and bluebunch wheatgrass, with an occasional burst of color from rabbitbrush, snowberries, dotted blazing stars, and prairie coneflower. Naturally, the plains are not a heavily wooded region, but ponderosa pine and green ash sprout up occasionally.

The scenery of the foggy mountain-forest region is especially breathtaking. Rolling hills are timbered by Douglas-fir, lodgepole pine, and aspen, and wildflowers abound beneath the canopy. The wood’s rose is a vibrant purple, the creeping-Oregon-grape a bright yellow, the thimbleberry a pure white. You simply cannot miss them—their fiery colors pierce through the green-brown woodland foliage even in the fog.

Recreation

A ranch property in Montana provides you with a seemingly endless number of activities. You can go boating in some of the most beautiful lakes in the nation, kayaking down broad rivers and between narrow canyons, or horseback riding and hiking across the dusty plains, lush woodland trails, and expansive foothills. There are shooting ranges that offer all manner of firearms to use for target practice and trap shooting, and there is even an active “geocaching” community for outdoorsman interested in this trending large-scale game of hide-and-seek.

For hunters, there is, of course, no shortage of big and small game. That includes bison, black bear, deer, furbearer, wild turkey, antelope, elk, and even mountain lion hunting, season permitting. There is also plenty of waterfowl and upland game birds available to hunt or trap. And the same goes for fishers—Montana rivers are filled with plenty of species to reel in—enough to satisfy even the most prolific fishers. This and so much more make a Montana ranch an incredible retreat!

 

3 Unique Things to Do Near Your Ranch Property in New Mexico

It isn’t hard to realize the endless perks of owning or visiting a ranch property in New Mexico. Whether your interests lay in conservation, farming, hiking, or real estate, you will be sure to find opportunities to utilize a Ranch property to the fullest. However, no matter what brings you to a ranch in New Mexico, it would be a shame to ignore the hotbed of nearby places to explore no matter where in New Mexico you are.

Off of the beaten getaway path of amusement parks and white sandy beaches, New Mexico boasts offbeat, exciting sites full of opportunities to learn, connect with local culture, and find a great photo opportunity.

Go Hot Air Ballooning

You’ve seen the beauty of New Mexico from land, but can you imagine how breathtaking it could be from a few thousand feet in the air? With a vast range of landscapes, from mountains to lakes, to farms, on and beyond the ranches of New Mexico, it is no secret why this is such a popular way to spend time in the state. If heights aren’t your thing, experiencing one of New Mexico’s many hot air balloon festivals could be just as amazing from the ground.

Discover Living History

While Native American culture in other regions of the United States is only evident in the names of towns, New Mexico boasts a much more tangible presence of a history that has been nearly erased elsewhere. You can experience the Native American culture that still thrives today by visiting one of the many existing tribes who welcome visitors to their pueblos.

There are also countless museums that display and preserve the art of Native Americans and dozens of yearly festivals where you can take part in celebrating song, dance, and food of Native Americans. As long as you are aware of proper etiquette at these festivals, you will have the unique experience of reconnecting with nature and even learning ways to tell time, not by a clock, but by nature and the order of sacred rituals. Leave your cell phone back at the ranch for these experiences, as photography is usually not allowed.

Visit a Ghost Town

With the rise of “dark tourism”, many haunted towns that are dusted with lore are becoming increasingly popular. New Mexico has literally hundreds of towns that were vibrant in the 1800’s but today, are abandoned and lifeless. With such a dense selection of ghost towns to visit, one will never be too far from any ranch in New Mexico. While not all of them have accounts of the supernatural, they are all creepy and fascinating at the very least. For those looking for more than the abandoned pueblo architecture of towns like Hagan and Cerillos, there’s always the haunted Dawson Cemetery in Cimarron or the Kimo Theater in Albuquerque.

It is no secret why ranch owners in New Mexico choose to preserve the authenticity of their own properties. Having a ranch property in New Mexico is having an opportunity to preserve the same timelessness of the other attractions that the state has to offer. The opportunity to prosper in a place where nature and history are still revered is one of the many unique opportunities that ranching in New Mexico offers.