Willow Creek Ranch

11,637 Deeded

Access to 1,255 acres of State

The Willow Creek Ranch borders approximately 1,255 acres of State land. While the ranch does not have those leases, it does provide access to additional acres to recreate on.

Improvements are essential to every operation. The improvements on the Willow Creek Ranch are set in a number of ideal locations throughout the ranch.

The main residence is located south of the Willow Creek Rd and is a 2,884 sq ft, 5 bed, 3 bath house. Built in 1999 and recently remodeled, this house sits along Big Willow Creek amongst the ranches headquarters. The facilities located at the headquarters include a 60×210 calving barn, 40×80 barn, 100 year old 54×80 red barn, 36×60 barn, 48×110 equipment shop/barn, 26×48 equipment shop, and a 64×80 equipment shed. A number of the barns and calving facilities have direct access to a handful of corrals, ideal for working cattle.

The second house is located along the Middle Willow Creek, and is a 1,512 sq ft 3 bed, 2 bath house, built in 2015.

The smallest of the four houses is an old remodeled school house, located near the intersection of Willow Creek Rd and East Highwood Rd.

The fourth house sits at one of the higher elevations on the ranch, along the East Highwood Rd. This 1,278 sq ft, 3 bed, 1 bath house was built in 1914, and has a direct view of the Highwood Mountains and the lower valley overlooking the ranch.

A separate set of working facilities are located directly off East Highwood Rd, and are used to gather and ship cattle. This set of improvements include a 34×34 barn, 34×38 barn, 34×54 barn, along with a set of working corrals.

Belt, MT has a dry and sunny climate with moderate temperatures throughout the year. Summers are usually warm with temperatures ranging from 40 to 80° F, while winters are cold and snowy, with average temperatures between 10 to 30° F. The area typically experiences winds from the southwest averaging 5-10 miles per hour. Overall, Belt, MT enjoys a pleasant climate ideal for outdoor activities and recreation.

The average amount of precipitation for the year in Belt is 19.6″. The month with the most precipitation on average is June with 3.1″. The month with the least precipitation on average is February with an average of 0.7″.

Over the last 25 years, the Willow Creek Ranch cow herd has been properly managed by Todd Prosser. Todd has established a reputation as managing one of the finest commercial angus cow herds in the state of Montana. Under his stewardship, Todd has established a strict culling program. The cows must calve unassisted, raise a big heathy calf and be bred at pregnancy check or they are culled and sent to market. Historically, the ranch holds a reputation for buying high quality, top performing bulls from some of Montana’s very best breeders. These breeders include Basin Angus Ranch, the Vermilion Ranch and through Treasure Test Station. Calves are weaned and shipped in mid to late October with the heifers and steers normally being delivered at 600 to 650 pounds!

With approximately 20 miles of creek frontage, the production on the Willow Creek Ranch is remarkable. Production numbers vary from 1,400 to 1,450 acres, depending on the year. While most of those productive acres are in dryland, the ranch does have approximately 115 acres under pivot and or wheel lines. The larger of the two pivots is a seven tower Valley pivot that is six years old, and in excellent condition. The smaller of the two pivots is a three tower Valley pivot. While this pivot is older, the current owners have continued to properly maintain the entire pivot, including all new wheels, end gun, drops, and sprinklers. A combination of both Roundup ready Alfalfa and Willow Creek Wheat have been planted throughout the property. This production consistently provides excellent Fall and early Spring grazing, while being able to take a number of cuttings off.

The recreational considerations are endless on the Willow Creek Ranch. Heavy populations of whitetail and mule deer can be seen throughout the ranch, while antelope roam the prairie flats and elk graze on both the upper country and along over 20 miles of productive creek bottoms. The creek bottoms along Big Willow Creek provide ample cover for huge populations of pheasants, sharptail grouse, Hungarian partridge, and mountain grouse.

Historically, it is not uncommon to to see 130-150 inch whitetail, 160-175 and better inch mule deer, and bulls ranging from 300 up to 370 inches and better. The bird populations allow for one to limit out on pheasants, and chase a limit of sharptail, Hungarian partridge or Mountain grouse throughout the hills, all in a days time!

$21,229 Annually

Water Rights

The Willow Creek Ranch holds extensive water rights dated back from 1896 to 1950.

Mineral Rights

All minerals currently owned by sellers will transfer at closing.

Owner operated and publicly offered for the first time since 1952, the Willow Creek Ranch provides everything one could ask for! Exceptional location, views, production, miles of creek frontage, large reservoirs, and an abundance of mule deer, whitetail deer, elk, antelope, Hungarian partridge, pheasants, sharptail grouse, and mountain grouse.