Smith Island Ranch

A dry bluff runs the west boundary of the ranch and offers many spectacular home-sites with views to take your breath away, including a historical buffalo jump used by Native Americans who inhabited this area long ago. A large pond, over 25± acres, sits in the center of the ranch and is loaded with large Rainbow and Brown Trout. Many other sloughs and springs adorn the property as well as large strands of mature Cottonwoods and thick Willows. The habitat for wildlife is incredible and the water resources are endless.

Location/Access:

The Smith Island Ranch is located directly outside of Dillon, MT. Reeder Street leaves Dillon from the southwest end of town. Continue out of town for a couple miles across the Beaverhead River and make a left on Wheat Lane. Dillon airport has a runway 6,500± feet long and can handle just about any private aircraft out there. This ranch’s proximity to town is just another intangible that makes this property as unique as it gets. Dillon is a community of approximately 5,000 people and offers all services. Dillon has a “Class A” High School with 400± students and a small University with 1,200± students. There is an enormous ranching and mining history in Beaverhead County as well as a plethora of recreational opportunities.

Acreage:

The property consists of 1,400± deeded acres divided into irrigated hay ground, riparian areas, and native range ground. Much of the river frontage is lined with heavy willows and brush providing cover for cattle and abundant populations of wildlife.

Improvements:

The improvements on the Smith Island Ranch include numerous outbuildings, a barn, a couple of ranch houses, and cattle handling facilities. Three bridges cross the Beaverhead River for access to all areas of the ranch. Stock wells have been drilled on the native pasture and are required by the government to be kept in good working order. The large pond and many springs and sloughs have been improved over the course of many years.

Recreation:

To say the fishing on the Smith Island Ranch is good, is a major understatement. This section of the Beaverhead River holds 2,400± fish per mile. Of the fish per mile, 1,100± are trout. Average length of fish in this section is 15± inches. There are 400± fish per mile equaling 20± inches or better. To compliment this excellent stretch of river is a large pond filled with large trout, many measuring over 20 inches. The water potential to expand and improve the fishery is second to none.

The most sought after big game animal in North America is the Whitetail Deer. The Smith Island Ranch holds a high population of Whitetails and some outstanding genetics. Last year a buck scoring in the neighborhood of 160 inches was taken on the ranch. Waterfowl hunting is incredible and stays that way for the majority of the year with all the open sloughs and springs. The all the intangibles for an excellent upland bird property are there, just stocking some birds is all it would take.

Agent's Comments:

"This is one of the most trophy real estate pieces We’ve ever listed. The recreational opportunities combined with the location make this an incredible property."