Private Listings
Welcome to the Diamond C West Pasture, an exceptional regenerative grass ranch nestled in the heart of Melstone, Montana. This remarkable property spans 7,961± acres, including 6,626± deeded acres and 1,335± State of MT leased acres that can easily accommodate 300± pair rotated in the three pastures or 500± yearlings through the summer.
There are over 750± acres of newly seeded grass mix, with an additional 1,500± acres that can be seeded. The ranch has numerous ponds throughout the property. It also has a well with several watering tanks. An added bonus is the abundance of mule deer, white-tailed deer, pheasant, and pronghorn, making for a hunter’s paradise.
It is ideally located minutes from the town of Melstone and about an hour’s drive from Billings, Montana, offering a perfect blend of secluded rural living and nearby city amenities. The ranch is renowned for its sustainable land management practices, abundant wildlife habitat, and potential for diverse recreational opportunities.
In addition to its ranching and hunting opportunities, the property serves as an excellent investment for those seeking a sustainable and regenerative agricultural operation. The careful management of the land encourages biodiversity and enhances soil health, contributing to long-term productivity. The Diamond C West Pasture combines potential ranch expansion with superb recreational opportunities, making it an ideal asset for any ranch owner.
Introduction
Discover the beauty and potential of the Diamond C West Pasture in Melstone, Montana. This regenerative grass ranch offers an extraordinary opportunity for you to expand your ranching operation with summer pasture, or to step into the role of a steward of the land, promoting wildlife habitat and conservation while enjoying an idyllic hunting property.
Land Features
The Diamond C West Pasture boasts nearly 7,961± total acres (6,626± deeded) of diverse terrain offering a variety of activities and opportunities for exploration. From rolling hills to ponds, this property is as striking as it is functional. The land offers rich native grasses perfect for rotational cattle grazing, as well as ample hunting grounds for various wildlife including hunting for mule-deer, white-tailed deer, pronghorn and upland game birds.
Ranching Opportunities
As a regenerative grass ranch, the Diamond C West Pasture presents unique opportunities to expand your current ranch operation with summer grazing. The property is ideal for rotational grazing, promoting healthy grass growth and improving soil health. With access to water sources throughout the property and well-maintained fencing, this pasture offers convenience and efficiency in managing your herd.
Hunting and Wildlife
The Diamond C West Pasture is a hunter’s paradise, with an abundance of wildlife and picturesque prairie settings. The property’s diverse ecosystems support a variety of game, making it an ideal location for hunting enthusiasts. In addition to mule deer and white-tailed deer, the area is home to elk, pronghorn, and a myriad of upland bird species, including pheasant and grouse. The natural ponds and water sources attract a variety of waterfowl, providing even more hunting opportunities. With its sweeping landscapes and rich biodiversity, the Diamond C West Pasture offers thrilling adventures and unforgettable experiences for every sportsman.
- Total Acreage: 7,961± acres (6,626± deeded acres, 1,335± State of MT leased acres)
- Regenerative Grass Ranch: Supports 300± cow-calf pairs or 500± yearlings
- Well-Watered: Featuring multiple ponds, a well, and several watering tanks
- Newly Seeded Grass: 750± acres with an additional 1,500± acres that can be seeded
- Wildlife Habitat: Trophy mule deer, white-tailed deer, pronghorn, and pheasant hunting opportunities
- Water and Mineral Rights: All water and mineral rights owned by seller will convey to buyer at closing
- Proximity: Minutes from Melstone, Montana, 44 miles from Roundup, Montana and 92 miles from Billings, Montana
The Diamond C West Pasture is currently in production as a summer pasture ranch for a cow-calf operation. Cows are turned out on the First Pasture after calving in March. Calves branded in May with the help of the local Amish community, then pairs moved to the Middle Pasture where bulls are turned out in June.
Weaning time at the Diamond C West Pasture is early November with cows then moved off to winter ground and calves remaining on the Middle Pasture until shipping in December. 2023 steer calves weighed 560 pounds and heifers were retained for replacements.
In addition, 185 yearling replacement heifers summered on the Phiny Pasture, turned out the middle of May – December.
The ranch is divided into four pastures:
- The First Pasture with 2 reservoir ponds and 1 water tank
- The Middle Pasture with 2 reservoir ponds and 2 water tanks
- The Phiny Pasture (far west pasture) with 3 reservoir ponds and 1 water tank
- The 320 Pasture with access to water and ponds
Water sources across the pastures are ample and well-maintained, ensuring the cattle are well-supported throughout the summer.
While the ranch hasn’t been used for stockers by current owners, it will run 500+ yearlings for the summer season.
The owners have actively managed the forage to optimize grazing. Recently, a new grazing mix suitable for the local area was seeded on 750± acres with an additional 1500+ acres ready to seed. Although it’s not seeded to hay barley, it would be ideal for such seeding, increasing production to include dry land hay.
The Diamond C West Pasture is a unique opportunity to run your own yearlings, stocker cattle, or to take cattle in by the month or on gain. With expansive and fertile grazing lands, cattle can be turned out in early spring and shipped off the grass October – December, enhancing both productivity and profitability of any operation.
This regenerative grass ranch is the perfect location to fulfill your lifelong dream of raising beef and selling direct to the consumer. A property that can be used to add value to cattle in a vertically integrated, locally sustainable supply chain of 100% Montana premium beef. Whether your goals are grass-finished, natural beef, or another niche market, this establishment offers the ideal setting to bring your vision to life.
Potential buyers can envision using this versatile property to expand their ranching operations, create a premier hunting retreat, or develop a unique recreational compound. The ranch’s regenerative practices ensure sustainable land use, making it an ideal investment for future generations.
water & mineral rights
All water and mineral rights owned by the seller will convey to the buyer at closing.
The Diamond C West Pasture Ranch is located just north of Melstone, Montana. Billings, with its international airport and extensive shopping and dining options, is only 92 miles away via U.S. Route 12. This route also connects Melstone to Missoula to the west and North Dakota and South Dakota to the east.
MELSTONE
Melstone is a charming rural community with deep roots in farming and ranching. Just minutes away from the Diamond C West Pasture, it offers a general store, restaurant, K-12 school, and various recreational activities along the Musselshell River, a great option for trout fishing west of town. As you go north towards Fort Peck, the Mussellshell River is home to walleye, bass, and other fish.
ROUND UP
Located 35.4 miles west of Melstone, Roundup, known as a cattle-wrangling town, provides a wealth of outdoor activities, including fishing, hunting, and scenic drives. Visit the Musselshell Valley Historical Museum, or stroll downtown to learn about the early days of “cowboying”. As the county seat, Roundup boasts a RiverWalk, several quaint cafes and an emerging art scene.
The surrounding area has an abundance of mule deer, white-tailed deer, and elk, it is a prime destination for hunters. An added feature of the town is its destination for motorcycles and sports cars that journey the scenic Forsyth Loop to Billings. Despite its western small-town charm, Roundup has a vibrant atmosphere, with local restaurants serving up hearty meals and live music events providing entertainment for residents and visitors alike.
BILLINGS
Billings, the largest city in Montana, is 92 miles from the Diamond C West Pasture ranch. With its bustling economy and vibrant cultural scene, Billings offers numerous amenities and services that add convenience for ranch owners and visitors. The city’s diverse attractions, including the Yellowstone Art Museum, Pictograph Cave State Park, and ZooMontana, provide ample opportunities for leisure and education. Billings also hosts a variety of annual events such as MontanaFair and the Magic City Blues Festival, ensuring there is always something interesting happening in town. The combination of urban amenities and proximity to rural Montana makes Billings a perfect gateway to the ranching lifestyle.
Whether you’re looking for bronco busting rodeo action or the relaxation of fishing or hunting, you’ll be in good company around Billings. The city has the largest population in the state with 110,000 people in the most recent census.
Billings provides the conveniences of a thriving city— everything from fine and local restaurants and shops to box stores and national retailers to car dealerships and heavy equipment dealers.
The city also offers quality healthcare with multiple hospitals, clinics and specialists. Billings International Airport allows for easy travel options with services offered by American, United, Delta, Alaska and Frontier among others.
The area is also a central point to the best Western attractions, events and activities. Simply put, a trip to the grocery store, grabbing lunch with a friend, or a night out for dinner, dancing or a movie is just a short drive to town.
- Rangeland Seeding: 750± acres newly seeded with potential for an additional 1,500± acres
- Pasture Rotation: Efficient pasture rotation practices in place
- Build Your Legacy: A blank slate to create your dream ranch or hunting lodge
Hunting
Situated in Hunting District 701, the ranch offers an abundance of hunting opportunities for mule deer, white-tailed deer, and pronghorn. Along with large game in the area, there are also a variety of species of birds including waterfowl, grouse, turkey, and pheasant. Just south of Melstone, the terrain becomes more hilly with meadows and pine trees that offer the perfect habitat for elk. With its numerous hunting opportunities this area offers a prime destination for hunters of all types.
MUSSELSHELL RIVER
The Musselshell River, flowing through Melstone, serves as a vital resource for both agriculture and recreation. The river is a popular fishing destination, with different species of trout and mountain whitefish. As you head east along the river, the warmer climate provides an ecosystem for an abundance of other species of fish including sauger, smallmouth bass, and walleye. With its vast array of species, it is ideal for anglers seeking variety and excitement.
Things to do in Musselshell County
Visitors from across the country and Montana flock to Musselshell County for a wide array of recreational activities. Imagine cruising the Billings to Roundup to Forsyth loop in a sports car or motorcycle, soaking in the scenic highway views. Whether you’re hunting for the chance to bag a record elk, white-tailed deer, or mule deer, or casting a line in the Musselshell River for a big catch like trout, catfish, or smallmouth bass, this place has it all.
But it’s not just about rugged pursuits; Musselshell County caters to families and friends as well. Road trips to local restaurants that serve up hearty meals and occasionally feature live music make for an enjoyable outing. The local lounges in Roundup offer live music on the weekends, providing a perfect end to an adventurous day. Comfortable lodging options ensure you and your family can get a good night’s rest. Plus, there are numerous spots perfect for family picnics, walks, and hikes, making it an ideal destination for everyone in your tribe.
- Join the fun during the annual 4th of July Roundup Independence Extravaganza (Live Music, Rodeo, Kids Carnival and more)
- Explore the Musselshell County Historical Museum
- Tour the County in a car or motorcycle on the popular highway loop (Billings – Roundup – Melstone – Forsyth – back to Billings)
- Visit the Roundup lounges with live country & rock music
- Fish on the county’s stretch of the Musselshell River for catfish and small-mouth bass
- Take walk on the Heritage Trail and River Walk in Roundup
- Hunt for elk, antelope, and deer, including private land opportunities and possible shoulder seasons
- Enjoy comfortable lodging in Roundup hotels, and resupply vacation items
- Photograph Central Montana, its industries and salt-of-the-earth residents
- Stop by Roundup and take a break on the way to the Bull, and Little Snowy Mountains
- Eat a country meal at one of the local restaurants
Are you ready to build your Montana legacy? Whether you’re seeking a regenerative grass ranch or a versatile recreational property, the Diamond C West Pasture offers endless possibilities.
Interested in seeing this extraordinary property for yourself? Contact us today to schedule a visit and explore the potential of the Diamond C West Pasture. Your Montana dream awaits!
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