Private Listings
SCHWENKE RANCH
ZORTMAN, MT
60,069± ACRES
$6,750,000
The Schwenke Ranch is situated right in the heart of cowboy country—full of big pastures, extensive wildlife, and great grass. The Missouri River Breaks offer captivating landscapes steeped in history while the functional and detailed ranch operations have proven to be successful over the years.Bill Boyce
Schwenke Ranch
ABOUT SCHWENKE RANCH
Schwenke Ranch is a classic Montana grass ranch in the heart of some of the most remote and unspoiled areas of the Rocky Mountain West. This is where the Little Rocky Mountains meet the Missouri Breaks and fall down to the wide and meandering Missouri River. This place is still wild, with impressive populations of Rocky Mountain elk, mule deer, and numerous other species of big game, predators, and upland birds. This ranch will connect you with the unspoiled scenery and wide open vistas that signify the West.
60,069± total acres
- 2,597± deeded acres
- 55,872± Bureau of Land Management (BLM) leased acres
- 1,280± State of MT leased acres
Deeded acreage breakdown:
- 58± flood irrigated acres
- 1,200± acres of improved grass
- 1,339± acres of native grazing
HIGHLIGHTS
- Situated in strong grass-producing country with an impressive carrying capacity of 562± cows or 1,280± yearlings
- An additional 100 AUM private lease is also available post closing
- Complete with a full set of outbuildings including a 2,200± sq ft main home, two pole barns, a new calving shed, outdoor roping arena, and impressive pipe corrals
- Trophy quality elk and mule deer opportunities
- Highly dependable water sources even through dry years with multiple reservoirs plus 18 stock tanks supplied by a developed spring
- 134 corporate shares of the Square Butte Grazing Association will transfer to the buyer at closing that grant the user 6 AUMs per share, equalling 804 AUMs
LOCATION & ACCESS
Central Montana in many ways is a throwback to the Wild West with its vast landscapes and endless history.
The Schwenke Ranch is located in the notorious Missouri River Breaks, just 18 miles southwest of the town of Zortman, with convenient access to a grocery store, local bar and restaurant, gas station, and a post office.
Easily accessible off of Highway 191, the Schwenke Ranch headquarters sit less than 2 miles off of Highway 66 which is a paved road.
THE BREAKS
“The Breaks”, as it’s referred to by locals, is steeped in history. Traversed by Lewis and Clark in the early 1800s as they explored the Missouri River, the area eventually became an important inland port for trading during the Western expansion. One of the most infamous residents was Wild Bunch member Kid Curry, an outlaw and bank robber who was known to use this area as his hideout.
Scenic and wild, The Breaks was designated as a national monument in 2001, along 149 miles of the Upper Missouri River. The Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument includes over 375,000 acres of geologic formations, wildlife areas, wilderness areas and points of historic significance. Ripe with wildlife including elk, mule deer and a thriving bighorn sheep population, the area is popular with hunters and wildlife enthusiasts alike. Nearby Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge is famous for its elk harvest and for its namesake – painter and cowboy Charles M. Russell.
ZORTMAN
AIRPORTS
IMPROVEMENTS
- 2,200± sq ft main home with 3 bed 1.5 bath built in 1971 complete with a basement and attached garage
- 40 ft x 60 ft shop built in 1989
- 50 ft x 70 ft barn built in 1979
- A new 50 ft x 20 ft calving shed finished in 2018
- An outdoor team roping arena that is 150 ft x 300 ft
GENERAL OPERATIONS
The ranch has been in the Schwenke family since the 1970s, and the property has been meticulously maintained with the utmost spirit of land stewardship in mind. Currently, the ranch is run as a cow/calf operation which can support 562 pairs. Calving season in spring during April is typically an easy season due to the mild winters that Central Montana is known for. Summer season is busy with branding calves and rotating cattle to their appropriate summer pastures throughout the 62,000± acres. There are 18 stock tanks that are fed by a live spring that acts as a major water line plus there are 23 reservoirs throughout the property. These two factors combined make sure that all livestock are watered even in the driest of years. Fencelines throughout the property have been well kept and are in good condition plus the uniqueness of the landscape also provides natural boundary lines with the deep valleys and impressive ridge lines.
Easily accessed from Power Plant Ferry Road, which is a maintained county gravel road and just 2 miles from Highway 66, the ranch headquarters is home to the majority of improvements. There you will find the 2,200± sq ft main home which contains 3 bedrooms, 1.5 bathrooms with an attached 2 car garage which is ideal for vehicle and general storage. Situated just behind the home is a deep reservoir filled by Cyprian Creek which a new owner could stock as a private fishing area. Also found at the ranch headquarters are two pole barns that are 50 ft x 70 ft and 40 ft x 60 ft that are used for equipment storage and a mechanic shop. The 50 ft x 20 ft newly built calving barn is also situated at the headquarters just by the house, which makes calving simple and easy due to the easy access and reliability of the structure. For the cattle working corrals, a continuous pipe fence makes working cattle simple. To complete the improvements is a 150 ft x 300 ft outdoor arena which has been a great source of recreation in the summer months.
