Property Description

Old Hwy Ranch is a 760± acre ranch located in a premium Utah hunt area with trophy caliber Mule Deer and Elk that utilize the property’s water, feed, and bedding cover.  Mule Deer, Elk (spike bull and cow), Mountain Lion, and Turkey tags are all fairly easy to acquire.  The rolling landscapes with grassy meadows, seasonal creeks, and draws filled with vegetation provide a beautiful foreground to contrast against the prominent mountain ranges that rise up in several directions.  The relatively mild terrain and grass filled meadows allow cattle to graze efficiently on the property, which currently provides a source of income.  There is a water well located on the South end of the property, which is also where year-round access to the property is entered from.  The nearby town of Monticello, Utah offers all the small-town amenities as well as a municipal airport.  The surrounding area displays its roots as a historic mining town, in addition to its present day farming communities.

PROPERTY ATTRIBUTES

• 760± Deeded acres
• Hunting for Elk and Mule Deer
• Area known for trophy caliber Mule Deer and Elk (bull tags are highly sought after)
• Qualifies for Mule Deer Landowner tags
• OTC Elk (spike bull and cow) tags
• Water, feed and bedding cover for Big Game
• Cattle grazing as an income source
• Water well on the property
• Year-round access

RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

HUNTING     

• Game Management Area: Unit 14A (San Juan, Abajo Mtns)
• Elk, Mule Deer, Turkey, Black Bear, Mountain Lion, Bobcat, Coyote, and other small game and birds

  • MULE DEER:  The ranch has resident and migratory Mule Deer, and the area is known for high quality hunting.  Mule Deer tags are available through the Landowner Draw or the Utah Division of Wildlife’s draw system. The water, feed, and vegetation cover provide excellent Mule Deer habitat. General Mule Deer tags are reasonably easy to draw. 

    • Season Dates:
    • Archery: Aug. 17 – Sept. 13
    • Muzzleloader: Sept. 25–Oct. 3
    • Any legal weapon (rifle): Oct. 9–13 or Oct. 19–27

• • ELK: Quality herds of Elk migrate on and off the property and throughout the area. OTC Elk tags are available for the millions of BLM acres South of the property (on the South side of Hwy #491 and East of Hwy #191).  Spike Bull and Cow Elk can be hunted on the property every year. The ranch is in a premium Limited-Entry Bull Elk Unit and those tags are more challenging to draw (*contact agent for more detailed information).

    • Season Dates:
    • Archery any bull Elk: Aug. 17–Sept. 18
    • Archery spike Elk: Aug. 17–Sept. 6
    • Any legal weapon (rifle) any bull Elk: Oct. 5–11
    • Any legal weapon (rifle) any bull Elk Oct. 12–18
    • Any legal weapon (rifle) spike bull Elk: Oct. 5–17
    • Muzzleloader Elk: Oct. 30–Nov. 7
    • Youth Elk permit (draw-only youth any bull/hunter’s choice Elk):  Sept. 14–22

  • BEAR: The San Juan Unit is one of three restricted pursuit units for Black Bear, and produces some big Bears. Nonresidents had a 33% chance to draw a pursuit Bear tag.  Non-residents had a roughly 10% chance to draw an any legal weapon Bear tag.  Applications are due early February each year. 

    • Bear Pursuit Season Dates (Restricted Unit):
    • Spring: March 30-May 27
    • Summer: July 6-17
    • Late Summer: July 20-31

  • MOUNTAIN LION: Mountain Lion season is open year-round with a hunting or combination license.  A guidebook is to be reviewed by all hunters in pursuit & handling of Mountain Lion.
  • TURKEY:  Turkey tags for the spring hunts are available through the draw and also OTC depending on the season.

    • Draw tags: April 13-25
    • Youth: 26-28
    • General (OTC tags): April 29- May 31

FISHING

The local mountain lakes and area reservoirs have trout & bass for fishing enthusiasts. Loyd’s Lake, Monticello Lake, Recapture Reservoir, and Blanding City Number Three Reservoir are nearby.

AREA RECREATION

• Bears Ears National Monument, Newspaper Rock Recreation Site, The Hideout Golf Club, Church Rock, The Frontier Museum, and Canyon Country Discovery Center are just a few main attractions in the area
• Utah’s Canyonlands National Park (Moab) is North of Monticello, and visitors can visit many sites and arches along the way 
• The Four Corners National Monument, where Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona meet, is to the South of Monticello            
• Multiple ski resorts are located across the border in Colorado
• Dry farming, both Organic and Non-organic, is handled by long-time area farmers and their families

LAND 

• A good mix of Pine trees is plentiful throughout the property, providing shade, seclusion, and safety for the resident and migrating wildlife. Long grassy meadows provide feed for the cattle and wildlife. 
• The surrounding mountain views from the property are incredible as the mountains rise from the relatively flat landscape.  The Abajo Mountains are the closest, and the La Sal Mountains are located to the North, and Colorado's multiple mountain ranges are located to the East.  
• Elevation of 6,800+/- feet

ACCESS

• N Old Hwy Rd. is the county road providing year-round access to the South end of the property. Three barbed wire gates give access to the property's dirt roads that meander throughout and along ranch fence lines.

WATER

• A water right is utilized for the water well and will be transferred with the property purchase (All property-associated, owner-owned water rights will be transferred with the property purchase)
• Seasonal ponds are scattered throughout the property

BOUNDARY

• The property is surrounded by private land
• The adjacent property is available for purchase through St. James Sporting Properties (see Blue Abajo Ranch // 1,680± acres) 
• Millions of acres of public land nearby (open for hunting and fishing)

INCOME

• Cattle grazing is currently being leased on the property, and a new owner will negotiate their own lease if interested.
• No mineral rights will transfer with the purchase.

CONSERVATION EASEMENT

•  No conservation easements are currently associated with the ranch.

IMPROVEMENTS

• The water well is located on the South end of the property.
• Stock Water-Beneficial use amount:100 ELUs (Equivalent Livestock Units)
• Fenced and cross-fenced (barbed wire)
• Dirt roads meander throughout the property
• The old homestead on the property is weathered, worn, and a remnant of time gone by.  (A new structure would be built under the guidelines of San Juan County, Utah’s Building Department.  (https://sanjuancounty.org/)

LOCATION

• Monticello, Utah (11 miles): County seat of San Juan County in the Southeastern corner of Utah. Monticello has all the primary needs of a smaller community: Grocery Store, Auto Parts Store, Restaurants, Local Hospital, Museums, RV Parks, Hotels and Motels.  Grist Mill Inn is one of several quaint and unique B&Bs in which you can enjoy your stay. Monticello was settled in 1887 by pioneers and is named in honor of Thomas Jefferson’s estate.  Mining was prominent in the early years, with uranium and vanadium being the primary materials sought.
• Moab, Utah (45 miles): Bigger city feel with a regional airport, and many amenities for travelers and recreation enthusiasts. The area is home to Canyonlands National Park and hosts many outdoor events throughout the spring, summer, and fall.
• Cortez, CO (45 miles): Regional airport; and is the most populous municipality of Montezuma County, Co.
• Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) (300 miles)