OWN ALL OF THE WILEY MOUNTAINS - FREE ROAMING ELK!!!!
LOCATON: This ranch is located southeast of Van Horn, Texas. It begins approximately 5 miles east of Van Horn and bordered by Interstate 10 for approximately 5 miles. On the ranch's north side, it is accessed by 4 entrances off the feeder road of Interstate 10 and there are several entrances on the west side via County Road 101.
ACREAGE: The ranch consists of 32,654.4 deeded acreage and 689.387 acres of quit claim deeded acreage. Additionally, there are 1,114.14 acres leased from Texas Pacific Land Trust. Another 8,099.89 acres can possibly be leased from the University of Texas. The UT lease property is all contiguous and is confined to the northeast corner of the ranch. The deeded acres are all contiguious with no interruption from the leased acreage.
WILDLIFE & RECREATION: Hunting is the primary recreation on this ranch. I...
WILDLIFE & RECREATION: Hunting is the primary recreation on this ranch. It is some of the best Mule Deer habitat that can be found in the Trans Pecos region of Texas, and the genetics of the deer herd is of excellent quality. In addition to the Mule Deer, there are Elk, Aoudad sheep, Prong Horn Antelope, Dove and Quail. There is a predator control program in place for the coyote and Mountain Lion. To greatly improve the Mule Deer herd, all Aoudad will be removed from the ranch within the next year so as not to compete with the Mule Deer for habitat and nutrition. In addition, we have a protein feeding program in place and a strict management program for the Mule Deer. No "trophy" class deer were harvested in 2004 or 2005 in an effort to improve the herd. A strict culling program is in place to improve the overall quality of the buck herd. The entire ranch is covered with excellent wildlife habitat, creating great hunting on all the ranch,not just a portion. Encompassed within the boundaries of the ranch is the Wylie which is distributed across the whole ranch, not being confined to only one part of the ranch. This ranch is big and it "hunts big", due to the mountains, draws and excellent Mule Deer habitat across the ranch from boundary to boundary.
TOPOGRAPHY: All but a small percentage of the deeded acreage consists of high rugged mountains, lower rolling mountains, big brushy draws with elevations from 4,000 feet to over 5,300 feet.
WATER: Water is abundant. There 9 water wells, 18 above ground water reservoirs, and 50 water troughs. Eight (8) of the water wells are on the deeded acreage and one is located on University of Texas property and is shared with the neighboring ranch. The water is distributed by approximately 58 miles of 1 1/2 inch schedule 40 pvc pipe and 1 1/2 inch poly pipe. The water is distributed across the entire ranch, providing excellent coverage for the wildlife and livestock. There are 8 dirt tanks that also provide water during times of rainfall to keep them full.
VEGETATION: The lower elevations of the ranch consist of grasslands with low brush. Draws and basins are grass with medium to high brush areas. Mountains contain vegetation typical of limestone terrain. Grasses include grama grasses, tabossa, curly mesquite, sacation, etc. The brush includes mesquite, fourwing saltbrush, catclaw, skunkbrush. The cacti consists of lechuguea, Spanish daggers, coctillo, prickly pear, yucca, etc.
GRAZING: Cattle were not grazed on the ranch for almost three years. The range was rested to enhance the wildlife forage and allow the grasses to seed. The ranch has received good rainfall for the past 2 1/2 years and is in great shape. This is an excellent yearling ranch and in good conditions the ranch can run 1,800 head during 7 months of dormant winter season. They can gain an average 200#. Calves weaned off of cows from southern adjoining ranches have averaged 600# to 700# for the past 11 years. The ranch could conservatively run 500 mother cows under present conditions.
IMPROVEMENTS: There is a lodge located about 1/2 mile from the headquarters. It is a large modular home which is permanently set with concrete porch on 3 sides. The building was reinsulated on the outside and framed over with nice metal siding and double windows installed. It has a metal roof covering the entire structure and extending over the front
and back creating covered concrete porches on three sides with a large covered carport on one end. The lodge was completely remodeled in 2004. The remodeling consists of painted sheetrock ceilings and walls throughout, tile flooring in the entire house with new carpeting in the bedrooms. It has 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, large utility room with washer, dryer, sink and lots of storage, large kitchen with dishwasher, stove, refrigerator, freezer and pantry. There is a dining room, living room, lounging area and breakfast bar. The lodge will sleep 8 people in beds and 4 more on hideaway couches. Native rock and split rail cedar fencing surrounds the lodge compound and there is a concrete area with a rock fire pit and barbeque area. Also located at the lodge is a regulation skeet range with a high and low house with remote control. The ranch has 4 very nice entrances on the north side that are of cinder block and stucco construction with metal gates. They have recently been painted and are very attractive. At the headquarters there is a foreman's house that was completely remodeled in 2004 in the same manner as the lodge. It is of the same type construction as the Lodge, has a covered porch and carport area. It has three bedrooms, two baths, kitchen, living area, and storage room. Also located at the headquarters is a work shop, horse barn with stalls, tack room and storage building. In addition, there is a set of receiving, shipping and working pens with a set of scales. These pens are of pipe, metal and welded galvanized wire construction, very well built and are in excellent condition. On the southwestern portion of the ranch, so called "The Sloan", is a permanently set mobile home, wiht concrete aprons and covered porches on two sides. There is a fenced yard and a portable storage building. This facility is in need of a small amount of maintenance and some updating. Also located at this area is a small set of working pens with a connecting barn and shop.
FENCING AND ROADS: The exterior fencing is in excellent condition except for one small portion on the southwest side of the ranch. The adjoining landowner will participate in the repair or building of a new fence in this area. The condition of the cross fencing ranges from excellent, good and in need of repair. There is an extensive road system covering the ranch which is in good condition.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION & COMMENTS: This is a proven big deer ranch. There was a deer management and feeding program in place from 1987 to 1997 while the ranch was owned by Bill Carter, owner of Carter's Country stores in Houston. From 1998 till 2003 the feeding program was done on a moderate basis and in the spring of 2004 an aggressive feeding program was reinstated across the entire ranch. Past deer census has shown deer population at times to be over 600 head. Although the numbers are not that high at at this time, with the water system and feeding program at full capacity across the ranch and the management program that is in place, the deer numbers will increase dramatically over the next couple of years.
ATTENTION: BROKER/OWNER
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