MONTANA LAND
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ABOUT MONTANA
Montana may be the fourth largest state in the US, but in much of the state, you're more likely to run into a moose or a grizzly bear than a native Montanan. With less than six people per square mile, there's plenty of room to commune with nature in this sportsman's paradise. Despite its frontier reputation, or perhaps because of it, the land nicknamed "the last best place" has been discovered by those looking to grab a piece of the great wide open. General Custer battled the Plains Indians for it in 1876 at the Battle of Little Bighorn and lost more than just his flamboyant mustache. No state has seen the sort of feeding frenzy that Big Sky Country has endured over the last two decades. From the East Coast and the West, from Texas and overseas, out-of-state buyers have flocked to Montana. Many of those arriving from Wall Street, Silicon Valley, and Hollywood touch down in private jets. These newcomers have not only made Montana the place to buy, they have also pushed up real estate prices to record-setting levels. Some of the highest priced rural land in America right now is for sale along the shores of Flathead Lake just south of Glacier National Park and at the Yellowstone Club, home to the world's only private ski and golf community.
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Regional Breakdown. As big as it is – Montana ranks as the fourth largest in the Union – the state can be broken down into two main regions: the Rocky Mountains in the west and the Great Plains in the east.
For decades the big action has taken place in the Rocky Mountains, the northernmost extension in the United States of this immense chain. More than 50 mountain ranges can be found in the western third of the state, including the Absaroka, the Beartooth, the Bridger, and the Tobacco Root. Tens of millions of acres of this pristine high country is preserved as national forest. From these federal lands spring the rivers and the streams that water the state's highest priced ranches, its trophy hunting lands, and of course superb blue ribbon fly-fishing. This region has long been a seller's market. Many longtime locals have unrealistic pricing expectations, and why not? Sooner or later someone pays their price.
Investment Opportunity. The Great Plains occupies the other two-thirds of the state. Winter wheat, spring wheat, durum wheat – there's a reason they call this place the Wheat Belt. Rolling prairies extend east toward the Dakotas and eventually give way to scenic badlands. Under priced and sparsely populated, this region is now attracting value-oriented investors who are drawn to a wide variety of outdoor activities.
Landowner Issues. Less than a million people live in Montana, which is why most brokers warn newcomers to tread lightly. Respecting local norms can be a delicate balance, particularly when it comes to traditional land uses on your property. Snap decisions about allowing hunters, running cattle, or controlled burns can have long-term consequences.
Major Private Landowners. According to the Land Report 100, America's largest landowner, Ted Turner, has accumulated a collection of ranches in Montana, including the 114,000-acre Flying D, the 22,000-acre Bar None, the 12,000-acre Snowcrest Ranch, and the 5,000-acre Red Rock River Ranch. Thomas Lane bought his first half-section (320 acres) in 1954. Today he and his family run seven livestock operations on 140,000 acres. Former Oracle exec Tom Seibel ships about 1.5 million pounds of beef off his two immense ranches. The heirs of Kelly-Moore Paint Co. founder Bill Moore own the Broken O, a 135,000-acre ranch with 105,000 deeded.
Public Lands. National forests are the state's mother lode and include the Beaverhead-Deerlodge at 3.3 million acres, the Flathead at 2.3 million acres, the Gallatin at 1.8 million acres, and the Bitterroot at 1.6 million acres, among others. Montana also offers some of the most awe-inspiring national and state parks, including Glacier National Park, the Little Bighorn Battlefield, and the northern portion of the country's first national park, Yellowstone. The state also boasts an impressive collection of 50 state parks (http://fwp.mt.gov/parks/default.html).
Best Hunting. The Big Sky State has a well-deserved reputation for having some of the best big game hunting in all of North America. A wide variety of habitats support the state's varied big game herds, from low elevation riparian and agricultural areas that harbor white-tailed deer to wilderness areas high above timberline where bighorn sheep and mountain goats dwell. The elk population is at historic highs and is continuing to expand in non-traditional regions primarily because of expanding forest, grassland, and agricultural habitats. Antelope and mule deer are readily found in sagebrush flats in the center and east portion of the state. Montana also offers special draw permit hunts for moose, goat, bighorn sheep, and mountain lion as well as Gardiner late season elk permits. Some of the many prime hunting areas include the Gallatin National Forest, the Bob Marshall Wilderness, and the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness. See all Montana Hunting properties..
Best Fishing. Fly-fishing for wild trout in one of Montana's blue ribbon waterways is the dream of many an angler. The state's best known waterways – the Gallatin, the Yellowstone, Big Hole, the Madison, and Big Horn – are in a league of their own. Many save up to enjoy world-class fly-fishing at nationally known lodges. Many more buy property in Montana and fish whenever they want. Unique among western trout waters, Montana manages most of its rivers for wild trout; hatchery raised fish are not introduced into these rivers. Instead protection of habitat along with catch-and-release restrictions are used to enhance fishing. The result is that an angler who seeks to fly-fish for wild trout cannot choose a better place than Montana. Most of these legendary rivers offer great angling for cutthroat trout, rainbow trout, grayling, large whitefish, and brown trout, while warm water areas can give up large walleye, catfish, and sturgeon. See all Montana Fishing properties.
Crops and Farming. The Treasure State's more than 28,000 farms and ranches occupy over 60 million acres of Big Sky Country. This works out to average size of more than 2,000 acres per operation. Wheat, hay, and barley are the state's principal crops. More than 2 million cattle feed on the state's pastureland. Other livestock include sheep, hogs and pigs, and dairy cows. See all Montana Farms and Ranches.
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