Estelline, TX 79233(Hall County)

The land is mostly flat, with some rolling sandhills and draws towards the river. The brush cover consists of tall mesquites and salt cedar. Native grasses are primarily love grass and river coastal, with other vegetation including sage, yucca, prickly pear and sumac. The soils are all fine sandy loam, class 5 & 7 soils. Most of the ranch has good turf and cover, with part of the east side being scaldy with river sand.

The county maintained road that you use to access the ranch dead ends at the the railroad track in front of the property and the ranchs entrance is the only one after you cross the railroad track, so the land is very private. The south and west borders are along the railroad; the north and east borders are the river. Tracts of land surrounding this ranch range in size from 100-1,300 acres.

While there are some cross fences in place, these are not used as some parts are in poor condition. For grazing, the ranch has been ran as one pasture in past years. The perimeter fence is in good condition, with around 1.5 miles being new. The former owner used the ranch to graze 30 cow-calf pairs. A current agricultural tax exemption is in place.

SURFACE WATER:

1. PONDS: The ranch has seven ponds scattered across it, two of which look to maybe have a spring feeding them with good water. The other five are small seep tanks, which will dry up without consistent rains. These ponds provide drinking water for wildlife and livestock.

2. RED RIVER: For almost two miles (10,043.89 ft, per the survey), the ranch follows the south bank of the meanders of the Prairie Dog Town Fork of the Red River. This river has a very wide sand bar and will run water after rains, but not year around. Several sloughs, both in the river and south of the vegetation line, create seasonal water pockets.

3. MOUNTAIN CREEK: In the far southeast corner, the live water Mountain Creek travels through the ranch for 0.5 miles before it empties into the river. Judging by the tracks through its muddy creek bed, this stream attracts a lot of wildlife.

4. ESTELLINE SALT SPRINGS: Probably the most notable water feature on the ranch, though, is the Estelline Salt Springs. This natural artesian brine spring was damed up by the U.S. Corps of Engineers in 1964 to control its salt water from entering the Red River. The dam created a 1.4 surface acre tank, which, in the 1960s, was utilized by the public as a swimming hole. The Corps has since constructed a security fence around it and, since the public has no access through the ranch to get to it, it is completely private now. The Corps maintains this site via a 22 acre easement surrounding the spring, with a 20 wide access road coming from the ranch gate through the south pasture. Other than coming in to check the dam once a month or so, the Corps doesnt do anything with this site. The ranch still owns the land and per the recorded easement document, the ranch owner gets to still use the land as they see fit. We keep a lock on their security fence gate for access when we want to go in. (For more interesting history of the Estelline Salt Springs, google this article: CRABS AND BARNACLES OF THE TEXAS PANHANDLE. You will read of a crab species that used to live at the springs, unique in that the only other place in the world these crabs have been found is on the Oregon Pacific coast.)

HUNTING:

This property has great hunting for both MULE DEER and WHITETAILS! The Prairie Dog Town Fork of the Red River is known for producing trophy bucks season after season. This ranch has not been hunted in years and has just recently had feeders put back up; the game cameras are showing good numbers of game so far, and good genetics too. (More pictures will be posted as received.)

In addition to deer, we have also seen Rio Grande turkey, wild pigs and quail on the ranch. The terrain and clumpy grass provide an ideal habitat for bobwhites. Migratory dove hunting should be good in the fall around the tanks, as there are lots of dove in the pasture year around.

IMPROVEMENTS:

A set of working pens is by the ranch entrance. Electricity and a Red River water line are in place here too, so it is ready to set up a deer camp. A couple of older barns on the land, but are falling down and of no use.

LIST PRICE:

$700/acre | $547,400 total

CONTACT:

For more information or to see this ranch in person, contact agent/owner Benjamin Belew at cell phone (940) 357-9940.