SOLD: Clear Springs Ranch | Fay Ranches

CL E A R S PR I NGS R ANC H Whitehall, Montana $3,039,570 | 303± Acres

Clear Springs Ranch | Whitehall, Montana

INTRODUCTION Clear Springs Ranch boasts 303± deeded acres with 1.1± miles of springs about five minutes south of Whitehall, Montana. Outstanding views of the Tobacco Root and Highland Mountains surround the property. The prolific wildlife habitat on the ranch attracts a substantial population of white-tailed deer, turkey, pheasant, and waterfowl, making it a recreational dream for the enthused angler and hunter. This property is at the center of trout fishing in Montana and the United States, with tremendous angling for trophy trout in multiple nearby rivers. The Jefferson River, just down the road from Clear Springs Ranch, is one of the many world-famous trout streams in Southwest Montana and is formed by the confluence of the Ruby, Beaverhead, and Big Hole Rivers just north of Twin Bridges. The Jefferson meets the Madison and Gallatin Rivers downstream near Three Forks, where it becomes the mighty Missouri River. Clear Springs Ranch holds tremendous potential for a spring creek enhancement project should the next owner choose; the ranch is a relatively blank canvas with unlimited potential for recreational development.

www.fayranches.com | (800) 238.8616 | info@fayranches.com

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Clear Springs Ranch | Whitehall, Montana

www.fayranches.com | (800) 238.8616 | info@fayranches.com

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QUICK FACTS • • • • • • • • • •

303± deeded acres in 51 parcels 1.1± miles of springs traversing the ranch Warm water slough Excellent candidate for a spring creek enhancement project White-tailed deer, waterfowl, and pheasant hunting on the property Unimproved, offering the next owner the opportunity to build their dream home Minutes from the Jefferson River 5± minutes south of Whitehall, MT 25± minutes north of Twin Bridges, MT Less than an hour to Bozeman-Yellowstone International Airport

ACREAGE Clear Springs Ranch consists of 303± river bottom acres at about 4,360’ elevation with 1.1± miles of springs flowing through. The open, sub-irrigated grassy meadows have historically been lightly grazed for forage control. There are no improvements, making this property a blank slate for the next owner.

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Clear Springs Ranch | Whitehall, Montana

LOCATION Whitehall, Montana, (population 1,180±) just a few minutes north of the property, sits in the heart of the Deerlodge National Forest. Nearby recreation includes hiking, backpacking, hunting, biking, boating, and swimming. There are numerous snowmobile trails for winter riding and summer trail rides. Fish the Jefferson or Boulder River, or take an underground tour at Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park.

Amenities include a post office, hardware store, gas station, drugstore, and other shops and restaurants.

Located in southwest Montana and surrounded by the country’s most productive and famous trout fisheries, Clear Springs Ranch is just 25± minutes north of the renowned fly fishing town of Twin Bridges, Montana (population 432±). The Ruby, Beaverhead, and Big Hole Rivers confluence in “Twin” to form the Jefferson River. Its history dates to 1805 when Lewis and Clark’s main expedition camped on the Beaverhead River. The town is home to the world-famous R.L. Winston Rod Company.

About 50 minutes south, the classic western town of Dillon, Montana (population 4,403±) is home to Western Montana College. There are several museums in Dillon devoted to preserving local history.

Bannack State Park is just southwest of town and is a registered historic landmark and the site of Montana’s first major gold discovery in 1862.

GETTING THERE Bert Mooney Airport in Butte, Montana, is about a half hour from the property and is serviced by Delta.

Bozeman-Yellowstone International Airport is less than an hour from the property and is serviced

by Delta, JetBlue, Suncountry, Southwest, United, American Airlines, Alaska, and Allegiant Air. For private air travel, Ruby Valley Field Airport is just outside Twin Bridges and about 30 minutes south of the ranch. This airport has a paved runway length of 6,000 feet. www.fayranches.com | (800) 238.8616 | info@fayranches.com

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RECREATION F ly F ishing The Jefferson River is just down the road from the property. In the town of Twin Bridges, the Jefferson River is formed by the confluence of the Ruby, Beaverhead, and Big Hole Rivers, all world-famous trout fisheries. The Jefferson River has rainbow and brown trout with average fish sizes between 12-16 inches, with many fish over 20”. The Jefferson is one of the most beautiful rivers to float with one of the healthiest and most expansive riparian areas of any river in Montana, which is why the wildlife is so prolific. The river is bordered throughout its length by large cattle ranches and very little development, so you can float for long stretches without seeing a house.

About 30 minutes from Clear Springs Ranch, the Ruby River is a prolific fishery from its’ headwaters to its confluence with the Beaverhead upstream of Twin Bridges. The stretch below the Ruby Reservoir is where you’ll find the biggest fish. This river twists and turns through the valley, creating a paradise of riffles, runs, pools, and undercut banks. The substrate of the river is small cobble, making for a “wader friendly” environment. At its average flow, the Ruby can be easily crossed at the head and tail of most pools. Additionally, the Ruby River is small enough that it is rarely floated, making it one of the few fisheries in Montana where you can fish for hours and never see another person.

A little less than a half hour from the property, the Beaverhead River is one of Montana’s premier Blue Ribbon trout streams, with many different fish species. The Beaverhead has one of the largest average fish sizes of any river in Montana.

About an hour from the property, the Big Hole River is described by the Montana Angling Guide as having “optimum water variety, challenge, plenty of nice fish and the insect life to support it.” This classic riffle, run, pool water is wonderful to float in June during high water when the famous salmon fly hatch occurs. The adult salmon fly is two to three inches long and can drive the largest trout in the river to feed. The river is easily waded during the lower water months when caddis, tricos, hoppers, and a variety of other mayflies dominate. Streamer fishing is particularly enjoyable in the weeks leading up to the salmon fly hatch and again in the fall. There are very large fish in the lower section of the river, where it is possible to land browns up to 26 inches long.

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Clear Springs Ranch | Whitehall, Montana

Angler; not taken on property

H unting

and

White-tailed deer; not taken on property

O ther R ecreation

Clear Springs Ranch is home to excellent pheasant hunting and white-tailed deer hunting in the lush and healthy riparian area. The Jefferson Valley is known for producing trophy white-tailed deer, with some scoring over 170 inches. There is good cover on the ranch providing excellent security and plenty of available forage for white-tailed deer and birds.

In recent years, Merriam turkeys have populated the valley and inhabit the property. There is a substantial moose population in the area; however, a moose tag can take years to draw. Waterfowl hunting can be excellent on the ranch. The ducks consist primarily of puddle ducks such as mallard and widgeon, as well as blue, green, and cinnamon teal.

Nearby, seemingly endless acres of National Forest land yield outstanding big game hunting for deer, elk, antelope, and moose. Both Beaverhead and Madison counties are large and sparsely populated. The hunting in this area is world-renowned for both numbers and trophy quality of big game animals.

Living in the Jefferson River Valley offers some of the best outdoor recreation opportunities in Southwest Montana. The vast mountain ranges, beautiful meadows and streams, and lush valleys offer a multitude of recreational pursuits, including horseback riding, hiking, backpacking, bird watching, mountain biking, cross country skiing, snowmobiling, and just relaxing and enjoying the scenery. www.fayranches.com | (800) 238.8616 | info@fayranches.com

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Clear Springs Ranch | Whitehall, Montana

www.fayranches.com | (800) 238.8616 | info@fayranches.com

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WATER RIGHTS Montana waters, in all their varied forms and locations, belong to the State for the benefit of its people.

A water right is the right to use the water within state-established guidelines, and not any ownership of the water itself. Since water rights in Montana are guided by the prior appropriation doctrine, a person’s right to use a specific quantity of water depends on when the use of water began, establishing the relative priority date of use on the water source. The first person to use water from a source established the first right, the second person could establish a right to the water that was left, and so on. Additionally, water users are limited to the amount of water that can be beneficially used. Beneficial use includes, but is not limited to, agricultural, recreational, fish, wildlife and domestic purposes.

Montana is currently conducting a statewide adjudication of all water rights with priority dates prior to July 1, 1973. The statewide adjudication is a court process that prioritizes and quantifies all existing water rights in each Montana drainage basin. With 85 basins in Montana, and over 219,000 water right claims, the statewide adjudication is a massive undertaking that is expected to stretch well into the future. Until the adjudication process is complete, the status of any particular water right claim cannot be guaranteed. Fay Ranches, Inc., its brokers and salespersons do not warrant or make any representation concerning the quantity or quality of any water rights, nor any legal entitlement to use of water rights, permits to appropriate water, exempt existing rights, determination of existing water rights, nor any ditches, ditch rights, or ditch easements appurtenant to or constituting a burden on the property. Water rights claims appurtenant to the property may or may not have been fully or finally adjudicated, and any Buyer is advised to make any offer to purchase contingent upon and subject to such independent inspections, evaluations, and advice concerning the water rights and adjudication process as a Buyer might deem prudent. All Buyers should be aware that Fay Ranches, Inc., its brokers and salespersons involved in this offering have not conducted an expert inspection or analysis of the water rights for this property.

MINERAL RIGHTS All mineral rights appurtenant to the property and owned by the Seller will convey to the Buyer at closing. Mineral rights are not guaranteed. It is suggested that the Buyer conduct a mineral search with a title company.

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Clear Springs Ranch | Whitehall, Montana

CONSERVATION | STEWARDSHIP This property does not have a conservation easement in place.

Each of us at Fay Ranches has a love of the land and a desire to see it remain as productive agricultural ground as well as quality fish and wildlife habitat. Through promoting the use of thoughtful land stewardship, Fay Ranches has guided owners toward a legacy of conserving wide open spaces, enhancing and creating fisheries and wildlife habitat, and implementing sustainable agricultural operations. Fay Ranches is proud to say that since our company began in 1992, the landscape on which we work has been significantly enhanced by the conservation ethic and land-use practices of our clients.

SUMMARY Clear Springs Ranch is a tremendously productive property for various wildlife, including white-tailed deer, turkey, pheasant, waterfowl, and the occasional moose. Stunningly beautiful, this property sits in the shadows of the Tobacco Root and Highland Mountains. In addition to the recreation opportunities on the ranch, the surrounding area provides some of the most incredible hunting and fishing options available in the U.S. Just minutes away, the Jefferson River is well-known for its exceptional brown and rainbow trout fishery. www.fayranches.com | (800) 238.8616 | info@fayranches.com

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PRICE $3,039,570

TERMS CASH

CONTACT Please contact Vinny Delgado at (406) 253-0507 | vdelgado@fayranches.com to schedule a showing.

This is an exclusive listing. An agent from Fay Ranches must be present at all showings, unless otherwise noted or other arrangements are made. To view other properties, fly fishing properties, and sporting ranches that we have listed, please visit our web page at www.fayranches.com.

NOTICE Offer is subject to errors, omissions, prior sale, change or withdrawal without notice, and approval of purchase by owner. Information regarding land classification, carrying capacities, maps, etc., is intended only as a general guideline and has been provided by the owners and other sources deemed reliable, but the accuracy cannot be guaranteed. Prospective purchasers are encouraged to research the information to their own satisfaction.

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Clear Springs Ranch | Whitehall, Montana

WHITEHALL

RELATIONSHIPS IN REAL ESTATE As required by Montana law, a broker or salesperson shall disclose the existence and nature of relevant agency or other relationships to the parties to a real estate transaction. The various relationships and description of duties are as follows: 1. SELLER AGENT A “Seller Agent” is obligated to the Seller to: Act solely in the best interests of the seller; Obey promptly and efficiently all lawful instructions of the seller; Disclose all relevant and material information that concerns the real estate transaction and that is known to the seller agent and not known or discoverable by the seller unless the information is subject to confidentiality arising from a prior or existing agency relationship on the part of the seller agent; Safeguard the seller’s confidences; Exercise reasonable care, skill, and diligence in pursuing the seller’s objectives and in complying with the terms established in the listing agreement; Fully account to the seller for any funds or property of the seller that comes into the seller agent’s possession; and Comply with all applicable federal and state laws, rules, and regulations.

Montana law permits a real estate agent, after providing written disclosure to a seller and obtaining a seller’s written consent, to represent multiple sellers of property and to list properties for sale that may compete with the seller’s property, without breaching any obligation to the seller.

A “Seller Agent” is obligated to the Buyer to: Disclose to a buyer or the buyer agent any adverse material facts that concern the property and that are known to the seller agent, except that the seller agent is not required to inspect the property or verify any statements made by the seller; Disclose to a buyer or the buyer agent when the seller agent has no personal knowledge of the veracity of information regarding adverse material facts that concern the property; Act in good faith with a buyer and a buyer agent; and Comply with all applicable federal and state laws, rules, and regulations.

2. BUYER AGENT (cont) A “Buyer Agent” is obligated to the Seller to: Disclose any adverse material facts that are known to the buyer agent and that concern the ability of the buyer to perform on any purchase offer; Disclose to the seller or the seller agent when the buyer agent has no personal knowledge of the veracity of information regarding adverse material facts that concern the property; Act in good faith with a seller and a seller agent; and Comply with all applicable federal and state laws, rules and regulations.

3. DUAL AGENCY

If a seller agent is also representing a buyer, or a buyer agent is also representing a seller with regard to a property, then a

dual agency relationship may be established. In a dual agency relationship, the dual agent is equally obligated to both the seller and the buyer.

These obligations may prohibit the dual agent from advocating exclusively on behalf of the seller or buyer and may limit the depth and degree of representation that you receive. A broker or a salesperson may not act as a dual agent without the signed, written consent of both the seller and the buyer.

A “Dual Agent” is obligated to a Seller in the same manner as a seller agent and is obligated to a Buyer in the same manner as a buyer agent, except

a dual agent: Has a duty to disclose to a buyer or seller any adverse material facts that are known to the dual agent regardless of any confidentiality considerations; and May not disclose the following information without the written consent of the person to whom the

information

is

confidential; The fact that the buyer is willing to pay more than the offered purchase price; The fact that the seller is willing to accept less than the purchase price that the seller is asking for the property; Factors motivating either party to buy or sell; and Any information that a party indicates in writing to the dual agent is to be kept confidential.

4. STATUTORY BROKER A “Statutory Broker” is not the agent of the Buyer or Seller but nevertheless is obligated to them to: Disclose to: i. a buyer or buyer agent any adverse material facts that concern the property and that are known to the statutory broker, except that the statutory broker is not required to inspect the property or verify any statements made by the seller; and ii. a seller or a seller agent any adverse material facts that are known to the statutory broker and that concern the ability of the buyer to perform on any purchase offer; Exercise reasonable care, skill, and diligence in putting together a real estate transaction, and Comply with all applicable federal and state laws, rules and regulations.

5. IN-HOUSE SELLER AGENT DESIGNATE

Created when the agency holds both the listing on a property from the seller and a buyer broker

agreement with the buyer, an in-house seller agent designate is a broker or salesperson employed by or associated as an independent contractor with a broker and designated by the broker as the exclusive agent for a seller for a designated transaction and who may not be considered to be acting for other than the seller with respect to the designated transaction.

6. IN-HOUSE BUYER AGENT DESIGNATE

Created when the agency holds both the listing on a property from the seller and a buyer broker

agreement with the buyer, an in-house buyer agent designate is a broker or salesperson employed by or associated as an independent contractor with a broker and designated by the broker as the exclusive agent for a buyer for a designated transaction and who may not be considered to be acting for other than the buyer with respect to the designated transaction.

BUYER AGENT A “Buyer Agent” is obligated to the Buyer to: Act solely in the best interests of the buyer; Obey promptly and efficiently all lawful instructions of the buyer; Disclose all relevant and material information that concerns the real estate transaction and that is known to the buyer agent and not known or discoverable by the buyer, unless the information is subject to confidentiality arising from a prior or existing agency relationship on the part of the buyer agent; Safeguard the buyer’s confidences; Exercise reasonable care, skill, and diligence in pursuing the buyer’s objectives and in complying with the terms established in the listing agreement; Fully account to the buyer for any funds or property of the buyer that comes into the buyer agent’s possession; and Comply with all applicable federal and state laws, rules and regulations.

Montana law permits a real estate agent, after providing written disclosure to a buyer and obtaining a buyer’s written consent, to represent multiple buyers interested in buying the same property or similar properties to properties in which a buyer is interested and to show properties in which a buyer is interested to other prospective buyers, without breaching any obligation to the buyer.

www.fayranches.com | (800) 238.8616 | info@fayranches.com

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VINNY DELGADO ranch sales

Licensed in: MT o. 406-586-4001 | c. 406-253-0507 vdelgado@fayranches.com

FAY RANCHES INC. (800) 238.8616 info@fayranches.com www.fayranches.com