Encompassing nearly 14,400 +/- contigious and mostly deeded acres, the Royal Tine Ranch is uniqely positioned between the famed Bighorn Mountains and Wyoming's Black Hills.  Not far from both Sheridan and Gillette, Wyoming or Billings, Montana, excellent county roads provide easy access to local state highways and Interstate 90. A short drive from the Billings International Airport, or the airports in Sheridan or Gillette, the ranch is easy to access whether flying commercial or private.

Here, ranching traditions run deep and is the only lifestyle known to many generations of cattle and sheep ranching families who have resided in the area for centuries. Real ranching happens in this part of the country and most local cowboys believe the only proper way cattle should be moved, sorted, and worked is from the back of a horse rather than an atv or side-by-side.  Neighbors still get together for spring brandings where rope-and-dragging cowboys begin their day at sunrise carefully sorting, vaccinating, and branding the calves. A feast usually follows the hard day’s work and typically ends gathered around a blazing fire overlooking the sunset backdrop of rolling hills reliving the events of the day. Traditional ranching techniques combined with the unique cowboy camaraderie often seen in this part of Wyoming makes it easy to romanticize the Old West.

Homesteaded by ranching families in the late 1800s, they sought this country for its favorable year-round precipitation and fertile soil which made it widely known for its protein-rich grasses and exceptional grazing. The pleasant summers and relatively mild winters combined with abundant forage gave the area the its reputation for putting exceptional gains on cattle during the spring, summer, and fall grazing seasons.

Heavily timbered draws, healthy sagebrush habitat, and lush hayfields allow the local wildlife to easily find refuge and food supply in abundance. Elk, mule deer, whitetail deer, antelope, and black bear thrive in this country along with an array of upland game birds and Merriam’s turkeys.

Water

Extensive water improvements add substantial value to the ranch. Over the past several years, the current owner has vastly improved the water features on the ranch. Three deep stock water wells feed more than twenty miles of buried poly water line which supply over 30 stock tanks spread throughout the different pastures and improvements on the ranch. The majority of the tanks are newly installed and made of fiberglass with the remaining being traditional rubber style tire tanks. Next to each of the three wells sit 6,000 water storage tanks which convey with the sale along with the well pumps. It’s hard to find a spot on the ranch where cattle have to walk more than 1/2 a mile to get water. The stock tanks and designed overflows can also provide year-round water resources for the resident herds of elk, deer, and antelope.  

Armstrong Creek, Bitter Creek, and Corral Creek all flow through the ranch providing year-roundwater sources for both livestock and wildlife in the area.  Adjacent riparian areas are a major source of shelter and forage for grazing cattle and wildlife.  

Cattle

The ranch features 17 well-improved fenced and crossed-fenced pastures designed to allow for easy movement of cattle from one pasture to the next. Many miles of new fence have been built within the past several years and the quality of the fencing on the ranch is considered to be good to great. Two well-maintained county roads and a network of private interior ranch roads allow for convenient access to check cows, fences, water, and mineral tubs. Working sets of corrals at both headquarters along with a third set of corrals centrally located on the ranch make for a well-planned and organized system to gather and ship cattle.  

The owner currently stocks the ranch around 2/3 capacity with about 1300 head of yearlings which have been run annually by a long-term tenant during the summer months providing dependable and positive cash flow each year.

Hunting

Heavily timbered draws, healthy sagebrush habitat, and lush hayfields offer ideal conditions for big game species such as elk, mule deer, whitetail deer, and antelope. A large and carefully managed herd of elk spend much of their time on the ranch offering sportsman opportunities at trophy bulls year in and year out. Several elk in the 375" range and above have been harvest from the ranch within the past several years. In addition to big game hunting, wing shooting on the ranch can be spectacular. Sharptail grouse and Hungarian partridge populations are thriving and flushing dozens of large coveys of birds in a day is not uncommon. Pheasants linger in the draws and can be spotted occasionally feeding in the nearby grain fields. Merriam’s turkeys are found on all corners of the ranch and hunted during both the spring and fall seasons.

The ranch currently qualifies for elk, deer, and antelope landownership tags.

Improvements

Two well-improved headquarters anchor the ranch and offer ample living space for the ranch owner, tenant manager, and guests. Each headquarters location features improved homes, shop buildings, and corrals.  An additional cabin is located on the ranch and can serve as a tenant home or hunting cabin if the owner wishes. 

The main headquarters is conveniently located off the county road and consists of a large 3-bedroom home, equestrian barn with living quarters and horse stalls, sizeable shop building, 3-stall garage, and barn. Surrounding both the equestrian and cattle barns are working sets of corrals, stock water tanks, and automatic water systems. The large shop building includes two drive-through overhead doors for convenient access when maneuvering large equipment.  Settled into the valley overlooking Bitter Creek and the nearby pastures, timber breaks and rocky outcroppings sit just behind the headquarters and offer a picturesque postcard-worthy backdrop.  

The second headquarters features a 5-bedroom, 3-bathroom, two-story home with a large second story deck overlooking the barnyard and nearby pastures. Below the house sits a large machine shop, corrals with water tanks, and loafing sheds. The machine shop features a large overhead door, concrete floor, and spray foam insulation. 

Both a highly productive working cattle ranch and exceptional trophy caliber hunting property, the Royal Tine Ranch is one of the most well-balanced and complete offerings available in the entire Rocky Mountain West.