Set against the towering igneous rock cliffs amongst the stunning backdrop of the Beartooth Mountains in the Stillwater River Canyon on the banks of the Stillwater River, Flying C Ranch spans 11,177± acres, out of which 8,880± are deeded. With a backdrop of snowcapped peaks and a balance of timber, pasture, and riparian areas, the ranch delivers ecological diversity, plentiful water, and premium sporting opportunities. Flying C Ranches’ rich foliage and wildlife habitat support healthy and growing wildlife populations of elk, mule and whitetail deer, mountain lions, Hungarian partridge, grouse, turkeys, antelope, and black bears. Roughly 3.5 miles of the ranch borders the vast Custer Gallatin National Forest, which transitions into the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness and eventually Yellowstone National Park. In addition to 620± acres of contiguous State Land and 1,677± acres of contiguous Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land, the property enjoys 1.4± miles of pristine Stillwater River frontage along which the ranch headquarters sits. The ranch features 70± acres of productive flood-irrigated meadows, complemented by 120± acres of dryland fields that provide additional hay or grazing forage in good moisture years. With nearly 40 years of experience on the ranch, the current manager runs a 225-head cow herd, calving in mid-April and holding calves through their second fall. He prefers to buy seasoned bred cows from grass-based ranches that winter on range, ensuring hardy replacements. The herd typically winters out with limited hay feeding. This region of the Beartooth Front receives an average of 18 inches of annual precipitation, ranking it among Montana’s wetter zones. Flying C Ranch also features 1.6± miles of Trout Creek and 1.7± miles of Bad Canyon Creek, with additional stretches on adjacent public lands. These waters offer superb fly-fishing for brown, brook, rainbow, and native Yellowstone cutthroat trout. Flying C Ranch is 20± miles west of Absarokee, Montana, and about six miles north of Nye, Montana. Billings, Montana’s largest city and home to a major commercial airport, is just over an hour’s drive, while Bozeman is about a two-hour drive from the ranch.
