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Do you need more information
about this beautiful ranch? e-mail or call with any questions:
info@testthewest.com
or
ph 307-756-3907
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The
first impression of the ranch is the old ghost town at the head quarters
that the rancher and his family are restoring.
The
old houses were built out of rough wood planks and most of them went to
ruin with time and weather. However, some of the buildings are being rebuilt
and used for barns, shops, stables, and tack rooms.
The
guest lodging is an early built western style log house with a large
balcony.
Most
of the other ranch buildings date back to the days when the homesteaders
first arrived in this country.
The
ranch is 18 miles from Hulett, Wyoming, near Devils Tower, the first
National Monument in the Unites States.
The
landscape converts from high plateau meadows, to timbered canyons and creek
bottoms, and then flows out to the sagebrush prairie, all of which account
for the wide variety of wildlife.
Part
of the ranch is used for growing hay but most of the country is too
rough for farming. 500 to 600 cattle graze the pastures during the
summer and keep the cowboys busy.
Ranch
life is not scheduled due to the inherent nature of livestock and weather.
Plans are made and changed on a daily basis.
Depending
on the ranch work of the day, there could be a quick early morning breakfast
of coffee and biscuits and then hit the trail. Other mornings you can enjoy
a big American breakfast of pancakes, bacon, eggs, and hash browns.
While
summer cattle work on most ranches is a bit infrequent, the Black Hills Ranch
is especially busy with 500 to 600 cattle grazing the rugged landscape
before fall shipping.
There
is a lot of activity during these months: The cattle are moved to fresh
pastures regularly and then pastures must be rechecked to gather
cattle missed in the first roundup. Water holes, sick cattle, mavericks
and fence are all checked daily.
May
and June is branding season. The ranchers rope, mark and vaccinate
the newborn calves. Brandings are a social event that makes a hard job
a sporting event. The neighbors gather to help each other and appreciate
any help they can get in return.
On
other days a neighboring ranch may have projects going: the Busenitz Ranch
is one of the biggest cattle outfits in Crook County. The ranch
runs 4500 to 6000 feeder cattle every year. The herds are moved regularly
to new pastures and every cowboy is welcome to ride the country!
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rates
per person
May
16 to October 17, 2010 |
day |
week |
double/single
room |
US$
185 |
US$
1260 |
included:
accommodations, all meals and all ranch activities, horse back riding,
taxes
not
included:
Entry
fees for rodeos etc., meals outside the ranch (on sight seeing tours),
alcoholic drinks, personal expences, airport transfer, 10% gratuities
general
information
ranch
type |
Working
Cattle Ranch |
minimum
stay |
3
days |
accommodations |
4
double rooms, 3 1/2 bath |
season |
May
to October |
rental
car |
not
mandatory |
next
airport |
Rapid
City (SD) |
airport
transfer |
$100
per group roundtrip |
kid
programs |
no |
arrival/departure |
Wednesdays
and Saturdays |
capacity |
6
guests |
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