Butter Creek Ranch

The country

Open ground in the Blue Mountains.

Bowhunter on the rimrock at sunset

Rimrock

Basalt edges run along the ridges, dropping into draws where elk bed in the heat of the day.

Bunchgrass hills and timbered draws

Bunchgrass

Open slopes of native grass that cure gold by late summer and carry stock, deer and birds through the year.

Two bull elk in a meadow at the edge of the timber

Blue Mountain timber

Ponderosa and fir on the north slopes and high ground, holding snow into spring.

Truss bridge over the river, with hay ground and a grain elevator on the valley floor

The river

The river runs through the valley below the ranch headquarters, with irrigated hay ground on the bottoms, rimrock above, and an old steel bridge where the ranch road crosses.

Mule deer buck against a blue sky

Wildlife

Elk, mule deer, black bear, turkey, chukar, Huns and quail share the ranch with the sheep and cattle.

Old windmill and cabin in late-summer grass

Seasons

Lambing in February, green grass in May, dry heat in August, the rut in September and snow by December.