New Haven Ranch

Hunting, Grazing & Recreation Guest Ranch

Elk Going to Water

The New Haven Ranch is in the northeast corner of Wyoming on the northern boundary of the scenic and adventure-laden Black Hills. It’s about 18 miles northwest of the small town of Hulett, and the world-famous Devil’s Tower – our nation’s first National Monument, next to which are also the impressive Missouri Buttes (these can be seen from the ranch). Comfortably and privately situated in this beautiful region of Wyoming, this ranch has all the benefits of the area’s attributes, especially the scenery. It consists of about 2,442± total acres of which about 2,182± are deeded and 260± acres of BLM land. All of it is contiguous and situated on the east side of Mule Creek Road, providing good access to its headquarters and what used to be the town of New Haven, WY. All that remains today is a community hall and the New Haven Ranch buildings, which were once part of the old town. With some care and restoration from the current owners, these buildings are now used as guest cabins for the ranch. New Haven is just a shadow of its earlier days; importantly however, the ranch and the character and ambiance of the area is still intact.

Like much of the area, the ecological diversity of the ranch includes topography consisting of two primary drainages, TL Creek and Music Creek. In between these drainages are rolling hills, rough and scenic draws, flat-top open meadows, hay fields, and food plots. TL Creek is the largest of the two drainages. Both are filled with seasonal flowing water, spring-fed reservoirs, good grass, ponderosa pine, juniper, burr oak trees, and many other native trees, like wild plum, and chokecherry. The habitat is perfect for all kinds of wildlife, especially Merriam turkey, mule deer, white-tailed deer, elk, pronghorn antelope, waterfowl, and other upland bird species. The ranch is currently used for livestock grazing, hay production, commercial hunting, recreation, and it also serves as a guest ranch.

Livestock and Ag Operations

Livestock Grazing

Contented Yearlings

The owners have taken great pride in their management of the land over the last 30 years by enacting regenerative, grazing practices that have significantly improved the overall health and well-being of the land. The densely sodded land, comprised with diverse grasses, forbs, and other native plants is evident. Any new owner can be assured that the ranch is in excellent ecological health, and one can get right to grazing. Even the fences and water systems are all in great condition.

On a traditional carrying capacity basis the ranch should run about 150 cows/pairs per year with some hay supplementation. Another way to look at it is by animal days per acre (ADA), in which case it is rated around 24 ADAs for yearlings or 16 ADAs for pairs, and not grazing the hay meadows but haying them. Currently, the ranch is leased to a neighbor who runs, (depending on the year), between 450 and 500 yearlings from May through August or September depending on the grass and markets. Intermingled amongst the deeded land is a small amount of Bureau of Land Management (BLM) grazing lease that allows for 36 animal unit months of supplemental grazing. The owner currently runs about 20 horses on the ranch for guest operations.

Ag Production

New Haven Ranch has about 250 acres of dryland hay meadows the owners use for raising hay for their own needs. The ranch conservatively produces about ¾ ton to 1.5 tons per acre on an annual basis, depending on weather conditions. The hay is a typical dryland mix of improved grasses and some legumes. The owners have also planted and fenced nearly 20 acres of land for food plots in various locations around the ranch to attract and benefit wildlife populations.

Water Resources

New Haven Ranch Lake

New Haven Ranch has extensive water development for livestock, wildlife, and recreational uses. Natural surface water resources include many natural springs and several reservoirs. One in Section 24; four in Section 7, one in Section 18; New Haven Lake Reservoir in Section 7 is permitted for 80.01 acre-feet per year of water and is listed for several surface uses, in Section 17, four reservoirs, and a well in Section 19. The New Haven Lake is about 12 surface acres and about 117 total acre-feet in terms of its size. It has been stocked with fish in the past and can support various kinds of fish year-round. It’s fun to use recreationally for small paddle boats, swimming, fishing, hunting, and just for aesthetic purposes.

For developed water, the ranch has three wells. Two of the wells (one new, another old and unpermitted) at the headquarters are interconnected for redundancy (if needed) and provide water for the livestock waterers, all the buildings at the headquarters (including the Seller’s separately owned residence); plus, they supply water to a another buried pipeline with three tanks in different pastures on the west side of the ranch. The third one, called the Music Well, is at the head of Music Creek. It was new in 2020 and supplies over 7 miles of buried pipeline and 12 concrete stock tanks, which are all strategically distributed around the ranch allowing for a rotational grazing program for livestock and that benefits wildlife. It is supplemented by a large storage tank for plenty of reserve water storage for high-demand use.

Hunting and Recreation

New Haven Ranch Pronghorn

New Haven Ranch is located on the very edge of the Black Hills, where the variety of timbered terrain, spring-filled draws, lush meadows to sagebrush prairie provide the ideal habitat and feed for healthy and diverse wild game populations. Mule deer, whitetail deer, elk, antelope, turkey, sharptailed grouse, sage hens, geese, ducks, eagles, bobcats, coyotes, fox, and even beaver can be found on the ranch and the neighboring and very limited access public land. This allows the hunter or just the avid wildlife lover to experience a variety of wildlife viewing, hunting, and even trout fishing (when stocked) from the ranch’s own New Haven Lake reservoir. You can pretty much expect that the hunting and viewing opportunities for wildlife can and do begin as you step out the door or even while looking out your window!

Area and Species Hunting Regulations

Deer Hunt Area 1 (General Area)

General deer licenses are full-price licenses that allow the harvest of “any” or “antlered” deer depending upon the limitations for a given hunt area. General license deer hunt areas allow unlimited “over-the-counter” license sales for Wyoming residents. Nonresident deer hunters wishing to hunt a general area must obtain a Region General License specific to a select region. (Source: Wyoming Hunt Planner)

Antelope Hunt Area 1 (Limited Quota)

All Wyoming antelope hunt areas are managed under a limited quota framework, meaning there are a set number of licenses valid for each specific hunt area. All hunt areas have full-price “any” antelope licenses. Most hunt areas also provide reduced-price limited quota “doe/fawn” licenses which can be obtained separately or in addition to a full-price license. (Source: Wyoming Hunt Planner)

Elk Hunt Area 116 (General Area)

The total limit for elk licenses a person may possess differs from deer and antelope in that full price elk licenses and reduced price cow/calf elk licenses are combined together to calculate the total number of elk licenses allowed by any one person. (Source: Wyoming Hunt Planner)

Turkey Hunt Area 1 (Limited Quota Area)

The Black Hills is Wyoming’s best public land turkey hunt area. Situated close to turkey range in Montana, South Dakota and Nebraska, some hunters will come to the Black Hills for a multi-state spring Merriam’s hunt. Limited quota licenses are issued by drawing. A separate license is required to hunt turkeys during the spring and fall seasons. Hunters can obtain general licenses either through the draw or at license selling agents throughout the season. (Source: Wyoming Hunt Planner)

Improvements

Residential

The Lodge

New Haven Ranch Lodge

Offering comfortable accommodations with a rich local history and all the features of home.

• Year Built: 1953 – remodeled in 2010 and 2015
• 1,408 SF Main Level with wood deck
• 1,248 SF Walkout Basement entertainment area with pool table
• Stained Log Siding exterior
• Metal Roof (replaced in 2022)
• 5 Bedrooms with a total of 10 beds; 3 queens, 6 twins, 1 full, 3 bedrooms on main level, 2 bedrooms in basement
• 5 ½ Bathrooms – 3 ½ on the main level, 2 in the basement
• Full Kitchen on main floor, open to living room and dining room
• Additional Features:
  • phone and wifi
  • storage rooms
  • meat processing room
  • 2 water heaters
  • 1000 gallon propane tank
  • water storage tank
  • wood stove
  • central and baseboard heat

The Guest House

The 952 SF bunkhouse is the original home on the ranch. It was built in 1909 and is currently rented out. It is located south of the lodge with access from Mule Creek Road. It includes 3 bedrooms and 1 bathroom was remodeled between 2010 and 2015, and is plumbed into one of the two domestic wells for the farmstead area.

• Exterior: wood siding with a metal roof
• Heat/HVAC: Propane/Wood with electrical baseboard
• Deck/Patio: 84 SF enclosed porch and 176 SF covered wood deck

The Bunkhouse

The remodeled mobile home is wood-sided and a new metal roof was installed in 2022. It has a covered porch and an open deck plus a wood stove. It also has a propane furnace, 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, kitchen/dining/living areas, and laundry area.

Guest Cabins (3)

All three guest cabins are remodeled and updated, original homestead buildings that were built in 1909. All are now used for guests of the ranch, hunters, and paying vacationers. Each has wood siding on top of logs, new in 2022 metal roofs, Wifi, indoor plumbing with instant water heaters, and small wood decks and, all share the same septic system.

North Cabin

592 SF, 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. Baseboard electric and woodstove for heat. It includes a laundry area, kitchen, and an open living room area.

East Cabin

419 SF, it includes a laundry room (though no washer/dryer), one bedroom, one bathroom, and a kitchen. It has baseboard heat and a wood stove.

West Cabin

Excellent building for storage purposes, specifically for hay and equipment storage.

• 320 SF, it has somewhat of a kitchen with a sink, microwave, and refrigerator/freezer.
• 2 bedrooms and 1 bathroom, and only has baseboard heat.

Ranch Buildings

Quonset

• Year Built: 2010
• Size: 7,990 SF (14’ high)
• Dirt floor

Open-Sided Equipment Storage Shed

• Year Built: 1958
• Size: 1,890 SF
• Exterior: Board and Batten Roof: Corrugated Metal
• Dirt Floor
• Wall Height: 14’ Exterior Doors: Open South Side

Livestock Shed

Used for livestock shelter.

• Year Built: 1925
• Size: 1,540 SF
• Exterior: Board and Batten Roof: Corrugated Metal
• Dirt floor
• Wall Height: 10’ Exterior Doors: Walk Doors

Woodshed

Used for general storage and the building is located just south of the quonset.

• Year Built: 1958
• Size: 2,274 SF – GBA
• Exterior: Board and Batten Roof: Corrugated Metal
• Dirt floor
• Wall Height: 10’ Exterior Doors: Sliding Doors and Openings

Other Improvements

Tack shed, several other tool and storage sheds, small granary, and kennels (fully enclosed welded wire runs and weather-tight 250± sf building).