Pothook Ranch

The Pothook Unit of the Slater Creek Ranch is 2317 +/- acres of a classic high mountain river valley with high peaks surrounding the vast picturesque hay meadows.  Slater Creek is a beautiful trout stream that meanders for over 4 miles through willow-banked meadows.  There is a good mix of alpine meadows, pines, and aspen groves, as well as long oak brush and serviceberry ridges that drop down to the sagebrush benches above the river bottom.   Land The approximate 265 acres of hay meadows produce hundreds of tons of quality hay and exceptional late-season grazing opportunities for cattle and wildlife alike.   Located in the heart of the elk migration corridor, thousands of elk will pass through the ranch every fall as they move from the summer range to the east to the winter range west of Highway 13.  Plenty of resident elk call the valleys and ridges of the ranch home as well. Slater Creek Ranch has abundant senior water rights and shares the #1 right on all of Slater Creek. The creek also provides great fishing. Additionally, many ponds and springs on the ranch provide water at higher elevations for cattle grazing and the abundant elk, mule deer, and pronghorn antelope that call the ranch home. Sharp-tail grouse, sage grouse, and dusky grouse reside on this very diverse property.  There are two homes on the ranch. Access to the ranch is well-maintained gravel road access, and it is a short 15-minute drive from the Dixon, Wyoming airport with 7000’ and 6548’ asphalt runways and jet fuel.   The commercial service at Yampa Valley Regional Airport is approximately 1 hour from the ranch, with multiple commercial flights daily. Additional Leases:  Jack Rabbit Creek Allotment – 1074 acres +/- Recreation The ranch is currently collectively enrolled in the Ranching for Wildlife program with other ranches in the area.  Under current management, the wildlife and habitat are managed for quality to produce better quality feed and habitat as well as older age class elk, mule deer, and pronghorn antelope.   The program allows landowners to maximize their opportunity to utilize their property in exchange for public access on a limited basis.   The ranches do yearly habitat projects such as brush and timber mitigation and water projects to enhance the availability of quality feed and water. Colorado Ranching for Wildlife is a cooperative program with private landowners and Colorado Parks and Wildlife that includes incentives to improve habitat on private land. Landowners create diverse plant communities that benefit wildlife throughout the year by managing grazing systems, working on various habitat improvement projects, and developing viable water sources. These well-managed lands provide essential habitat for various species, including grassland-nesting birds, migratory ungulates such as elk, mule deer, and pronghorn, as well as any other wildlife within the ecosystem and pollinators. The program introduced in 1986 was designed to give public hunters access to private ranches. Still, in turn, a considerable benefit allows private landowners to dictate their season dates for optimal hunting opportunities. For landowners, the elk and pronghorn season is a 90-day season that coincides with any open public season. The Mule Deer season is a 60-day season. The RFW license is a weapon of choice license. RFW is limited to ranches with at least 10,000 contiguous acres that contain a significant number of species for which licenses can be drawn. These species include elk, mule deer, and pronghorn on the Slater Creek Ranch. In addition to hunting, that ranches have a great road system through out the property provides additional recreational opportunities that include hiking, mountain biking, UTV and snowmobiling. Region & Climate The area is known for more than 300 days of sunshine and “Champagne Powder” snow.   The area averages 154 inches annually of normal accumulations.  Winters are beautiful, with the valley remaining snow-covered for most of the season, but the summer and fall keep people coming back year after year to visit the beautiful Rocky Mountains. Location Northwest Colorado is surrounded by endless beauty and filled with history. The nearest towns include Slater, Craig, Hayden, and Steamboat Springs, Colorado. The Slater Dixon Ranches are 45 minutes from Yampa Valley Regional Airport. The nearby town of Dixon, Wyoming,  has a private airport with a 7000 x 75 ft runway just minutes from the ranch. The town of Steamboat Springs is located at 6,732 ft in elevation in Colorado’s Yampa Valley. It is home to the Howelsen Hill ski area and the Steamboat Ski Resort. Not only is Steamboat known for its legendary skiing & snowboarding, but the nearby hot springs are therapeutic in nature, especially after a long day on the slopes. Located near the city center, the long-standing Old Town Hot Springs is equipped with swimming, soaking pools, and water slides. This experience is worthwhile and fun for all ages.