Cat Mountain Ranch is a reputation cattle ranch located in western New Mexico's Socorro County west of Magdalena. This large ranch is a contiguous expanse of 40,531 total acres which lift and heave across grasslands dominated by the prominent 7,700 ft. Cat Mountain.
Cat Mountain Ranch is privately managed and has a substantial block of 23,462 deeded acres together with 15,049 New Mexico State lease acres and 2,020 federal BLM acres. The total land area takes in roughly 63 Sections of pristine native New Mexico rangeland.
The enviable location of Cat Mountain Ranch presents a multiple of land use opportunities. Historically the ranch has operated as a combination cow calf and yearling operation supplemented with big game hunting of trophy class elk. The southern boundary has a seven mile frontage adjoining the Cibola National Forest and the northern extension of the San Mateo Mountains. The towering 9,600 ft. A-L Mountain at the southern ranch border is a significant water shed and forms the headwater of Monica Canyon which drains across Cat Mountain Ranch. The western extension of the Cat Mountain Ranch is along the basin boundary of a vast ancient lake bed known as the Plains of San Augistine. This is also home to National Radio Astronomy Observatory, Very Large Array (VLA) Telescope which extends into the ranch interior.
Access to the ranch is exceptional. U.S. Highway 60, forms the northern border and New Mexico State Road 107, a caliche surface road, forms the eastern border. Cat Mountain Ranch Headquarters is located 5˝ miles south of U.S. Highway 60. Access is on a privately maintained roadway. This ranch has no through roadways.
Improvements of the Cat Mountain Ranch are designed to facilitate the day to day cattle operation. The ranch is developed into three large grazing cells with nine additional pastures and traps. The ranch has two major sets of shipping pens, one with cattle scales and one utilized as a cattle processing weaning yard.
Domestic and livestock water is available from 14 wells which have an average water depth of 250 feet. The majority of the wells are equipped with submersible pumps and have electric power or gas powered generator power plants. These wells supply an extensive water delivery system comprised of buried water line, water storage tanks and cattle troughs. Numerous supplemental earthen water tanks are located throughout the ranch.
The ranch headquarters is located to the south of Cat Mountain along side Mulligan Gulch. This is a scenic setting far from civilization yet only 5˝ miles off pavement and within 12 miles of the Magdalena School System. The main residence is a rambling four-bedroom adobe, block and frame structure. It has a stucco exterior and a propanel metal roof cover. Attached to the residence is a three room bunk house efficiency apartment and porch. Other structures include an all metal enclosed insulated and heated shop with attached enclosed all metal equipment room. Also at this location is the new hay barn and equipment shed and yard. Nearby headquarters are the stock pens which feature cattle processing chutes, a cattle load out, holding pens and weaning lot. All this ranch infrastructure is neat, operational and quality construction.
The three livestock grazing cells operate off a central water hub and have two-wire electric fence and standard five-wire post construction fencing. The Castillo Cell located in the southwest quadrant features cattle pipe pens for processing and branding. At the northeastern quadrant is the Box Car Cell, which contains the Box Car steel pipe shipping pens and cattle scales. These facilities are 1˝ miles off pavement. All perimeter and interior fences are five-wire cedar and steel T post construction and are in good condition. Ranch roads provide vehicle access to most all pastures and include predominately hassle free cattle guard fence crossings.
Topography is a mountainous rangeland dominated by grasslands which has a good grama grass turf cover. Elevation ranges from 6,700 ft. to 7,700 ft. The northern and southern region is complemented by a good balance of juniper and pinons. Located in Monica Canyon is a forest of oak, pinon and juniper woodlands. Many other canyons and arroyos are within the ranch providing shelter and habitat for livestock and wildlife.
Wildlife native to the ranch includes elk and antelope herds, mule deer, coyotes and occasional bear. The ranch is located in Hunt Unit 17 which provides primitive weapon hunting of elk. The elk of this region have a reputation of producing trophy class bulls. The ranch received 3 muzzle loader and 3 bow bull elk land owner permits together with 8 cow elk permits in 2005. Also available are two landowner antelope permits.
For Price Contact Keith L. Schrimsher. No livestock or equipment is included.
This 63 Section cattle ranch will support a cow calf or yearling operation. It is privately controlled and operated at the discretion of the owner. The state grazing lease #GR-1957, lease fee of $7,870.00 is paid annually. Federal land within the ranch boundary is held as two leases identified as the 80 Box Car 7 lease and 1129 New Driveway lease and is billed at the annual rate charge for actual use only. Annual real estate taxes are approximately $2,310.00 which are not detrimental to ownership of the property. As is Cat Mountain Ranch will support an impressive depreciation schedule as it has miles of roadways, fences, pipelines and related infrastructure. Cat Mountain Ranch is a cattleman's ranch available for immediate possession. Experienced qualified ranch management is on site and available for hire.
