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Premium Southwestern New Mexico Elk Hunting Ranch-Experience Sawtooth Basin Ranch

Acreage

19139 ±

County

Catron

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Address 25 Choate Dr. Pie Town, NM 87827

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Description

The expansive and diverse 19,139 +/- acre Sawtooth Basin Ranch is nestled in the scenic and remote landscape of Pie Town, New Mexico and has spectacular geographical features rising from New Mexico’s rolling pinyon/juniper floor to its majestic sawtooth-figured peaks and valleys. With breathtaking views, abundant wildlife, and rich history, this property offers an unparalleled opportunity to own a legendary premier elk hunting ranch, providing the tranquility of wide-open spaces in Catron County, New Mexico. Catron County is well known to produce record-sized elk and is in the heart of some of the best trophy elk hunting in the United States. Trophy mule deer reaching record book size have also been harvested on this property. Pronghorn Antelope frequent the ranch and have grown record-sized horns.

Total acreage is comprised of 16,833 +/- deeded acres, 1,960 +/- acres of State Trust Land Lease, and 346 +/- acres of Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Lease. The central and east portion of the ranch is within Game Management Unit (GMU) 13, consisting of approximately 13,914 +/- deeded acres, while the west portion is within GMU 12, consisting of approximately 2,919+/- deeded acres. Both big game units are known to produce some of the largest free-range antlered bull elk anywhere!

The Ranch is currently signed up in the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish’s Landowner Private Land Elk Program (EPLUS). In 2024 the property received 16 Mature Bull (MB) Elk Landowner Authorizations, 13 Archery Either Sex (ES) Elk Landowner Authorizations and 11 Antlerless Landowner Authorizations. Private land Mule Deer and Pronghorn hunting licenses are unlimited over the counter, allowing for the landowner to determine how many Deer and Pronghorn hunters to allow to meet management goals.

Management practices and habitat improvements have enhanced the health and carrying capacity of the property to increase elk numbers and the elk use on the property. Mule deer, pronghorn, black bear and other wildlife species have benefitted from the conservation work that has been done for elk. In 2023, only three elk licenses were validated, and in 2024, only four elk licenses were validated with a harvest success rate of 100% for both years. The age class of elk bulls on the ranch has increased due to the very low number of elk authorizations used over the last two years. Forest management consisted of thinning and mastication of overgrown pinyon and juniper trees on approximately 500 acres where treatment was conducted in a mosaic pattern to reduce woody vegetation. Two large hydraulic axe machines were used to grind and masticate trees, stimulating new forb, brush and grass growth in the treated area. By reducing the canopy cover, increasing water availability and sunlight, new forbs, browse and grasses have responded by growing in these areas. Elk, mule deer and pronghorn use on the new growth was immediate and favorable to them.

In 2024, the Sawtooth Basin Ranch was awarded on incentive mule deer license for all the habitat improvement contributions that was valid during the mule deer rut timeframe, aside from the regular structured hunt seasons by the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish.

The largest set of elk sheds known to be found on the ranch had an unofficial gross score of 424 inches.

In addition to being a spectacular hunting ranch, the property would sustain a full-scale livestock operation if so desired. Water is distributed throughout the ranch and native grasses are abundant across the property. A new eight +/- mile underground waterline and 8 new water drinkers have been installed to disperse permanent water across the ranch expanding this valuable resource to needed areas. The water storage tanks at the commercial well have a capacity to hold 24,000+/- gallons of water with an additional 10,000+/--gallon water storage tank placed on the south side of the ranch.

There are five water wells on the ranch, one of which is a rare commercial well permitted for 25-acre feet of diversion annually. This is significantly higher than the amount of diversion permitted by most domestic wells, which is 3 acres annually. This commercial well sets this ranch apart from others in the area, providing much-needed water.

The ranch boasts evidence of prehistoric Native American existence on the property can be found throughout. Pottery shards, arrowheads and grinding stones have and can be found on the property.

Housing on the ranch consists of a 3,400+/- sq/ft main house, a 600+/- sq/ft cabin, a 900+/- sq/ft mountain cabin and a 1,232+/- sq/ft manufactured foreman’s house. Three of the houses had new septic systems installed in 2022. The mountain cabin sports up-close, breathtaking views of the majestic sawtooth mountain peaks from the back deck.

Vehicular access to the ranch is optimum via paved highway access with three gates on the south and good-maintained County road access from the west and norther part of the property. Three new stunning metal entrance gates showcase the quality and stature the ranch provides.

This legendary, turnkey-ready ranch offers an opportunity to own one of New Mexico’s premier Elk hunting ranches!

Details

Ranch received 40 Elk Authorizations from New Mexico Game and Fish
Ranch received one incentive Mule Deer Authorization valid during the rut timeframe
Unlimited over the counter Private land only deer and Pronghorn licenses
Headquarters house is a wonderful three-bedroom two-bath 3,400+/- sq. ft adobe house with an open floor plan
660+/- sq. ft, two-bedroom, one-bath secluded hunting cabin with electricity. New septic system installed in 2022
900+/- sq. ft, three- bedroom, one-bath mountain hunting cabin, electricity provided via solar system
1,232+/- sq. ft, three-bedroom, two-bath foreman’s manufactured home
Wood cabin exercise room
1,600+/- sq. ft adobe garage and shop
Older barn made of log, saddle room, and other outbuildings
Shipping corrals made of guard rail with certified livestock scale
Two semi-circular circle Quonset style
Landline phone and cell service on some parts of the ranch
Electricity on the Property
Five water wells and more than 20 dirt tanks on the ranch
Eight +/- miles of new water lines with eight new water drinkers
Two fenced wildlife water catchment systems underground storage that holds water year-round
Commercial water well permitted for 25-acre feet/year diversion
Numerous high-capacity water storage tanks
Native American artifacts found on the ranch
Easy highway and maintained county road access
Three new stunning metal entrance gates
Fenced with typical ranch fencing, barbed wire, metal and wooden posts
Range Grasses include: Bluestem, blue grama, sides oats grama, Indian rice grass and sheep fescue
Browse and trees include four-winged saltbush, winter fat, Gambles oak, pinyon, juniper and ponderosa pine
Terrain varies from flat to rolling hills to steeply sloping mountains
Elevation ranges from 7,360 feet to 8,480 feet
Summer high daytime average temperature is 85 degrees and winter low of 15 in January
Annual average precipitation for the area is 17 inches
Taxes approximately $4,207 annually
16,833 +/- deeded acres
1,960 +/- State Trust Land Lease
346 +/- Bureau of Land Management Lease

Area Links

Summary

Roads

Road Frontage, Road Access

Fencing

Low Fence

Fishing

Muskie, Trout

Minerals

Surface Only

Land Type

Hunting and Recreational, Home on Acreage, Ranch and Farm, Timberland

Wild Game

Upland Game, Small Game, Big Game

Waterfront

Pond (0-3 acres)

Land Details

Pasture, Timber, Grass, Pond

Outbuildings

Shop, Barn

Road Surface

Pavement, Blacktop/Asphalt, Gravel, Dirt

Type of Home

Residential, Country Home, Cabin

Property Type

Ranches, Recreational Land, Residential Land, Timberland, Undeveloped Land, Hunting Land, Horse Property

Road Frontage

State Highway, County Road

Nearby Features

Public Hunting, Public Fishing, Camping/Campground, Public Access Area

Livestock Facilities

Equine, Squeeze Chutes, Corral, Handling Facilities, Loading Chutes, Stock Tanks, Working Pens, Tack Room

Improvements/Features

Small Game, Big Game, Upland Game, Predators, Livestock Facilities, Equine Facilities, Food Plot, Tree Stands/Blinds, Water Control Structures, Pits, Internal Road System, Gated Entrance, Seller's Mineral Rights Convey

Activities on Property

Hunting, Hiking, ATV Riding, Camping, Biking, Horseback Riding, Family Activities

Tillable/Production Areas

Pine Trees, Softwood Trees, Pasture

Land and Farm Property Types

Agriculture - Pasture/Ranch, Land - Hunting, Land - Recreational

Recent Property Improvements

Food plot, Tree stand/Blinds, Internal Road Network, Gated entrance, Pits, Water control Structures, Livestock facilities

Other Property Details

Housing

#1 Home
3BD / 2BA / 0HB
2400± sqft
Built in 1990
#2 Cabin
1BD / 1BA / 0HB
660± sqft
#3 Cabin
3BD / 1BA / 0HB
900± sqft
#4 Home
3BD / 2BA / 0HB
1232± sqft
Built in 2000

Coordinates

34.3069, -108.0676

Annual Taxes

$4,207

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For more information or to see additional properties currently for sale see Craig Sanchez's listings.