We are currently marketing this ranch as a whole. 22,934 deeded acres.

$8,900,000

contact george@auctionaz.com to make an offer or for more information

map of deeded acres

Cat Mountain Ranch, located in western New Mexico’s Socorro County west of Magdalena, is a contiguous expanse of 40,531 total acres, dominated by the prominent 7,700 ft. Cat Mountain.

Cat Mountain Ranch is privately managed and has a substantial block of 22,934.74± deeded acres together with 15,049 New Mexico State lease acres and 1,380± 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 lakebed known as the Plains of San Augustine. This is also home to National Radio Astronomy Observatory, Very Large Array (VLA) Telescope, made famous in the movie "Contact", 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 5½ miles south of U.S. Highway 60. Access is on a privately maintained roadway. This ranch has no through roadways making the Cibola National Forest its own private backyard. 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 5½ 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 bunkhouse 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 are 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. This entire 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 1½ 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 pinions. Located in Monica Canyon is a forest of oak, pinion and juniper woodlands. Many other canyons and arroyos are within the ranch providing shelter and habitat for livestock and wildlife.

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. Experienced, qualified ranch management is on site and available for hire.

Wildlife native to the ranch includes elk and antelope herds, mule deer, coyotes and 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.

Cat Mountain Ranch may be purchased as a whole or in smaller parcels of 640 acres or more.  Contact george@auctionaz.com for pricing and terms.  The state grazing lease #GR-1957, lease fee of $7,870.00 is paid annually. 

Information furnished concerning the Cat Mountain Ranch has been obtained from sources deemed reliable and it is believed to be correct; however, no responsibility is assumed therefore, and no warranty or representation is made as to accuracy thereof. This information is submitted subject to errors, omissions, changes, prior sale, or withdraw from the market without notice.