Cattle are central to economic and cultural traditions of the West. They are important to the landscape, occupying the niche previously filled by American bison. For us, cattle ranching is a way of life and is integrated with our efforts to preserve open space and biological diversity. Cattle help us manage this working landscape for people, wildlife, and the community.
While cattle graze across the Ranch, Big Creek is the agricultural operations’ headquarters. A Bar A, State Line, Sheep Rock, and Bear Creek are all part of the same ranch and support various aspects of the operation.
Big Creek Ranch was founded by J. Barney Hunter in 1879 and grew over the years. By 1900, it had merged with neighboring Casteel Ranch and was renowned in the area for its cattle, hay, and horses.
Big Creek changed hands several times before it was acquired by the Charles and Hazel Gates family in 1963, and it has remained in the family since that time.
Today, Big Creek grazes about 2,500 pairs (cow and calf) and 2,000 feeders, along with replacement heifers and bulls. Most are Black Angus and they graze open range using rotational grazing and horseback herding. The Ranch produces verified natural and non-hormone treated cattle (NHTC) calves and also sells feeder steers and heifers. Calving occurs in late April, and calves stay with their mothers all summer. By late fall, they are ready for weaning. After weaning, they moved to warmer areas, as winters at the Ranch are very cold. It is not uncommon to see winter temperatures of -10F to -30F. The coldest temperature recorded was -55 in 1989. In most years, calves return to the Ranch for another summer of grazing before they are sold. Depending on the weather and water conditions, the Ranch produces 4,000 to 9,000 tons of hay each year. This is used to feed the breeding herd (mother cows and bulls) onsite through the winter months.
Big Creek has been managed by the Dunning family since 1976, with Charlie Dunning directing operations until 1996. His son, Mark, has managed Big Creek since that time. Mark is also on the board of the Grand Encampment Museum: https://gemuseum.com/
Big Creek works closely with the Conservation Stewardship Program and other partners to ensure its grazing and agricultural practices are supportive of conservation-related goals of the Gates Family Ranches.
Taking a trip with A Bar A Expeditions is a great way to experience all the Ranches firsthand. Some A Bar A fishing trips also utilize trout water on Big Creek and State Line.