Hunting, Fishing and Dancing
Meghan at the Ladder Ranch Booth
Salt Lake City, Utah
photo by Pat O'Toole
Winter deer
near Home Ranch
photo by Pat O'Toole
Our ranching operation, like many others in the West, has added a ranch recreation business to our traditional cattle, sheep and farming enterprises. We have done this for several reasons. To us, raising livestock is our true love, and (to expand the metaphor), she is also “the one who brung us” to this dance. She has, however, been fickle, what with weather, markets, predators, regulations, etc., and etc., and etc. In short, we need a broader base and more stability. We farm to raise hay and alfalfa for our winter livestock feed.
We are blessed to live and work in an area that supports abundant and healthy wildlife populations. The same rich, high altitude grasses which allow our livestock to thrive also creates wonderful habitat for species large and small. We have a famous elk herd in our area, as well as mule deer and even antelope, as they have moved up from their droughty desert home. The predator control we practice to protect our livestock also benefits these ungulates, as well as other species such as sage grouse.
Migrating elk
Moffat County, Colorado
photo by Pat O'Toole
Our area has always been popular with hunters. In the past, we allowed almost anyone who asked to access our private land for hunting. In recent years, we have changed this practice. It is partly because the hunting pressure has become greater, and many of the hunters are not known to us. Vandalism and poor manners have increased. In addition, it has become a revenue source to stabilize our livestock operation.
Some of our neighboring ranches count hunting as their main source of income, with the livestock as a sideline. Unlike them, we charge a “trespass fee” and do not offer guiding services, although we do offer room and board.
Sharon, Meghan & Siobhan by rock structures
Battle Creek, Carbon County, Wyoming
photo by Pat O'Toole
We also have a wonderful fishing resource on Battle Creek, which runs through the heart of the Home Ranch. We have done extensive fish habitat enhancements in a cooperative project with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Wyoming Game and Fish. We have four species of naturally reproducing wild trout. These stream structures also enhance our flood irrigation in the hay meadows along Battle Creek. These meadows also provide wildlife habitat year-round.
Naturally, all these efforts to grow our recreation business take a lot of time and energy. Luckily for us, our very able daughter Meghan has taken charge of the ranch recreation enterprise and is successfully growing it every year.
In March, we had a booth at a major outdoor show in Salt Lake City. It was amazing, with about 1200 vendors manning booths to promote everything from salmon fishing in Alaska to house boats on Lake Powell to hog hunts in Utah. It also featured lots of educational booths for children, and lectures and classes for adults.
Meghan mostly tended the booth. Pat and I went along to help her with the project, but mostly to keep Siobhan (almost 3) and Seamus (8 months) occupied. I had a great time! I took the kids to the zoo, the St. Patrick’s Day parade, the Disney on Ice show, and for a trip on the light rail. Siobhan also tried her hand at fishing, animal ID and various other kids’ activities at the show.
This was our first attempt at this type of advertising. Up until now, we have relied on word of mouth and some newspaper ads. So far, it appears to be worth our time, money and effort.
We also offer ranch experiences, such as helping to brand calves or tend sheep camps, but since this was a hunting and fishing show, we concentrated on our wildlife resource. It was just as hard as getting up at 3 a.m. to calve heifers, although the kids had more fun!
Sharon & Seamus at the zoo
Salt Lake City, Utah
photo by Pat O'Toole
Siobhan asleep at the show
Salt Lake City, Utah
photo by Sharon O'Toole
