Does the Yellowstone TV series inspire you?
Do you find Jim and Sam's posts while they work on their Montana Ranches intriguing?

This vacation rental just might be for you.

It's the only rental sitting on 10,000 acres, off grid, no touristy crap and no frills.



It's no frills if you don't consider Mule deer in your yard and a resident herd of 600 head of Elk frills.

I use to keep 50 horses on this ranch every winter, back then there was a old cowboy that lived in this cabin, he kept watch on my stock all winter.

The cabin sits high on a bench and has a great view.



I've been through the cabin, it's nothing fancy, no bells and whistles.



Just the basics, just like its always been.

By chance I did a search on the place, ' The Whiskey Trail Ranch' just to see if it'd acquired a digital footprint, I got two hits, the VRBO listing and this from 2019...

Historic Melton Ranch buffalo round-up film

RONAN — A free screening of “A Montana Legacy: The Melton Buffalo Ranch 1948-1962,” will be shown on Thursday, April 18, 2019 at the Ronan Community Center small room at 6 p.m. and again at 7:30 p.m.

Ike Melton stands beside his ranch sign

.

“It’s exciting! You need a fast horse and he’s got be sure footed.” That’s how LaRue Melton enthusiastically describes riding alongside buffalo on a horse running full speed over rocky terrain during the roundup at the Whiskey Trail Ranch. The last roundup actually took five months to corral and move about 300 head of bulls, cows and calves. More than 30 individuals participated on the Saturday kickoff of the roundup in September of 1961. Five cowboys hung in to the end in mid-February, 1962 when the last bison were corralled and sent to a buyer in Wyoming. The five who hung in to the end were, Ike and LaRue Melton, Tide and Bob Darlington and Larry Christensen. Those cowboys and a few others were also on the Yellowstone National Park buffalo roundups in the 1960s.

With archival 8mm silent film and interviews with the three surviving children of Ike and Villa Melton, as well as two cowboys who participated, the film paints a vivid picture of the family and life at the Whiskey Trail Ranch. The surviving children — Nora Jean Malinak, LaRue Melton, Terry Melton, as well as Larry Christensen, Bud (Stan) Harris, Marlene Melton, Gary Abbey and Laurence Walchuk — reveal details of sure-footed horses, building corrals, trucking buffalo and Villa’s National Bison Range experience.

The film was produced by Caribou Crossing, a local media partnership and co-directed by Frank Tyro and Larry (Joe) Darlington.
DVDs of the 56-minute program will be available at the screenings.

Here is the VRBO url if it interests you, they have good reviews.
https://www.vrbo.com/935193

I'll copy and paste their VRBO write up.

$194

avg/night

Cabin (Sleeps 8)

3 bedrooms 1 bathroom

KitchenLiving RoomDeck/Patio

2 Bedrooms + loft, 1 Bathroom, Sleeps 6 + double bed in outside guest room

Right in the middle of upland bird country, this remodeled homestead cabin is nestled in the Ferry Basin on the Flathead Indian Reservation. Enjoy a private get-a-way on a privately owned 5000 acre plus 5000 acre leased cattle ranch. The cabin has 2 bedrooms plus a loft with a bed and a privacy curtain. It also has an un-attached guest room.

The cabin does NOT have a land line and there is cell service, although the weather can limit this at times.
There is a corral for guests to use if they would like to bring their own horses. This ranch is home to black bears, mule deer and about 6oo head of elk. Guests will have access to explore the entire ranch and enjoy amazing views of wildlife in their natural setting as well as some old homestead sites.

While this is not a "dude ranch", it is a working ranch with everything done on horseback and the family would welcome you to observe the different activities that take place day to day. Branding season, gathering and sorting are especially great opportunities for photography.

This "off the grid" vacation cabin is a dream destination for bird watchers and photographers. There have been returning great horned owls. It is also located right in the heart of a diligently maintained Mountain Blue Bird Trail. Along the 20 mile road to town, enjoy amazing views of the Flathead river as it cuts through the sheared off clay banks.

Just 8 miles to the Flathead River fishing access Sloan's Bridge, this is also a popular "put-in and take-out" spot for rafters. Our guests find we are a perfect proximity to all of the attractions in the Flathead. Spend a day at the Bison Range and then another at Glacier Park. Make sure you check out the fishing and recreating on Flathead lake as well.

Traveling from Yellowstone to Glacier? We are the perfect stopping point between these 2 amazing national parks. The cabin is fully furnished and equipped with a dishwasher, coffee maker, microwave, full size fridge/freezer, stove and bbq grill. It has all the bedding and towels and dishes needed for our guests. It includes a washer and dryer as well.

Very nice!

Cool!

Righteous shed right there!
Certainly does not seem especially spendy either.....

It's very unique in its offering.
Not a place you'd just stumble across either.

WOW! That would be a dream hunt for me. I have hunted elk with horses out of a tent several times, talk about no frills! That cabin is the Ritz in comparison.

Where I have hunted elk in AB, it's mostly very thick bush, a lot of walking, unless you have a horse and quite a few Grizz. I love seeing elk country in the USA, way prettier and open then in Canada.

Is it all on foot, or can they provide horses and guides for extra $$$? Can you even get a license if you are a Canadian?

Great post JeffA ~ KB

I'll take it.........

Nice

Love this

oh that would be a nice place for a week away

Wow does that bring back memories of working during college on the Bison Range, not far from Ronan.

Sprinting on a horse within reach of a bull bison, trying to get them into chutes for vaccinations is an experience one doesn’t easily forget.

I was a cowboy too, isn't that the best way to spend a summer, on a horse on the range? I participated in branding as well, ever get kicked in the Family Jewels while branding. The only unfun thing I experienced lol

Got to work with some exceptional quarter horses, one was a famous rodeo roping champion, his name was "Famous Amos"

I've been all over the ranch, it's exactly like the Bison Range but just a little smaller. It's butted up to other Ranches of similar size on all sides, no real development in the area.

I'd book my stay around Oct.1st. And hope to find those Elk in rut and bugling.

The listing doesn't mention hunting, they'd have to be licensed for that. It'd be worth a call to ask.

They may allow you to bring a side x side along for getting around, that's another question I'd have to ask.

I am jealous, best of luck JeffA, hope you slam a giant!

Does renting it as a VRBO give visitors the right to hunt?
One would think if it did that would certainly be mentioned and no doubt more expensive to rent during that period.

Osky

I don't know if hunting big game is allowed, it'd be worth asking.

I do know this place isn't popular in the sense that it's not booked up, I checked availability, lots of open slots.

It's outta the way, lots of gravel road to get there. Just as stated, it's in-between everything yet close to nothing.

Typical tourist looking for a place in Montana isn't going to find this. It's too far from the more popular destinations.

In the reviews one individual stated they were going back to bird hunt.

After seeing this thread and reliving my Cowboy days and the great horses I got to ride, it made me think of my favorite Johnny Cash song so I thought I would post it here for you guys to enjoy too.

Johnny Cash is the man!

You are dreaming if you believe hunting rights come with the rental

http://csktnrd.org/regulations-applications

Keep in mind, if you rent the cabin you’re not in the state of Montana, per se, you are on a reservation. Any legal matters that come up on your stay would be adjudicated as such.

Hello brother irfubar, can't a man dream?

I don't want to pet elk, I want to eat them lol

Brother Bee.... sorry buddy ... the truth can be painful.... if you would prefer I could spread some manure....

No sir I like your straightforwardness, matter of fact your news is so depressing I just opened a new bottle of Jack Daniels. I will only hate you in the morning, until the headache clears! lol

That's the "spirit" my friend....

I was trying to be nice and keep the fantasy alive.

Still worth asking, one never know for sure where a couple zeros added to the nightly rate might take you.

Do you know where it's at?

My winter graze payment was sent to the owners in Chicago, just a ranch manager onsite.

#pray4corruptmanager

Bigger than my house and I didn't build a fancy fireplace. I thought about it but didn't feel the need to cut even more firewood. I like the area. It's about 100 miles south of me, I believe. GD

Jeff,
I don't know exactly where it's located. From the description my guess would be North West of the bison refuge on the reservation. It is probably deeded land and I honestly have no idea how that affects hunting rules & regs.
I just know people don't give away hunting opportunities... but as you say a few extra Benjamins might grease the skids....

If I was going to approach the manager about hunting, I'd book a couple nights first and bring it up in conversation over a couple beers.

5000 leased 5000 privately owned.

To get there heading south toward Ronan it's a right hand turn in the middle of Ronan at what once was Ronans only traffic light.

Just prior to that road ending, you hang a left and go down to the river where Sloan's Bridge crosses over.

Easier just to find 'Sloan's Bridge' on the map west of Ronan and go from there.

After you cross the bridge, go to the end of the road, it tees.
From right at the tee, your looking right up at the ranch.

The entrance is to the left of the tee, it's on the map listed as Whiskey Trail, 20 miles west of Ronan.

Pretty easy to find, great drive but all gravel.

If you turned right at the tee by the ranch you can get to 28 by Hot Springs.

Deeded land or not no big game hunting for non tribal members on the rez.

I suspect this is correct, as I have never heard of people (non tribal) hunting deeded land

Sweet. Thanks for the share. My kiddo plays ball in Missoula and we are always up for new experiences in the region - we visit all of the time now.

Maybe these are farmed elk privately owned by the ranch...?

If you book and stay you should pull this thread back up and give us a review.

Illegal in Montana to hunt game farms.

Non registered members can hunt predators on Montana Rez’s, at least the ones I’ve been on but only when accompanied by a registered member. These folks including one tribal lady I spoke with about a month ago repeated the big game rules to me. I didn’t think to ask about small game but I’m not sure why that would be any different? Licensed game is licensed game.
I had not caught from the listing that it was Rez land.

Osky

Looked into it.


For information on rentals contact,
Roundoak @ Trophy Whitetail ExperiencesBS/spread.com
Farmalogalier WI

Tell me about the wind....

I'm not at all experienced in Montana. How is the Upland hunting in that area? Got a few 1 year old bird dogs in our family that are going to be ready for some adventures next fall.

You're no fun to take anywhere.

It'd be strong for Grouse, Franklin's maybe Blue's.
The bottom agricultural areas most often have Pheasant, not so sure up around that ridge or those draws.

Lots of Bald Eagles around, it is the Rez, maybe they'd sell ya a tag.

Something inspired one of the ranches clients that posted a review to say he was going back to bird hunt.

You shoulda met that calnum dude!

When you buy a license can you say that you are a distant relative of Elizabeth Warren and your high cheekbones proves that you are in fact 1/4 Cheyenne and 1/4 Chippewa, which would make you eligible as a Tribal Native American Indian?

Losttrail: I believe YOU are wrong in your contention.
I know many Big Game Hunters who are NOT "tribal members" and are as "white" as the day is long who have Hunted Antelope, Elk, Bear, Mule Deer, Moose and Whitetailed Deer on various "Indian Reservations" in Montana!
In fact I worked for 29 years with a tribal member of the "Blackfeet Indian Nation" and he now guides "non-tribal member" Hunters every year on that reservation all fall long.
Back when he and I worked together he guided part-time (a month each fall) on that reservation and every one of his clients that I saw pictures of was white.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

Like usual VG is full of [bleep].

If you can read and understand what you read it’s all in the FWP regs. Doubt you can comprehend.

I don’t know how they do it in Montana but I’ve hunted the Indian reservations here and in Utah. Here I buy the various tribal hunting permit for $10 and hunt the areas open. In Utah we hired a couple of Indian guides (Ute) for $100 each per day. It’s common knowledge here that many of the reservations are NOT rich in game since conservation has been replaced in the Indian lexicon with greed. Many of the reservations, especially on the west side, are virtual wastelands devoid of game. With the advent of pickup trucks, centerfire repeating rifles and the liquor store the big game populations on our reservations are severely depleted which is why the Indians can be seen running down herds in their pickup trucks firing their AK47’s at everything that moves on open public ground.

OK, I know facts have a tendency to screw up everything but here goes..

Big Game Hunting on the Blackfoot Rez (YES)


TRIBAL LEADERS, LANDOWNERS CLASH OVER PRIVATE-LAND HUNTING LEGISLATION 2021
The House Fish, Wildlife and Parks Committee on Tuesday afternoon and evening heard testimony from about 40 supporters and opponents of House Bill 241, which would allow big game hunting on fee lands owned by non-tribal citizens within the boundaries of an Indian reservation.


House bill to change hunting regulations on tribal lands fails
Tammy McAllister, 20-year owner of the 10,000-acre Whiskey Trail Ranch in Ferry Basin that rents lodging and highlights its hiking, wildlife and photography opportunities. She said that her land was considered part of the CSKT Ferry Basin Elk Reserve and more than 600 head of elk are on the property and has spent $40,000 to put an elk fence on the property.

“One year we opened it up to tribal members to hunt,” she said, adding that they harvested 10 bulls and six cows. “But over the past two years, we backed off and only went with tribal members we knew — just for comfort.”

I thought I recognized that fireplace. I have climbed on it. . Many moons ago. As BGG says, it is on the Rez, so no bg game, unless you are sneeky. Lots of elk. Very nice cow country, crappy rez and the people to go with it.

Tag

Nice

Reminder...

June is booked solid, one week in July still open.

August on through the rest of the season pretty open..

Glacier National Park promising to be more restrictive and congested than ever due to road and bridge construction throughout the park all summer.

https://izaakwaltoninn.com/ on the southern side of GP will be closed all summer. Property changed owners and it's being remodeled.

The Whiskey Trail Ranch vacation rental could be a prime alternative for some.



https://www.vrbo.com/935193?arrival=2023-07-18&departure=2023-07-24&unitId=1483139

I could tolerate that for a decade or two if there is no cell service. Can one harvest firewood up in the timber?