Bridgeport, OR 97819 - Baker County

Location: Auburn Creek Ranch is located 30 miles south of Baker City, Oregon and north of Unity, Oregon 26 miles in the Burnt River Valley.

Acreage: 2729 +/-

Water: The Burnt River winds of a mile through the meadows of the ranch with Auburn Creek flowing year round 2.5 miles providing water for livestock, wildlife and some irrigation on the lower end of the creek. Multiple springs are located around the ranch with some improved.

Livestock: It is estimated that the ranch could sustain 100-125 pairs annually. If management objectives changed, the owner could run more cows by running them on some of the irrigated fields but in turn may have to purchase hay. The ranch is currently being leased for grazing and hay production. This is a year to year lease which can be continued or denied by the new owner.

Irrigation: There are 197.5 irrigated acres that are currently being utilized by the owner. Triticale and Alfalfa are the current crops. A complete new irrigation system was installed in 2014 with new main and lateral lines. Two PODs can provide water to anywhere there is irrigation on the ranch. The current owner has found that large diesel generators pump the water from PODs more cost effectively than power from the local company. These generator/pumps will be included in the sale. Flood, wheel and some hand line cover all irrigated acres. 500-600 tons of hay will be taken off the ranch for 2015. The Burnt River Irrigation district has not had the problems other water districts have had these past few drought years due to relatively few irrigators and a large impoundment of water. Water right information will be supplied to qualified buyers at their request.

Topography: The lower portion of the ranch has varied terrain which consists of flat irrigated meadows to gently rolling hills the farther you push north. This turns into more mountainous tree covered slopes the higher in elevation that you climb. Two large drainages are found in the upper pastures with good stands of variable aged timber.

Improvements: There is a 1950s, 1909 square foot, 3 bedroom 1 bathroom, brick home. This home has central heat and cooling provided by a new heat pump. A large shop, corral system, nice hay shed (approx. 400 tons) and various other outbuildings will also be found close to the main ranch house. There is also a nice hunting cabin located in the northern portion of the ranch with water being supplied by spring.

Mining: This ranch is historically a very sought after mining location in Oregon. The remnants of many old mines and shafts can be seen when touring the ranch. The owner went to great lengths to get 2509 acres of the ranch covered in a conditional use permit to allow mining in an Exclusive Farm Use and Timber-Grazing zones. This means that the new owner will be able to legally extract minerals off of the ranch. All past claims are owned by the ranch and mining rights will be transferred to new buyer. Qualified buyers may contact the office and we will be able to get you more information on the Auburn Gulch and Auburn Creek Ranch Mining Claims.

Wildlife: The topography, cover and quality feed provide excellent habitat for many large game species including elk, deer, Big Horn sheep and bear. Elk quickly become a nuisance when trying to take crops of alfalfa on the ranch. They move in to the ranch more when feed begins to dry and turn brown in the north moving them lower and within feeding distance of the fields. Bulls have been documented in the 360 B&C class. Bucks have been documented in the 185 B&C class. There is an insulated container partially buried in the interior that provides a great blind. The ranch is in the Sumpter and North Sumpter Unit and qualifies for 4 Land Owner Preference (LOP) tags for both elk and deer. There are no LOP tags available for Big Horn sheep although there is one drawn tag annually in the unit. Areas along Auburn Creek have been cleared for special wildlife plantings. Turkeys and grouse can be found in the upper reaches of the ranch while pheasant and quail will be found around the irrigated portions.

General: Property is fenced and cross fenced. Owner surveyed entire ranch with markers on all property boundaries. Ranch also has two 42 +/- acre non-farm dwelling parcels that are buildable. These can be sold or utilized by the ranch. Many of the roads have been rocked to provide good access around the ranch. There is an 80 acre BLM in holding in the center of the ranch that has no easement or access. Besides Bridgeport Lane that dissects approximately 200 acres of the ranch from the balance, there are no public or private easements. Many things, large and small, have been done by the current owner to increase value, quality and ease of use on the ranch.

Price: $2,495,000

Terms: Special terms to qualified buyers include an assumable note of $1,300,000.

Taxes: 2013-14 $4,822.86

You Tube video can be seen at

Wilburn Ranch Brokerage