Golden Eagle Ranch

Details & Features

Where can you go to buy one property that will consistently provide the hunting of multiple species, four of which: mallard ducks, Canada geese, whitetail deer, and Merriam’s turkey, on a world-class level… without ever leaving it? Where can you go to purchase the control that can only come from owning five miles (both sides) with braided channels, backwaters, islands, sandbars, and riparian habitat… on one of the most revered hunting rivers in the country? Where can you go to acquire water rights… enough to implement and maintain incredible habitat work… which in turn produces clouds of waterfowl… in a world fighting fiercely for its use? The Golden Eagle Ranch (GER), located in Northeast Colorado, offers one of the rare times you can actually come up with these answers.

The Golden Eagle Ranch is one of those rare sporting assets whose reputation among hunters is one of grandeur and rich legacy with waterfowl populations that are nothing short of legendary, deer genetics of true record-setting quality, and an abundance of water; that most critical of land components, which the Golden Eagle Ranch has in spades. From the 5+ miles of the South Platte River with side channels and sloughs ribboning throughout the vast riparian corridor to the irrigated ground under pivot and flooded wetland complexes, Golden Eagle Ranch offers the finest in wildlife habitat for the discerning big game, waterfowl, and upland hunting enthusiast who is looking for best of the best for each. The thoughtful and deliberate land stewardship under which the ranch has been managed for the past 30+ years has resulted in a personal hunting kingdom, the likes of which simply cannot be duplicated. Golden Eagle Ranch stands alone in NE Colorado and the surrounding region as “best in class,” given the vast habitat contained within its boundaries, incomparable water resources and both the resident and migratory wildlife. While a true turn-key opportunity, the ranch also offers an incoming owner a host of options for further habitat development projects to build upon the already legendary status of this one-of-a-kind sporting destination.

Location

The ranch is located two hours drive time from Denver via Interstate -76, and two hours from Fort Collins and Greeley. General aviation is served by airports in both Sterling, Colorado (19 miles) and Sydney, Nebraska (23 miles).

Acreage

Current ownership has painstakingly assembled a contiguous piece of land that can only be described as a true wildlife sanctuary. With +2,074 acres, the Golden Eagle Ranch boasts over five miles of the main stem of the South Platte River and seven miles of riparian corridors including the primary river channel, as well as side channels, sloughs and ditches.

Water Rights and Irrigation

Golden Eagle Ranch also controls extensive, senior water rights, which are utilized for production under pivot and flood irrigation via several ditch systems, as well as via two high volume irrigation wells for flooding wetland complexes during waterfowl season. The ranch has 150 cfs of water rights dating to 1883, and 40 cfs of rights with priority dates of 1895 are among some of the rights controlled by the ranch. The result of the extensive water rights is a productive agricultural component of the ranch, as well as producing abundant forage and cover for the vast wildlife.
Working in close collaboration with Ducks Unlimited, the current ranch owners have completed extensive habitat improvement projects for the benefit of migratory waterfowl on the land and have protected the ranch by way of a conservation easement in favor of DU for the long-term benefit. A new wetland complex broke ground in Spring 2021, in collaboration with Ducks Unlimited; this will only serve to further improve the already exceptional waterfowl habitat onsite.

The River

The South Platte River starts high in the Rocky Mountains and flows east through Denver all the way to Nebraska serving as the principal water source for Eastern Colorado. The lower South Platte River corridor has historically supported the largest volume of wintering ducks and highest numbers of ducks harvested in any region in Colorado. In partnership with Ducks Unlimited, the Golden Eagle Ranch has been strategic in creating natural waterfowl habitat and refuge areas and focused on effective management and conservation in order to maintain the high quality of hunting the ranch has enjoyed for over 30 years.

Wildlife and Hunting

The reason for this is ownership’s steadfast commitment to managing the hunting pressure and creating mature habitat. The deer on the ranch have been archery hunted exclusively for the past 30+ years. Ownership has seen 190- 200” bucks that could have been harvested were it not for the commitment to archery-only hunting practices. This legacy Colorado ranch could produce the next state record whitetail buck. Census numbers estimate wintering duck populations between 10,000-20,000 depending on the weather conditions during the seasons. Hundreds of wild turkey inhabit the ranch at all times with numbers increasing in the fall and winter months. Upland bird populations are also strong with pheasant and quail finding refuge in the tall grasses on the Southeast side of the ranch.

The Lodge

Ranch improvements consist of a six- bedroom, five-bathroom hunting lodge with full kitchen and dining table for twelve. After a day hunting the property, relax in the oversized great room, which opens to the kitchen and dining area. Adjacent to the lodge is an additional storage garage complete with decoy and ATV storage, kennels, and a commercial-grade game processing facility. The lodge is well positioned with great privacy and is set up with a series of gear lockers, well-suited for an incoming partnership group or multiple families.
There is a modest ranch manager’s home at the primary entrance to the ranch. Additional building envelopes are designated should an incoming owner or ownership group want to expand the lodge footprint or add more structures to the ranch.

Summary

With over five miles of the main stem of the South Platte River and seven miles of riparian corridors including the primary river channel, as well as side channels, sloughs and ditches – Golden Eagle Ranch offers the best of the best for waterfowl hunting in northeast Colorado. This +2,074 acre property offers hunting and wildlife refuge with incomparable size, quality and water resources; this is a truly special offering that rarely sees the open market.

• Over 5 miles of the South Platte River (both sides) with all its multiple braided channels, islands, and diverse riparian habitat
• The hunting of 8 game species, 4 on a world-class level
• Annual populations of wintering mallards and Canadas numbering in the thousands
• Whitetail deer in the 190-200” class.
• Abundant turkey, pheasant, and quail with enhancement opportunities for each
• 4 moist-soil flood fields constructed by Ducks Unlimited that attract, hold, and provide the tremendous hunting of ducks and geese
• Water rights, both senior and adjudicated, and permitted to be used for irrigating crops in the summer as well as flooding waterfowl habitat in the winter
• Large 6-bedroom/ 5-bathroom lodge with detached storage building, kennels, and game cleaning station