Three Creek Preserve

Three Creek Preserve is one of the largest privately owned, permanently conserved wildlife sanctuaries in the American West. Spanning 32,435 contiguous acres of high-desert mountains, canyons, and grasslands in Eastern Oregon, every acre of this property is protected in perpetuity under an Agricultural Working Lands Conservation Easement. This is not a ranch that happens to have wildlife. It is a wildlife preserve that is actively managed as a working landscape, with regenerative cattle grazing and carefully stewarded trophy hunting serving as the primary tools that keep the land healthy, resilient, and wild. For the conservation-minded buyer, Three Creek Preserve is a rare opportunity: to own a landscape-scale wilderness, safeguard critical habitat for generations, and participate in one of the most thoughtful models of working-lands conservation in the West. At a Glance Size: 32,435 deeded acres, 100% under conservation easement Location: Malheur County, Eastern Oregon — the heart of “America’s Outback” Elevation: 2,900 – 6,200 feet Access: Year-round paved access via US Highway 26 (approximately 3 miles of the highway cross the property interior) Zoning: Exclusive Range Use (ERU) Stewardship History: Over 70 years of continuous single-family management Conservation Partner: Oregon Agricultural Trust (OAT), in coordination with Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife (ODFW) World-Class Wildlife Habitat Decades of careful stewardship have produced one of the finest private wildlife properties in the interior West. The mosaic of habitats — from Juniper Mountain’s north-facing timbered slopes, to the open grasslands of Cow Valley, to the sage-covered highlands and deep canyon breaks of the Kennel Range — supports resident populations that rival any landscape in Oregon. Elk: An estimated 300–500 Rocky Mountain elk reside on the property year-round, with one of Oregon’s highest documented mature bull-to-cow ratios Mule Deer: Resident and migratory populations across the full elevation gradient Pronghorn Antelope: Established herds on the open grasslands and sage flats Upland Birds: Chukar, California and valley quail, and Greater Sage-Grouse Trophy Record: Boone & Crockett–class big game has historically been taken on the ranch Trophy Hunting as a Stewardship Tool On Three Creek Preserve, hunting is not a side enterprise — it is a management tool that funds and reinforces the long-term health of the herd and the land. A disciplined, low-pressure trophy program keeps age classes balanced, maintains genetic quality, and generates revenue that is reinvested in habitat work, water development, and fire resilience. The property qualifies for Oregon’s Landowner Preference Program, providing reliable tag access that can be retained, shared with family and guests, or marketed through a guided program. This is private-land hunting at its finest: large-scale, lightly hunted, and set against a permanently protected backdrop — the way the American West’s greatest hunting properties have always worked best. Regenerative Cattle Grazing as a Stewardship Tool Conservation does not mean the end of ranching — at Three Creek Preserve, ranching is the conservation. Well-planned cattle grazing is the single most effective tool for maintaining grassland health, reducing catastrophic fuel loads, and supporting the native plant communities that sage-grouse, elk, and mule deer depend on. 16 pastures under a science-based, multi-pasture rest-rotation grazing system Each pasture is rested at least once every three years to allow native forage to fully recover Grazing serves dual purposes: productive cattle income and natural fuel-load reduction for wildfire resilience Existing infrastructure supports efficient, low-overhead operations The next owner can continue the current program, scale it, or lease the grazing — in every case, the land’s ecological values are protected forever. The Landscape Three Creek Preserve is a landscape of scale and drama. The property climbs from the open floor of Cow Valley, across the rolling sage-and-bunchgrass highlands of the Kennel Range, and up the timbered north slopes of Juniper Mountain. Deep canyons, spring-fed draws, aspen pockets, and juniper savannas break the terrain into an extraordinary diversity of habitats. Panoramic views reach across the high desert to the distant peaks of the Elkhorn Mountains. The property is bordered primarily by other large private ranches and limited BLM lands — offering exceptional privacy, dark night skies, and a true sense of wilderness. Improvements & Infrastructure Two existing residences Three domestic wells Six stock wells Numerous natural springs More than 40 stock ponds distributed across the pasture system Well-maintained perimeter and interior fencing Year-round paved highway access (US Highway 26) Location & Access The preserve is located along US Highway 26, five miles east of the ranching community of Ironside and 35 miles northwest of Vale, Oregon. Boise, Idaho: 5 hours — full commercial airport and urban services Ontario, Oregon: 15 miles east of Vale — retail, medical services, and a general-aviation airport Climate: Semi-arid high desert with four distinct seasons, mild valley winters, and dramatic summer evenings over Juniper Mountain