Wyoming's largest land owner proposes land swap with BLM in Carbon County

[RuRu12]

Q Creek Ranch will be holding an open house to discuss a potential land exchange with the BLM. The meeting will be held in the Hanna Elementary School gym on Thursday, February 20th at 6 pm. The intent of the meeting will be to inform the public of the concept Q Creek is working on and to solicit initial thoughts from the public. Any interested community members are welcome to attend.

Q Creek Ranch​

Carbon County, WY
arcg.is

Q Creek is marketing this land swap a beneficial to the public. It looks to me like they are trying to consolidate their property and cut off access to BLM through potential corner crossing.

 

[SAJ-99]

That was labeled as submitted over 2 years ago. Just getting around to a public meeting now? Locals with more in-depth knowledge of the area would provide the best opinion. I hope they attend and give their opinion.

 

[Carl 9.3x62]

I haven't looked to closely at it but it doesn't look terrible.

 

[RuRu12]

I haven't looked to closely at it but it doesn't look terrible.

It is terrible. They want to trade desert for prime elk habitat, and cut off BLM from road access points to prohibit corner crossing.

 

[SAJ-99]

It is terrible. They want to trade desert for prime elk habitat, and cut off BLM from road access points to prohibit corner crossing.

With a closer look, I think you are right. They are taking the mountains. A color key on the map would be useful.

 

[Carl 9.3x62]

It is terrible. They want to trade desert for prime elk habitat, and cut off BLM from road access points to prohibit corner crossing.

Have you hunted elk there? There are definitely aspects of it I don't like.

 

[RuRu12]

Have you hunted elk there? There are definitely aspects of it I don't like.

I hunted Unit 16 type 2 in 2023 for elk.

 

[brymoore]

Have you hunted elk there? There are definitely aspects of it I don't like.

Killed a bull on the mountain.

 

[WapitiBob]

I've been all over that unit as has Buzz. They want to trade the Hanna hma stuff for the east side country that has had an increasing Elk presence over the last several years. Hanna was pretty good till they ran the powerline thru it.
Buzz is on his way home from the meeting and should update. I believe this is a Q meeting and an attempt to garner some support before going back to the BLM.

before and after

 

[rmyoung1]

Serious question: With the ubiquitousness of digital mapping software and the real prospect of legal corner-crossing, do land consolidation projects still hold the same kind of value to the public?

 

[SAJ-99]

Serious question: With the ubiquitousness of digital mapping software and the real prospect of legal corner-crossing, do land consolidation projects still hold the same kind of value to the public?

The only value would be less conflict, for them and for public, and maybe for whatever LE outfit has to take the phone calls.

 

[jimss]

A better proposition for the public would be to increase the HMA acreage in some of the areas on the east side! This current public land would be totally lost with the swap. Having the entire east side off limits to the public will provide a giant private elk haven with no hunting pressure.

 

[Maverick1]

I've been all over that unit as has Buzz. They want to trade the Hanna hma stuff for the east side country that has had an increasing Elk presence over the last several years. Hanna was pretty good till they ran the powerline thru it.
Buzz is on his way home from the meeting and should update. I believe this is a Q meeting and an attempt to garner some support before going back to the BLM.

before and after

So, basically Stan wants to own the Shirley mountain, enclosed by the Prior Flat Road / Difficulty Road / Shirley Mountain Loop Road, and everything to the east of it / the front range of the Shirleys? And leave the backside to the public. That would create a giant portion of private land. And pretty much encircle the entire elk crucial range in the area? Wow.

I wonder what the Q would charge for a guided hunt on their land after that? $$$$$$$ Late season tag there.

 

[Carl 9.3x62]

A better proposition for the public would be to increase the HMA acreage in some of the areas on the east side! This current public land would be totally lost with the swap. Having the entire east side off limits to the public will provide a giant private elk haven with no hunting pressure.

They already have a gigantic elk haven with no hunting pressure.

 

[WapitiBob]

And pretty much encircle the entire elk crucial range in the area? Wow.

I wonder what the Q would charge for a guided hunt on their land after that? $$$$$$$ Late season tag there.

That's how i see it.

 

[BuzzH]

I haven't looked to closely at it but it doesn't look terrible.

Its pure horseshit...Pronghorn and elk hunting opportunity would be greatly reduced.

Not sure why I should be posting this and the only reason is because someone else made the OP and wanted an update. So, here it is.

1. This is in the very early stages, but Q has hired a firm out of Denver/Golden to help facilitate the trade. The presentation was given by a Q employee.

2. About 120-130 probably in attendance, most locals but some from Rock Springs, Laramie, etc.

3. Most in attendance did not seem to like the trade, in person/person conversations I had with some of the folks there, none were in favor.

4. The hunting was a big issue, concentrating elk was a big issue, some issues with BLM leases for grazing.

5. Sounds like if the BLM won't play ball the Q may make a run at a land package through Congress. There is issues with valuation in the differences in the land in question. In no shock, the land Q would acquire is clearly way more valuable, better quality habitat, has more wildlife...no question.

6. Q did seem to want to address the issue of hunting their private if the exchange were to happen. First thing, there is NO way the public will be hunting bull elk on Q property if the exchange goes through. There is some desire to have the public help to control cow elk, essentially use hunters as a management tool, but excluding them from any kind of bull hunting. Pronghorn seem like a possibility, deer a maybe. But, there really aren't many deer in any of that country.

What my opinion is, the Public Hunter is going to get the chit end of the stick. We're trading really good pockets of hunting throughout the whole area that we have now, for lower quality hunting in the West side. My comments were basically, I'd rather take my chances with what we have now, than to trade it away for a maybe deal to hunt cow elk, maybe pronghorn, and maybe deer. I also reminded the crowd that once this deal is done, its like firing a rifle, that bullet ain't coming back...several in the audience said, "I agree with him!"

Even if Q did live up to their end of the bargain to allow hunting through the HMA program, they can take that away at the snap of a finger, anytime they want. Plus, I'm not convinced that this isn't a play for the current owner to block it up, which would greatly increase the value, and then sell it right away at a significant profit. Gone with a new owner would also be any access per the whim of the new owners.

Personally, I don't like it at all, its not anywhere close to a fair trade in value, access, or hunting quality. The habitat that would be acquired is nowhere near the same quality as what Q would get.

Obviously some may feel differently, but I've hunted a lot of that country and IMO/E its not a good deal for public land hunters.

I can try to answer any questions if anyone has any.

 

[BuzzH]

So, basically Stan wants to own the Shirley mountain, enclosed by the Prior Flat Road / Difficulty Road / Shirley Mountain Loop Road, and everything to the east of it / the front range of the Shirleys? And leave the backside to the public. That would create a giant portion of private land. And pretty much encircle the entire elk crucial range in the area? Wow.

I wonder what the Q would charge for a guided hunt on their land after that? $$$$$$$ Late season tag there.


View attachment 361427

I'm not going to sit back and lose almost all access to the freezeouts.

 

[BuzzH]

Serious question: With the ubiquitousness of digital mapping software and the real prospect of legal corner-crossing, do land consolidation projects still hold the same kind of value to the public?

Not in my opinion...and I said that at the meeting. Corner crossing is already legal and I'll take my chances with the 10th ruling going the right way.

Even if corner crossing were to become illegal, there's still some key areas that don't require corner crossing that are excellent elk hunting that would be lost. Some very good pronghorn hunting as well. The old Hanna Draw HMA is a friggin' wasteland for pronghorn. For whatever reason the pronghorn in there have essentially ZERO recruitment and last time I hunted it for pronghorn I maybe saw 15 pronghorn. I hunted it the first year it was opened and it was pretty awesome, several hundred. A hunttalker that used to post here took a B&C pronghorn out there when I recommend he hunt it. Last time I drew the tag, I didn't even bother applying for the HMA, the pronghorn hunting in there is about like fishing the dead sea. I've talked with biologists and they don't know what's going on in that part of the unit.

 

[rmyoung1]

Thanks, @BuzzH

 

[dan.kirkpatrick]

thanks for the info on the q buzz,,i hunted there a couple years ago and think hanna draw is good the way it is,,no land exchanges please.