Nuckolls Ranch Inc. from Wyoming
What Makes Them Outstanding?
The JW Nuckolls Ranch has been under the same family ownership for 100 years. It was homesteaded in 1917. Periodic timber production has been a focus on this ranch since the 1920s. Active management has been occurring ever since. Now the ranch is home to the 5th generation and the management is more intensive and more important. With trees covering almost half the property, forest management is a big factor to this beef and wool producing family ranch.
Tree Farmer Story
Nearly one hundred years ago, JW Nuckolls father acquired his ranch just north of Devil’s Tower. He told his son that at that time there were few trees and not a fence between there and the Powder River to the west. That was the start of what is now 5 generations on the Nuckolls Ranch up in Barlow Canyon, near Hulett, WY. In 1925 and 26 the first harvest was implemented. The lumber produced was used to build the house, barn, other out buildings and corrals. Timber was considered a side benefit, the ranch’s main focus was and still is beef and wool production. The ranch had a second harvest in the 40s producing saw logs. In 1974 the Ranch received the Outstanding Conservation Award from the Devil’s Tower Conservation District.
In 1986 the Nuckolls were certified into the American Tree Farm System. By the late 1970s and early 80s selection harvests were implemented to improve the timber. The first thinning was implemented on 300 acres. The Nuckolls were very impressed with the result. The good trees were growing and with an increased growth rate. More importantly for the ranch, grass and forage improved in between the trees, after the harvest, providing for enhanced grazing of the livestock. Sheep would be in the following spring, and climbing over the slash to eat the new grass. The local contractors who performed the thinning also saw the possibilities and benefits for improving forest stands. Since then the Nuckolls take every opportunity to thin and maintain their forested acres. Besides grazing, water is a major concern on the Nuckolls ranch. The concern is, the availability, the quality, plus the impact of running water in the highly erodible soils.
JW’s father talked of hearing the water run down from the hills at the home place, now with so many trees you no longer have water running. Numerous water sources have been developed for the use of livestock and the abundant wildlife. But not all water flow is good, the seasonal flow from Sawmill Creek would regularly eat away the banks and wash out access roads. With some careful planning, bank stabilization was implemented. Drastically reducing the soil lost to erosion.As the ranch heads into its centennial year, the forestry work continues. Commercial thinning and noncommercial thinning, along with a selective harvest are being implemented. They are weeding the forests. It is improving the resiliency to insects, disease and catastrophic wildfire. The commercial thinning is producing wood posts. The selective harvest is removing the poorer growing stock and is being milled on site by a local contractor. JW is willing to consider new utilization. How can the woody residue be utilized in a good and profitable manor?What do the future years hold for the Nuckolls’s Ranch?
Hopefully an economically viable one, where the forest provides its share with continued quality forest management.
Wood
Harvests have been occurring periodically since the 1920s. But more recently (since the 1980s) with forethought and planning for what will be left. Thinnings have been implemented since the 80s developing good quality growing stands. Over 50 acres were thinned in the last year, removing the dog hair stands and reducing the number of damaged trees.
Water
Water is a major concern. To reduce soil loss to stream bank erosion, practices were implemented to stabilize creek banks. Large tires were anchored in to the stream banks to prevent the washing of the soil and to maintain stream water quality. In this arid area developed water is a must. The less livestock have to walk from the graze to get water the better. The Nuckolls have developed multiple springs and have drilled wells to increase the available water supply. Along with these developments, pipelines were constructed to move the water to tanks, available to livestock and the many deer.
Wildlife Including Threatened and Endangered Species
The wildlife is considered a part of a healthy forest. The same activities that benefit the livestock benefit much of the area’s wildlife. Deer and turkey abound, Mountain Lions are common.
Recreation and Aesthetics Including Special Sites
Management on this ranch is implemented to be the best possible. So if it is something that others can learn from, it can be used for demonstrational purposes. Aesthetics illustrating a good working ranch is important.
