What happens when a large Montana cattle ranch opens its gates to private hunting and recreation?

In this episode of the LandTrust Podcast, Nic sits down with Brant and Clinton Marsh, the brothers behind 6C Cattle Ranch near the Clark Fork River in western Montana. They break down what it looks like to run a full-scale cattle and farming operation while also managing wildlife-rich ground now available for hunting and outdoor access.

The conversation dives into elk and mule deer movement across irrigated pivots, predator pressure from wolves and coyotes, and how the ranch is evolving habitat to support both agriculture and wildlife. The Marsh brothers also share what they’ve learned transitioning into hosting guests… everything from shed hunting and camping access to what makes a respectful, successful experience on working ranch land.

🎯 What You’ll Learn
– How a working Montana ranch integrates hunting access into daily operations
– What elk, mule deer, whitetail, and predator activity looks like on the ranch
– How irrigation pivots and farm ground influence wildlife movement
– Why habitat development is part of long-term ranch planning
– What shed hunting and seasonal access look like for guests
– What landowners value when hosting hunters on private ground

🌎 Explore 6C Cattle Ranch
https://landtrust.com/l/6c-cattle-ranch-north/69a1341b-1962-4089-860f-40d198663782
https://landtrust.com/l/6c-cattle-ranch-south/69a1338b-2dd6-48fb-906e-231c992e07dd

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#LandTrustPodcast #MontanaRanch #HuntingAccess #ElkHunting #MuleDeerHunting #PrivateLandHunting #RanchLife #LandStewardship #ClarkForkRiver #HuntingMontana #ConservationHunting
 

⏱️ Chapters
00:00 – Intro: Montana ranch hunting access
01:15 – Meet the Marsh brothers & 6C Cattle Ranch
03:30 – From leased ranch to LandTrust listing
06:00 – South vs. north side of the property breakdown
08:20 – Elk herds, mule deer, and whitetail presence
11:10 – Wolves, coyotes, and predator dynamics
13:40 – Irrigation pivots and agricultural expansion
16:30 – Fishing access on the Clark Fork River
18:45 – Ranch history and multi-generation operations
21:10 – Building wildlife habitat alongside farming
23:00 – Hosting hunters and shed hunting season
25:30 – What makes a good guest experience
27:00 – Closing thoughts

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Website: landtrust.com