Stays at Chico Basin Ranch are a full immersion into life on our 87,000 acre working cattle ranch. Here’s a glimpse of what you can expect from each month on the ranch.
JANUARY
High: 43’F
Low: 18’F
Weather overview: possible snow
Daily ranch activities will include: breaking ice in water tanks and general pasture checks
Possible ranch activities include: moving cattle to a new pasture in keeping with our rotational grazing practices, and fencing repair and maintenance
Possible animal sightings during this month include: porcupines, badgers, and pronghorn traveling in large groups
FEBRUARY
High: 45’F
Low: 20’F
Weather overview: possible snow, high winds
Daily ranch activities will include: breaking ice in water tanks, general pasture checks
Possible ranch activities include: moving cattle to a new pasture in keeping with our rotational grazing practices, and fencing repair and maintenance
Possible animal sightings during this month include: porcupines, badgers, and pronghorn traveling in large groups
MARCH
High: 52’F
Low: 26’F
Weather overview: windy
Daily ranch activities will include: sorting out heifers in preparation for calving season; the first calves of the season typically start dropping in March!
Possible ranch activities include: moving cattle to a new pasture in keeping with our rotational grazing practices, and fencing repair and maintenance
Possible animal sightings during this month include: Meadowlarks return to ranch, Mountain Bluebirds migrate through
APRIL
High: 60’F
Low: 33’F
Weather overview: warmer, windy, landscape begins greening up
Daily ranch activities will include: daily heifer checks
Possible ranch activities include: first branding possible at the end of the month, moving cattle to a new pasture in keeping with our rotational grazing practices, and fencing repair and maintenance
Possible animal sightings/activities during this month include: spring bird migration, bird banding takes place on the ranch
MAY
High: 69’F
Low: 43’F
Weather overview: warmer, windy
Daily ranch activities will include: daily heifer checks
Possible ranch activities include: cattle branding, moving cattle to a new pasture in keeping with our rotational grazing practices, fencing repair and maintenance
Possible animal sightings/activities during this month include: spring bird migration, bird banding takes place on the ranch, reptiles emerge as temps warm up, prickly pear blooming, wildflower season begins
JUNE
High: 79’F
Low: 51’F
Weather overview: thunderstorms possible (historic monsoon season)
Daily ranch activities will include: daily heifer checks
Possible ranch activities include: cattle branding, bringing the bulls in to sort and put out with the cows, moving cattle to a new pasture in keeping with our rotational grazing practices, and fencing repair and maintenance
Possible animal sightings during this month include: deer and pronghorn fawning, birds nesting in cholla and on the ground, prickly pear blooming, cholla bloom (end of the month)
JULY
High: 85’F
Low: 57’F
Weather overview: thunderstorms possible (historic monsoon season)
Daily ranch activities will include: daily heifer checks
Possible ranch activities include: cattle branding (end of branding season), sort and possibly ship any open heifers (start of bull breeding season), moving cattle to a new pasture in keeping with our rotational grazing practices, and fencing repair and maintenance
Possible animal sightings during this month include: ornate box turtles, birds nesting in cholla and on the ground, cholla blooming, sunflowers blooming
AUGUST
High: 82’F
Low: 56’F
Weather overview: thunderstorms possible (historic monsoon season)
Daily ranch activities will include: general checks
Possible ranch activities include: cattle sorting, sorting and shipping bulls, moving cattle to a new pasture in keeping with our rotational grazing practices, and fencing repair and maintenance
Possible animal sightings/activities during this month include: ranch rodeos (Hugo, Colorado Springs, Pueblo)
SEPTEMBER
High: 75’F
Low: 40’F
Weather overview: warm, wind possible
Daily ranch activities will include: general checks
Possible ranch activities include: moving cattle to a new pasture in keeping with our rotational grazing practices, fencing repair and maintenance
Possible animal sightings during this month include: tarantulas begin migrating across southern end of the ranch, fall bird migration, bird banding, fall colors change
OCTOBER
High: 63’F
Low: 36’F
Weather overview: snow possible
Daily ranch activities will include: general checks/ weaned calves check
Possible ranch activities include: preg-checking herds and weaning calves from herds, moving cattle to a new pasture in keeping with our rotational grazing practices, and fencing repair and maintenance
Possible animal sightings during this month include: pronghorn begin to merge into larger groups for winter, fall colors
NOVEMBER
High: 51’F
Low: 25’F
Weather overview: snow possible
Daily ranch activities will include: general checks/ weaned calves check, mineral tub rotation
Possible ranch activities include: moving cattle to a new pasture in keeping with our rotational grazing practices, and fencing repair and maintenance
Possible animal sightings during this month include: porcupines, badgers, bobcats, pronghorn begin to merge into larger groups for winter
DECEMBER
High: 42’F
Low: 17’F
Weather overview: cold, possible snow
Daily ranch activities will include: general checks, breaking ice in water tanks, mineral tub rotation
Possible ranch activities include: moving cattle to a new pasture in keeping with our rotational grazing practices, and fencing repair and maintenance
Possible animal sightings during this month include: porcupines, badgers, bobcats, pronghorn begin to merge into larger groups for winter
