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