Howe Ranch Fence Removal

By Briant Wiles

With the elk bugling and the temps starting to come down in the mountains of central Colorado my mind drifts back to the heat of the summer and one of my most memorable fence pulls this year. It was a few months ago that the BHA stewardship team headed north of Hayden, CO but came back with a renewed sense of purpose knowing that there are so many good folks out there fighting the good fight. 

Somewhere between old west lore and a new western conscious sits the Howe Ranch. Back up yonder in the hills as it may be appropriately said of where the Howe Family has been living with the seasons for nearly fifty years. Their small slice of heaven is some 40 minutes of travel from the nearest town and the last half mile is traversed over snow in the winter. But yes they do get mail delivered daily. Mail is not all that connects Emily, Jeremiah, and Penny Howe to the world at large; Satellites link up with their cabin and to one of their weather stations that (is part of large research project). It is also safe to say that the Howes know every inch of the ranch. Not only will Emily tell you the type of mountain shrub that just smacked you in the face, service berry in many cases, Jeremiah will wax poetically about its role in the ecosystem, and penny can probably tell you the last person to wrestle with that particular bush. It is their commitment to the land with a clear vision and understanding of the ecological roles it takes on that makes it a pleasure to know them. 

The Howe Ranch occupies an area of habitat important to deer, elk, antelope, greater sage and sharptail grouse to name a few. The surrounding hills are still mostly large open tracts of land that were tugged in sheets to the crest of the Elkhead Mountains then drawn down in valleys that channel the waters of accumulated winter snows. The property rests in the always important transition zones where elk push high into the steep junipers that give way to pines while antelope kick up dust in the grass and sage. It is because of this immensely important habitat that BHA Habitat Stewardship team came knocking at the Gate. 

One weekend in July over 12 BHA volunteers descended on the ranch to help remove obsolete fencing. The challenge of fence removal was compounded by the temperatures that soared into the mid 90’s. But the temps could not stop the crews as they battled through the heat of the day before retiring to an amazingly tranquil campsite along a babbling creek. The volunteers' efforts were rewarded by a world class meal of elk steaks, wild caught paddlefish, and vegetables from the garden capped off with a homemade chokecherry wine all courtesy of the Howe family.  

The Ranch is currently being managed for wildlife values and has a conservation easement covering all but home site. The Howes have started modifying their boundary fences into wildlife friendly designs and the once important interior fencing that divided pastures is no longer needed. About two miles of old obsolete fencing crosses the property, most of which is constructed of the less friendly woven wire. With the help of a tractor, BHA Stewards removed almost ¾ mile of some of the nastiest fence around.  

It was hard leaving the Howe Ranch knowing that there was still fence to be removed and having to say goodby to so many good people. I will fondly remember chatting late into the night about wild landscapes and the need to protect habitat. The possible projects to protect, restore, and enhance landscapes are seemingly endless. Removing fence with so many good folks on this small but important piece of ground was a great reminder that we are not alone in our pursuit of a life sustained by vast open spaces.