About Buck Lake Ranch
The ranch homestead was established in 1906 by the Collier family. It is nestled in it's own valley, Beaver Creek valley, about 4 kms east from the town of Beaverdell. Beaver Creek transects the ranch on its way to joining the West Kettle River at Beaverdell. It is about 70 kms. south of Kelowna and 70 kms north of the U.S. border. At an elevation of 2700 ft. the homestead covers 680 acres. The ranch has about 340 acres of irrigated hay and pasture fields. It grows most of its own feed for its horses and cows and sells some hay to Kelowna horse stables. While it exists in a semi arid region, the ranch water resources provide about 3 million gals/day.
Buck Lake Rangeland
Our Rangelands extend from 8 Kms south of Big White to 36 kms. SSW. by 10 kms wide (that's 260 square kms )
Buck Lake Ranch also has a title connected Crown range of approx. 77,000 acres extending 15 kms. south, 15 kms. east and 20 kms. north east towards the ski resort mountain, Big White. There are 17 lakes within it's rangeland, including it's namesake, Buck Lake. About half the lakes are walk-in and all have tasty Rainbow trout. The territory is rolling hills from 2500 - 5000 ft. elevation and is teeming with wildlife. There are Whitetail and Mule deer, moose, elk, beaver, otters, weasels, wolverines, lynx, bobcats, cougars, coyotes, wolves and bears, including the occasional grizzly. There are also Golden and Bald eagles, hawks, owls, songbirds, bluebirds and plenty of hummingbirds. There are only about 300 residents in the Beaverdell region, with only 4 or 5 neighbours downstream in the Beaver Creek valley.
BEAVERDELL
Beaverdell started as a mining town in the 1890s and the last of the dozens of underground high grade silver mines, which existed for over 90 years, closed in 1991. There are still logging and saw mill operations in the area cutting the mixed forest of larch, fir, pine, and some cedar, poplar and spruce. The town has a 100 year old hotel, a few campgrounds, a lodge, a few eateries, a General Store, a school, a blacksmith shop, a few sawmills, a gas bar, a hiway maintenance yard, a bait shop,a volunteer fire hall, a library, a church, a skating rink and a ball diamond. There are 4 other small ranches nearby.
RANCH PRODUCTION
Buck Lake Ranch used to be a commercial cow/calf operation of about 500 cows. The commercial cow/calf operation is being phased out and has shrunk to about 100 pairs.
The Ranch has about 150 purebred black angus breeding cows going in to 2012 and which will reach 200 by 2013. It's future is as a purebred bull and seed stock operation.
The Ranch also has several horses used in support of the work. All animals are vaccinated against all common diseases and may be treated with antibiotics if they get sick.