Start your morning driving underneath the large trees with many songbirds. Continue across many acres of tall grass and short grass prairie and end your day with expansive wetlands and private access to Ell Lake.

Summer guaranteed nesting birds.

Lovejoy Ranch is a sixth-generation working cattle ranch owned and operated by Bob and Jody Dexter. The 6500-acre property is nestled in the north-central region of the unique grass-covered dunes of the Sandhills, just a short 20-minute drive to Valentine, Nebraska.

Cattle grazing through proper grass management provide wildlife a perfect habitat. The Evergreen Creek flows East through the land providing water to various ponds creating a natural environment for waterfowl. In the early mornings, you can count on hearing the rooster pheasants chatter and take off in flight as ranch chores begin, while turkeys leave their roosts and begin their day. When moving cattle through their pasture rotations you are sure to have a flock of prairie chickens and sharptail grouse take flight under your horse’s belly. El Lake, the beginning of the Evergreen creek, is a small lake stocked with an abundance of bass, northern pike, and bluegill.

The Ranch has RV and tent camping available, but hotel lodging is available in a short drive. Valentine is a small town at the junction of two major US Highways, 20 and 83. You can find just about anything you need here— there are two gun stores, a bait shop, a grocery store, etc.

eBird checklists are available for this property:

Checklist 1  

Checklist 2