How Two Montana Ranchers Are Opening Their Land to a New Kind of Hunting Access

For brothers Brant and Clinton Marsh, listing their land on LandTrust wasn’t just about adding a new revenue stream—it was about making better use of a working ranch they know inside and out.

Located about an hour east of Missoula, Six C Cattle Ranch is a large-scale Montana operation that blends irrigated agriculture, cattle production, and expansive wildlife habitat. After years of leasing and managing land for others, the Marsh brothers saw an opportunity to do something different.

In this Landowner Spotlight, they share why they decided to list, what the process has been like so far, and how they’re thinking about the future of access on their ranch.

From Tenant Ranchers to Hosting Their Own Operation

Brant and Clinton grew up in southwest Montana, working in a highly diversified agricultural operation that included cow-calf pairs, yearlings, hay production, and small grains. Over the years, they’ve leased and managed land for absentee landowners, gaining firsthand experience in both production agriculture and habitat development.

That background shaped how they think about land today.

“We’ve been tenant farmers and ranchers pretty well our whole lives,” they explain, noting that they’ve spent years balancing agricultural production with wildlife considerations.

Now, at Six C Cattle Ranch, they’re applying that same approach to a property they help operate—this time with a new layer: recreation.

A Ranch Built for Both Production and Wildlife

Six C Cattle Ranch is split into two distinct sections—north and south—each offering different terrain and opportunities.

The south side features rolling grassland that transitions into river bottom along the Clark Fork, with irrigated ground supported by multiple pivots. The north side climbs from river bottom into hills and timber, creating a more varied landscape that holds both elk and mule deer.

Across the property, agriculture and wildlife intersect in a way that naturally supports both.

Large elk herds—sometimes numbering in the hundreds—move freely across the ranch, shifting between timber, range, and irrigated ground. Mule deer and whitetail are present in different areas, while predators like coyotes and even wolves add another layer to the ecosystem.

For the Marsh brothers, that overlap isn’t a problem—it’s part of the opportunity.

“If you do it right, agriculture and wildlife work really well together,” they say.

Why They Chose to List on LandTrust

The decision to list on LandTrust came after about a year of leasing and managing the ranch, combined with prior exposure to the platform through industry connections.

When the property owner began exploring options for the recreational side of the ranch, Brant saw LandTrust as a natural fit.

They weren’t looking for a rigid, one-size-fits-all solution. Instead, they wanted flexibility—something that would allow them to define how the land is used while still opening it up to others.

That’s what stood out during the onboarding process.

“You guys kind of said, ‘What do you want?’—not ‘Here’s what you should do,’” they explain.

That approach made it easier to incorporate the realities of a working ranch, including livestock operations, access restrictions, and standard operating procedures for guests.

Getting Set Up and Going Live

Like many first-time hosts, the Marsh brothers came into the process without prior experience listing land.

What stood out was how straightforward it was.

Working with the LandTrust team, they were able to take broad ideas—what they wanted to offer, where people could go, how access should work—and turn them into clear, structured listings.

“Really easy,” they say. “We’d tell them what we were thinking, and they helped make it come to life.”

Within a few weeks, they had two listings live and had already accepted their first bookings, including a spring shed hunting trip.

A Wide Range of Hunting Opportunities

One of the unique aspects of Six C Cattle Ranch is the diversity of hunting it offers.

Elk are the primary draw, with large herds moving consistently across the property. Mule deer dominate the higher ground, while whitetail are more commonly found along the river bottom.

Beyond big game, the ranch also offers opportunities for predator hunting and varmint shooting, with abundant coyotes and ground squirrels providing year-round activity.

Fishing access along the Clark Fork River adds another dimension, along with the ability to camp on the property—giving guests a flexible, self-supported experience.

The result is a property that can support everything from multi-day hunts to quick trips for locals looking to get out of town.

Building Toward More Habitat and Opportunity

While the ranch already supports a wide range of wildlife, the Marsh brothers are focused on improving it even further.

One of their long-term goals is to increase upland bird populations by developing better habitat—something they’ve done successfully on other properties in the past.

At the same time, they’re continuing to expand agricultural production, adding new irrigation pivots to bring more ground into production.

That combination—intentional habitat work alongside agricultural expansion—is central to how they operate.

For them, wildlife isn’t separate from the business. It’s a byproduct of doing things the right way.

The Kind of Guests They Want to Host

As they begin hosting, the Marsh brothers are focused less on outcomes and more on mindset.

They’re not looking for hunters who expect guaranteed results. Instead, they want people who value the experience—who understand the land, respect it, and appreciate the opportunity to have space to themselves.

“People that enjoy the outdoors and respect the ground,” they say.

That philosophy aligns closely with what they’ve seen so far—guests looking for a place to explore, spend time with family or friends, and experience Montana in a more personal way.

Just Getting Started

With their first bookings already on the calendar, the Marsh brothers are just beginning to see what’s possible.

From shed hunting in the spring to big game seasons in the fall, Six C Cattle Ranch offers a year-round opportunity to experience a working Montana landscape.

For Brant and Clinton, the goal is simple:

Open the gate—on their terms—and let more people experience what they’ve spent their lives building.

Explore Six C Cattle Ranch

Located in western Montana along the Clark Fork River, Six C Cattle Ranch offers a unique blend of working ranch operations and diverse hunting opportunities.

To learn more or request a booking, visit LandTrust.com.

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