Ox Yoke Ranch named landowner of the year

SUNDANCE (WNE) — The Ox Yoke Ranch near Beulah has been named one of seven recipients of the Wyoming Game & Fish Department’s Landowners of the Year award for 2022. 
The award recognizes the ranch and its owners for providing recreational opportunities to the public. 
The ranch has held a lease agreement with the Wyoming Game & Fish Commission since 1989 to allow unlimited access for public fishing on three miles of Sand Creek below the Sand Creek Wildlife Habitat Management Area. 
In exchange, the ranch has been granted cattle grazing rights during the month of December on the Game & Fish’s habitat management area. 
“Thanks to the cooperation of the Ox Yoke Ranch and the Reinecke family, the Sand Creek WHMA has developed, grown and increased public recreation use,” states the announcement. “This area has been a long-time favorite of residents and visitors who seek a quality and accessible recreation experience within minutes of the towns of Beulah, Sundance and Spearfish, South Dakota.” 
Game & Fish has recognized landowners for almost 30 years for outstanding wildlife management, habitat improvement and conservation techniques, opening access to research and recreation on thousands of acres across Wyoming. 
Other landowners honored this year include the G-3 Land & Cattle Partnership of Platte County; the Hopkins Hamilton Ranch of Fremont County; the Mountain Springs Ranch of Sublette County; the Fryberger Ranch of Sheridan County; the Beaver Creek Ranch of Big Horn County; and the Kasey A LLC of Lincoln County.
 
This story was published on Nov. 17, 2022.