where to find us:	southwest of Casper, WY
	guests arrive here:	every Sunday
	we meet you:	at the Casper, Wyoming airport
	rental car:	not necessary, but you can drive to the ranch with a (rental) car, if you want to
	accomodation:	cabins, all guest rooms with private bathrooms
	horseback riding:	daily rides, cattle work & trailrides
	area:	southwest of Wyoming

The Bucking S Ranch is located in the heart of Wyoming "The Cowboy State". We are situated along the Seminoe-Alcova Scenic Backway on an altitude of 6,000 to over 8,000 ft. and are surrounded by the foothills of the Seminoe and Shirley Mountains. The next town, Alcova, is over 30 mi. away and we are in the middle of open range cattle country – out here cattle have right of way even on the road and they make use of it. You can go on endless rides and all you will encounter are cattle pastures, mountains with beautiful natural rock formations, creeks, lakes, abundant wildlife and rugged beauty all around.

Sorry, your browser doesn't support Java(tm). We are an authentic working cattle ranch. We run our ranch in common with the neighbor’s place and together we take care of about 500 pairs (1,000 head) on a total of 40,000 acres. Mid May the cows with their calves are shipped back to the ranch after they wintered on a ranch in a milder climate. We brand and vaccinate the animals before we drive them to their spring pasture. The whole season from mid-May to mid-October we rotate the cattle approx. every two weeks to a new pasture as grazing conditions and water dictates. Each pasture stretches over a couple of thousands of acres of rugged and diverse terrain and we often have to back-ride pastures a couple of times to find all mavericks. Driving cattle from one pasture to another means long hours in the saddle and sometimes we even go for two days with an overnight cow camp. During our scenic rides you will enjoy the wide open spaces and solitude, breathing the clean air, feeling the warm sun while discovering a peaceful and unhurried countryside. All our pastures are watered by springs, creeks or lakes. To make sure that the pastures are grazed evenly, we also move the cattle within each pasture at least once a week to a new water source and put out salt and minerals. At the same time we check the herd for their health. A sick or injured animal gets either treated right on the spot or we bring it back to the headquarters to keep it under watch. You will see a wide selection of wildlife during your rides and our guests enjoy that tremendously. At the same time, though, the amount of wildlife has also quite some effect on our fences. And cattle have an incredible talent in spotting wholes in the fence – the grass on the other side of the fence always seems to look greener. Therefore, it is also one of our daily chores to check fences, repair if necessary and bring back strays. Overall, days on an operating cattle ranch are always filled with work as well as excitement and we truly enjoy every minute of it. We love to share this experience and lifestyle of the old western tradition with our guests and friends from all across the country and around the world. From the moment you arrive we promise nothing less than real down-home hospitality in a very personal and family oriented setting. The atmosphere is relaxed and you will enjoy a sense of freedom from stress. The main ranch house, a beautiful log home, is open to the guests at all times for family style dining, entertaining and relaxation. The Bucking S offers a unique ranch adventure with personalized attention and the opportunity to step back in time and experience the real West as it has been and can still be today. No matter if you plan on coming alone, bringing your family or group of friends, planning a reunion or corporate retreat, you will find our ranch to be an ideal setting for a unique getaway. If you have an appreciation of beautiful western scenery, wildlife, horses, good home cooked food and a simplistic way of life, this is the place for you. We look forward to welcoming guests to our home and making new friends. After you had a chance to browse through our web site, we would very much enjoy speaking to you personally about our ranch, answer any questions you might have and make sure you have a good understanding of what to expect from a ranch vacation at The Bucking S. Discover your inner cowboy and enjoy the ride!

ACTIVITIES: Our main activity is horseback riding including cattle drives as well as scenic rides. We are an authentic working cattle ranch and you will spend plenty of time in the saddle being out riding with our trained wranglers. Imagine the freedom of driving cattle over the wide, open range and rugged terrain under a never ending big blue sky, an occasional fresh breeze blowing by, the scent of untouched sage brush, the sight of a curios antelope or a bald eagle circling above - let us take you back in time and provide you a glimpse of America's authentic western past! Our riding program will invigorate riders of every ability. We have excellent horses for novice as well as experienced riders. Depending on your experience, we walk, trot, and canter across tens of thousands of acres - there is no nose to tail riding on the ranch. You will enjoy the companionship of a good horse, the variety of terrain, beautiful vistas, interesting geologic formations and abundant wildlife. Since we only take a small number of guests at a time we can customize our activities according to your expectations. Beginners will be made to feel comfortable on the most gentle of horses and we offer short rides as well as instructional rides and give you special attention on our regular rides. Most of the time we go on half day and all day rides or even overnight cow camps depending on what you like to do. No matter what ride we go on, you can always relay on the assistance of our accomplished wranglers if desired giving you tips and hints on how to improve your riding skills and become an accomplished cowboy or cowgirl. You are encouraged to pick their brains on general horsemanship, cattle and range management, local history and points of interest or any other related topics. If you like one or two horses in particular, you can keep them for the whole week and take care of them if you wish to do so. You may get your horse from the corral in the morning, groom and saddle it and spoil it with some treats. We will be more than happy to teach you all you need to know about taking care of your horse. Otherwise, our wranglers will have your horse waiting for you while you sip your last cup of coffee on the front porch after a wholesome ranch breakfast. You can get involved in the daily ranch work as much or as little as you like- e.g. sorting, branding and doctoring cattle or even fixing fences if you like to get an hands on experience. Or just kick back and enjoy watching the cowboys do the work or stay home and relax on your front porch. It is your vacation and you do what ever you like to do as long as you enjoy yourself. If you like to learn more about cowboy skills you can participate in roping and cutting practices with our wranglers. They will be happy to show you how to handle a rope and how to work cattle with your horse. You may arrive as a city slicker, but you'll have the chance to leave as a Cowboy after a week of unlimited riding. Next to the cattle work we take you on scenic rides to the Seminoe State Park or Pathfinder Reservoir and other local points of interest. Those rides take you cross country over wide prairies, through rocky canyons or on top of mountain hills. You will enjoy the endless views, the vast uninhabited open spaces around us and the absolute absence of any signs or noise of modern day life. The squeak of saddle leather, the smell of horses, combined with the quiet serenity, the aroma of the sage and wild flowers, creates an indescribable sense of care-free cheerfulness and well being. In order to fully participate and enjoy our riding activities you should be strong and agile enough to get on and off the horse by yourself and stay well balanced on the horse for hours at a time. Of course, the area invites you to all kinds of outdoor activities. With the North Platte River and three reservoirs (Seminoe-, Pathfinder- and Alcova Reservoir) in the proximity of the ranch you can take advantage of a wide variety of water sports including swimming, boating, water floating, water skiing and especially fishing. The "Miracle Mile" on the North Platte River - a world class blue-ribbon "wild" trout fishery and one of the best fishing wholes in Wyoming - is only a few miles away. Also, the lake pasture of our ranch stretches all the way to the Seminoe Reservoir which is popular for its trout and walleye fishing, as well as boating opportunities. We can ride cross country to either place if you like to combine riding and fishing. But we also offer jeep tours for fishing trips and to explore the area. Also, on your own time you have endless opportunities for hiking, rock climbing and mountain biking. Wildlife abounds and the vistas provide photographic rewards. In the summer we also like to take you to local rodeos and fairs and give you a real taste of the Cowboy State if you are interested in such activities. Sorry, your browser doesn't support Java(tm). If you just like to kick-back and enjoy the ranch atmosphere, you find plenty of cozy and comfortable places to wind down. Enjoy the afternoon reading a good book on your front porch, relax in the hot tub after a long day in the saddle, or settle in front of the stove in our living room and share your day’s adventure with fellow guests. In the evenings we often have cook-outs or sit around the camp fire swapping cowboy stories. Also, there is always room for yard games like volleyball and softball or of cause you can practice your roping skills or throw some horseshoes. Card and table games will be out at all times for play time. We do not plan on an organized evening entertainment but as long as our guests are motivated, we always have something going on in the evenings. If you enjoy some more private time, you can take a strolling sun set walk watching the magical colors over the horizon or just sit out in front of your cabin and enjoy the peaceful, cool nights with the creek flowing by and gazing at spectacular star-filled skies.

We're passionate about bringing you a memorable vacation and outdoor adventure. You will be able to submerge into a different world far away from your everyday life and mass tourism and discover a getaway with personalized attention ideal for relaxing, fun and adventure, and surrounding yourself with astounding beauty. ACCOMMODATION: You will stay in comfortable and cozy duplex log cabins with private bath. All rooms are individually furnished with western decor and each cabin room has a stove and sitting area. You can choose from either a queen size bed or two bunk beds for larger groups or families. From your private front porch you can enjoy incredible and undisturbed views in all directions. After a full day of fun and adventure and with the smell of clean, fresh air, you'll never get a better night's rest!

GEAR LIST: Comfortable and Protective Clothing Cowboy hat or other hat with stampede string to protect from the weather Jeans (plan on getting dirty) Long sleeve shirt (not only protects from the sun but also from branches when getting cattle out of the willows and trees and barbed wire if you really like to get into the cattle work) Cowboy boots (break them in before you come to avoid blisters) or other boots with a heel and a smooth sole (deep rubber ridged sole won’t work) are a must have to ride, other shoes are not save on a horse Boot socks Riding gloves Scarf/Bandana to protect from the dust if you move cattle Light wind protective jacket, warm jacket in spring and fall as well as warmer clothing for the evenings and mornings – temperatures drop quite a bit at night Rain gear might not hurt to bring especially in the spring and fall It is best to plan for a couple of layers of comfortable cloth that you can peel of since weather and temperatures can change quickly around here. Special Tip: Bike Shorts - guests swear by them and sure do save your backside if you are not used to a lot of riding! Swim Gear: if you plan on going to the lake, don’t forget your swim wear! Saddle/Chaps: Chaps are not necessary, but if you have some you probably want to bring them. Bring a saddle only if you prefer to use your own. Toiletries: We are located on high altitude (6,000 to over 8,000 ft) and have low humidity. So make sure you bring your lip balm, plenty of sunscreen, and anything you need for allergies or medication in addition to your common personal care items. Sleeping Bag: If you plan on participating in an overnight cow camp, please bring your own sleeping bag. Canteen/Water Bottle: You want to be able to carry plenty of water on your rides! Dehydration is a common problem in our altitude and we will be out for long rides at a time. Fishing Gear: If you plan on going river or lake fishing it would be best if you could bring your own pole, flies, bait, a few hooks or a couple of shiny lures depending on what you plan on fishing. The next bait shop is in Alcova (33 mi. from the ranch). Snack food/beverages: Meals, snacks and beverages are provided. Bring anything we may not have that you can't live without. If you are not sure, ask us! We will try to have your special brand of soda pop here for you if we know what you like, the same with snack food. Alcoholic Beverages: If alcoholic beverages are desired, please bring your own. Also don’t forget your camera and plenty of film. You might also want to bring binoculars if you like to go game and bird watching and your own flashlight for evening strolls.

Area Information: many rodeos in the area around Casper, Rawlins, Saratoga, Laramie and of course the Cheyenne Frontier Days at Cheyenne in July… we bring the guests to these rodeos, which are 1.5 - 2 hours away from the ranch. Western Store at Casper (Lou Taubert) traditional Western Department Store with nine departments at four floors, with everything, from jeans, boots, hats to tack, saddles and western style furniture outdoor activities at the ranch, for instance fishing (North Platte River + 3 reservoirs: Alcova, Pathfinder, Seminoe), at the reservoirs different activities (boat rental...) The ranch offers trailrides to the North Platte River and dayrides / 2-day rides to the Seminoe Reservoir hiking and mountain climbing TRAVEL: Traveling by Air: The closest airport is in Casper about 65 mi. from the ranch. We offer pick-up from and to the airport at no additional fee for our weekly guests arriving and departing on Sundays. For our guests staying less than a week, pick up can be arranged individually for an additional charge. Especially for our international guests who prefer to fly into Denver International Airport, which is about a four hour drive from our ranch, please contact us directly to inquire about pick-up options. Traveling by Car: The Bucking S Ranch is situated half way between the small towns of Alcova and Hanna in Central Wyoming. Please contact us if you plan on traveling by car and we will give you detailed directions again and also might meet you either in Alcova if you come from the North or in Hanna, if coming from the South. Either way you have a good amount of gravel road coming into the ranch. Depending on the time of the year the roads are in fairly decent condition but a four wheel drive vehicle is certainly the preferred way of transportation out here.

I visited the ranch in 2004 and JUST LOVED IT!!! Here is my slide show! This is a slide show from 2009! © Midnight Special Ranch Vacation & WebDesign