1951 Map of Gobblers Knob

About this map

The Gallatin National Forest covers the western slopes of this 1951 survey, where the Forest Boundary marks the transition from protected woodlands to the high ranching country of the Missouri River Basin. This landscape is defined by its drainages, where family livestock operations like Ward Ranch, Hansen Ranch, and Gibson Ranch follow the reliable water of Brackett Creek and Bangtail Creek. The prominent peak of Gobblers Knob overlooks a terrain that supported both pastoral and industrial efforts at mid-century, including the seasonally occupied Terry Sheep Camp. Evidence of earlier resource extraction is visible in several mines (inactive) scattered across the hillsides, while a complex network of ditches and a flume indicates the vital importance of water management for sustaining the Willow Creek Ranch and other valley holdings.