May 2023

MADISON VALLEY MAY “HAPPENINGS” What’s happened in Ennis, the Basecamp of the Madison Valley? → The Madisonian, Montana’s oldest publishing weekly newspaper, established in 1873, is still celebrating 150 years of publishing in 2023. https://www.madisoniannews.com/. →.The Madison Valley Ranchlands Group held a Pest Control Seminar, on Ground Squirrels, “Gopher Management.” → The Madison Valley Public Library hosted a Horticulture Workshop, a Wild Woven Willow Trivet class, and a Felting Workshop! → The Madison Ranger District hosted local students, grades 3-8 to the annual Bear Creek Days, teaching outdoor ethics & education. → The Elling House in VC presented Phil Page, working cowboy, saddle maker, western musician, and storyteller. → There was a Poker Tourney at the Elks Lodge in Virginia City. → Great weather for the Tap into Ennis Brewfest. → Virginia City celebrated their Official Summer Opening with a Poker Ride & Walk and a Memorial Day Parade → There were Memorial Day ceremonies at area cemeteries and a Remember & Honor Lunch at the Ennis Rodeo Grounds. → This year marks the 160th anniversary of gold being discovered in Alder Gulch, between Virginia City and Nevada City. It was the richest gold placer deposit discovered in history! And the season is just getting started! Ennis is open and busy!

MADISON VALLEY JUNE “HAPPENINGS” The Ennis Chamber of Commerce is hosting the First Annual BBQ Cookoff, from 12-5, and a Rodeo at 6:30, at the Ennis Rodeo Grounds, all on the 3rd. → The Madison Valley Ranchlands Group & the Madison County Weed Board are offering Noxious Weed Education & Training on the 6th from 9 – 11 am at the Ennis Fire Hall. → Irish Weekend on the 9th & 10th, in Virginia City, including another Vigilante Music Festival. → Madison Valley Open Studio Tour on the 10th from 10 am – 4 PM, featuring 17 artists in 15 locations! Pick up maps at Gallery 287. (406) 490-1453 for more info. → Brothel Days in VC, on the 17th . → There will be a Golf Scramble at the Madison Meadows Golf Course on the 17th to benefit the Ennis Community Children’s School. (406) 6827468 to sign up. → Check out the Mending Bar Happy Hour at the Madison Valley Public Library from 5-7 on the 22nd. → The Fan Mountain Frog Dogs will be playing at Discovery Park in VC on the 23rd. → Jackson Hole Jazz Concert, benefit for the Madison Valley Public Library, will be held at Discovery Park in Virginia City, on the 24th. See: https://ennislibraryfriends.com/. → Music in the Park starts on June 29th, with live music every Thursday evening in Peter T’s Park, 5 to 6:30, through Aug. 17th. → The Longbranch Saloon has sold, and the new owners will be open soon. → And you can go fishing, boating, golfing, hiking, trail riding, bowling, do yoga & exercise classes, have a facial and a massage, play Pickleball, Mahjongg, or eat, drink, stroll through Ennis, take in a movie, and go shopping! Just do it all!

MADISON VALLEY FUTURE “HAPPENINGS” Music in the Park in Ennis, on Thursday evenings, through Aug 17th, 5:00 to 6:30 PM. → July Fourth festivities in Ennis, July 3rd & 4th. https://www.ennischamber.com/4th-of-july-rodeo-parade/. → Vigilante Car Show in VC, July 8. → The Annual Madison Valley Arts Festival, July 29. → The annual Noxious Weed Fund Raiser will be held at the Meadow Creek Equestrian Center on Aug. 5th. Call (406 682-3259 for tickets. → Virginia City Art Show, Aug 11-13. → The Elling House will host a Cowboy Poetry – Open Mike night on Aug. 16th . → The 10th Annual Montana Ride to Remember, Aug.19th , hundreds of motorcycles, riding from Helena, down the US 287 Memorial Highway, through Ennis. https://www.facebook.com/MTRideToRemember/. → Virginia City will hold their Grand Victorian Ball on Aug.19th. → The annual Fly Fishing Festival on Aug. 26th & 27th. https://www.ennischamber.com/fly-fishing-and-outdoor-festival/. → Hunters’ Feed in Ennis, October 20. → Spirit of Christmas Stroll in Ennis, Dec. 8th. → This year will be the 160th anniversary of Virginia City and they will be celebrating all year! https://virginiacity.com/events/, https://virginiacity.com/history. → The Jack Creek Preserve Foundation is raffling off access for an archery elk hunt for the 2024 season! Only 250 tickets will be sold at $50 each, giving you excellent odds of winning access to the private 4500-acre property + other big-ticket items. Drawing will take place when all tickets are sold or on the evening of Oct. 20th. → There will be a new Day Use Fee of $5 per vehicle at Cliff & Wade Lakes.

MONTANA NEWS After three years of congested trailheads, crowded restaurants and packed hotels, Montana tourism officials say this summer might be a little calmer, as the state’s pandemic-fueled travel boom starts to level out into something closer to normal. While the state remains a popular tourist destination — especially places like Glacier and Yellowstone national parks — advance hotel reservations are slightly down this year. → The Montana Legislature has recently passed 616 bills, such as: providing income & property tax rebates; a paydown of the State’s existing debt; reducing the individual income tax rate; and raising the exemption threshold for the business equipment tax. Other pending bills include investments in mental health, state hospitals & prison infrastructure, funding conservation districts, affordable workforce housing and education reforms! No wonder people want to move to Montana! → Montana was the first state to outlaw TikTok. Waiting to see the results???

FISHING REPORT From Big John. Now is the time. Can you hear the buzz? The excitement? It’s all coming together and our season on the Madison River is coming in hot. Good water from the epic winter, warming days, green grass valley, the famous salmon fly hatch, and friends up to bat next. This is going to be an epic summer!

June is the fly fisherman’s month on the Madison River. We start off with a river that is big and angry. Flows are huge right now and that is by design. The all-knowing Wizard of Oz at the dam planned a release of water for Memorial Day weekend. They wanted to bring the river up and mimic true run off. Flows were above 3500CFS at Kirby Bridge. A few things about this. Not opposed to science, but the timing could have been better, and not on a holiday weekend. We will get past this, and the river will calm down. The interesting thing is, the flows into Hebgen have started to tail off, so I would expect we should be in the clear, by June 10th. The big thing is, they had better fill that darn lake. With huge snowpack and flushing flows, if they do not fill the lake, it will be major egg on their face.

Now to the fishing and fun stuff. The river flow should come back into shape sometime around mid-month. Then streamers and big stone fly nymphs should rule the day. Remember, the life of the party – the salmon fly – is up next. When will they show up? My guess is June 23rd at Ennis Bridge will be pretty good fishing. Don’t hold me to this, but that is a pretty good guess. Once the nymphs start the migration to the bank, the fish will notice and feed heavily on them. Stock up on the rubber legs now. Salmon fly dry fly fishing should be good. I like it when the river is slightly off color and high, about 1500CFS. A little merk in the water makes them feel more comfortable rising to the big bug. We will see what happens. Caddis, mayflies, golden stones, and yellow sallies will all start to pop at the same time. Think, the last week of the month. It will look like a Caesars Palace Buffet, but on the river. If you have ever been to that great buffet, you know. Great for people and fish that like to eat. Get ready now. If you have yard projects, work now and get them done during the first two weeks. Madison River fishermen wait all year long for the last two weeks of June! You do not want to be planting flowers, mowing lawns, or grinding out days at the office when it is happening. Stop by the store for the latest flows, what flies to fish, and where to go. Always get the most up-to-date information, with a smile. We’re the friendly fly shop. No Broo’s. Lots of great gear on the floor waiting to be taken home. Stop by and support your local fly shop. June is here and the party is raging. Get your party outfit on and let’s dance! Good Fishing and God Bless, from John Way, Owner of The Tackle Shop, http://www.thetackleshop.com) Ennis, Montana, the CULTURAL EPICENTER OF TROUT. (406) 682-4263, or cell: (406) 370-5206.

Check out other fishing reports at: Madison River Fishing Company, Dan Delekta, The Madison Valley Ranch, Joe Dilschneider’s Montana Trout Stalkers, and Yellowstone Fly Fishing.

WEATHER Spring finally arrived, with a few stubborn days of winter mixed in! But the valley seemed to turn green overnight and due to all the rain, it is lush green! The daytime high in May was 82’! The daytime low was 56°. The nighttime high was 49° with a nighttime low of 26°. There were at least 14 days of rain in May. Gardens were planted with fingers crossed so that they wouldn’t get snowed on!

REAL ESTATE TIPS The Montana Real Estate Market. Is Montana still a good place to invest? There are many reasons why Montana is still a good investment:

• MT is a beautiful destination for those who are fleeing the big cities.
• We still have plenty of wide-open spaces.
• The natives are friendly and welcoming.
• The housing market is still strong and resilient.
• Housing prices rose by 2% over the past year.
• According to SoFi, Montana ranked 47th in number of foreclosures.
• The demand for real estate properties in MT is still high.
• There is limited inventory, driving prices up.
• Montana is one of the five states with the lowest foreclosure rates.
• Total employment has risen in the past year.
• The average sale price of a home in March was 3.1% higher than in December of last year.
• Mortgage rates are expected to continue to fall through 2023.
• Buyers are willing to pay a premium for a higher quality of life.

For more information, go to: https://www.doorloop.com/blog/the-montana-real-estate-market.

HOME FOR YOUR SOUL. FEATURED PROPERTY OF THE MONTH. CLASSIC LOG HOME with SPECTACULAR VIEWS! Custom-crafted log home in the classic Montana style, with large Swedish Cope construction. The Great Room is heated by a Jøtul wood stove. A massive beam & log purlins support the roof. Large windows bring in light & spectacular views of the golf course, Ennis Lake, the charming town of Ennis, the Madison Range, Fan Mountain & the Jack Creek drainage, leading to Big Sky. Off the Great room is a wide deck, for relaxing, entertaining & taking in the views. The kitchen is modern & efficient, with plenty of counter & cabinet space. The main level floors are custom cut, rustic maple, with kitchen cabinets to match. The backyard is very private & home to a wide variety of birds & wildlife. A large garden shed is located in the back yard for garden tools, riding mower & golf cart. The Master suite includes a sleeping area, full bath, & walk-in closet. The main floor is at ground level in the back, which features a deck with hot tub & more beautiful views. The lower level includes a heated, 24’ x 24’, 2-car, finished garage with mechanical room, a daylight, walkout basement with a family room/office, + guest BR & full bath. The lot is surrounded on 3 sides by “unbuildable” common-area, hillside property. No other homes can be seen from 3 sides. Truly, a private oasis, this home gives one the feeling of living in the country, but with all the convenience of just minutes to town & a golf course! The Valley Garden Golf Village was built around the Madison Meadows Golf Course, a challenging, 9-hole course. Furniture, furnishings, golf cart and fly rods included! Just bring your toothbrush and move right in! 27 Centennial Drive, $899,000, MLS # 382779, GoogleEarth Coordinates: Lat. 45.351615°, -111.748565°, Elevation 5,054’. (Price is $875,00 unfurnished) https://portal.onehome.com/en-US/share/1002615R52437

NATIONAL REAL ESTATE NEWS – WASHINGTON (May 25, 2023) Pending home sales recorded no change in April, according to the National Association of REALTORS®. Three U.S. regions posted monthly gains, while the Northeast decreased. All four regions saw year-over-year declines in transactions. The Pending Home Sales Index (PHSI)* – a forward-looking indicator of home sales based on contract signings – remained at 78.9 in April, posting no change from the previous month. Year over year, pending transactions dropped by 20.3%. An index of 100 is equal to the level of contract activity in 2001. “Not all buying interests are being completed due to limited inventory,” said NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun. “Affordability challenges certainly remain and continue to hold back contract signings, but a sizeable increase in housing inventory will be critical to get more Americans moving.”

Pending Home Sales Regional Breakdown – The Northeast PHSI dropped 11.3% from last month to 59.1, a decrease of 21.8% from April 2022. The Midwest index improved 3.6% to 78.4 in April, down 21.4% from one year ago. The South PHSI increased 0.1% to 99.6 in April, sinking 16.7% from the prior year. The West index augmented 4.7% in April to 62.2, sliding 26.0% from April 2022. “Minor monthly variations in regional activity are typical,” said Yun. “However, cumulative results over many years clearly point towards a much greater number of home sales in the South.” At 99.6, the PHSI in the South is only slightly lower than 100, which is equal to the average level of contract activity during 2001, the first year NAR analyzed the PHSI. “The South’s pending home sales activity is similar to that of 2001, but the Midwest’s activity has decreased by 22% in that same period, and the Northeast and West regions are both about 40% lower than they were in 2001,” Yun added. The National Association of Realtors® is America’s largest trade association, representing more than 1.5 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries. The term Realtor® is a registered collective membership mark that identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the National Association of Realtors® and subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics.

LOCAL REAL ESTATE MARKET STATISTICS There are lots of new listings! Not sure if it’s because of the “epic” winter, or sellers just wanting to take advantage of this market. But it does offer buyers more choices, with prices leveling off. Big Sky Country Multiple Listing statistics for the Madison Valley area (including Ennis, Cameron, McAllister, Norris, Virginia City, Nevada City, Harrison, Pony), for the month of MAY were as follows:

• HOMES: 41↑ homes listed ($425,000 to $9,500,000); 7↓ pending sales ($469,000 to $11,250,000); and 18 homes have sold in 2023 ($305,000 to $2,100,000), totaling $14,454,334 at 95.8%↓ of list prices.
• LAND: 86↑ vacant lots listed ($22,497 to $2,250,000); 9↑ pending sales ($90,000 to $495,000); and 24 lots have sold in 2023 ($10,000 to $925,000), totaling $6,673,500 at 91.3% of list prices.
• COMMERCIAL: 5↑ commercial properties listed ($365,000 to $2,950,000); 0 pending sales; and 4 commercial properties have sold in 2023 ($85,000 to $2,250,000), totaling $4,835,000, at 90.5%↑ of list prices.
• RANCHES: 5↑ ranches listed ($1,790,000 to $9,500,000); 0 pending sales, and 0 ranches sold in 2023.

“The best investment on Earth is earth.” Louis J. Glickman, real estate mogul/philanthropist Also, according to Jordan Davis & Luke Bryan, in their hit song, “Buy Dirt!”

MONTANA TRIVIA… Did you know that….Knapweed has invested millions of acres in the state? There are 3 kinds of knapweed in Montana – Spotted, Diffuse and Russian. Spotted knapweed is native to grassland steppes of central Europe and east to central Russia, Caucasia and western Siberia. Spotted knapweed was introduced to North America from Eurasia as a contaminant in alfalfa. It was also introduced through discarded soil used as ship ballast. Spotted knapweed was first recorded in the Northwest in Victoria, British Columbia, in 1883 and in Montana in Ravalli County in 1920. By 1991 the weed had been recorded in every Montana county. Spotted knapweed is the most widespread knapweed in the state, infesting from two to five million acres. Knapweeds are associated with reductions in native plants, reduced forage yields and degraded habitats in range, grasslands, and agricultural areas. Based on estimates from 1996, knapweeds cost Montana $42 million per year in direct and indirect costs. Russian knapweed can cause “chewing disease” in horses, a neurologic disorder that causes brain lesions and mouth ulcers. Symptoms of chewing disease include drowsiness, difficulty in eating and drinking, twitching of the lips, tongue flicking and involuntary chewing movements. There is no cure and horses die of dehydration or starvation. Horses will select other forage when available. These noxious weeds are a serious threat to Montana and all property owners need to be aware and educated on the prevention. The Madison Valley has been the poster child for controlling their noxious weeds, and we want to stay that way.

Check out what we are doing about weeds in Madison County: https://www.madisonranchlands.org/about-committee. For more information on noxious weeds in MT. https://www.montana.edu/extension/invasiveplants/documents/publications/extension_publications/Mont ana%20knapweeds.pdf. https://www.montana.edu/extension/invasiveplants/noxioussub.html.