405 Swayback Road in McAllister, Montana, is currently listed at $7,995,000 by Charlotte Durham at Big Sky Sotheby’s International Realty.

Perched majestically amidst stunning granite rocks and perfectly situated backing thousands of acres of State and Bureau of Land Management land, this mountain retreat was designed to capture the rugged landscape Montana dreams are made of. Seamlessly integrated into the natural environment and inspired by Montana’s rich mining heritage, this contemporary marvel blends reclaimed wood accents, natural cut stone, and rolled tin ceilings. 

Inside is a chef’s kitchen boasting Viking, Sub-Zero, and Asko appliances, a full coffee station, expansive prep areas, and a walk-in pantry. The open living and dining area has been expertly engineered to capture the surrounding vistas spanning from Lone Mountain to Ward Peak, extending to the Centennial Mountain Range, and overlooking sweeping acreage of rural charm. 

The main level also features the commanding primary suite, encased in floor-to-ceiling windows and featuring an opulent primary bath and walk-in closet. Take the Otis elevator to the lower level, which features two additional en suite bedrooms each with their own private patio, a fully-equipped theater room, walk-in safe, office/gym room with private patio and half bath, as well as underground access to the expansive five-bay garage, complete with both heating and cooling, central vacuum, epoxy floors, and a Hotsy Power Wash system. 

Above the garage, a fully-equipped guest apartment boasts two en suite bedrooms, a bonus or office space, full gourmet kitchen, and spacious living area with fireplace. This meticulously crafted oasis is thoughtfully outfitted with full-home Crestron automation, radiant in-floor heating, central air conditioning, a Sonos surround sound, security system, and more. Embrace equestrian pursuits with the Ameristall three-stall barn, plus tack and storage room and five acres of fenced pasture. All that and more set within the sprawling 192-acre estate boasting diverse terrain, private canyon, miles of hiking, biking, or horseback trails, and abundant wildlife. 

Listing Details 

Two Montana men were indicted last month by a federal grand jury in Alaska on counts related to their illegal killing and transport of a brown bear on a national wildlife refuge in May 2022.

Richard McAtee, 46, and Arlon Franz, 51, were indicted by the U.S. District Court of Alaska grand jury on July 17 on one count of conspiracy and two counts of violating the Lacey Act, which prohibits trafficking of unlawfully taken wildlife.

According to their indictment and a release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Alaska, the killing and transportation of the bear happened between May 9 and May 12, 2022.

One of the men – the indictment does not specify which – was hunting as a nonresident without a contract with a master guide, which is illegal in Alaska, according to the release.

They shot the brown bear in the Alaska Peninsula National Wildlife Refuge before the legal season had opened and on the same day he had been in a plane – all violations of state and federal laws, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

The indictment alleges McAtee and Franz salvaged the hide in the field and took it to a hunting lodge, then to Port Moller and on to Anchorage.

McAtee was arrested on Wednesday in Kalispell and made his first court appearance in a U.S. District Court of Montana courtroom. Court records show he is set to appear at an arraignment and detention hearing in Anchorage on Aug. 27.

The federal government has motioned to quash a subpoena for Franz because he has been in contact with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and agreed to appear at an arraignment, according to court filings.

The charges carry a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $100,000 fine if the men are convicted on all three counts.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Alaska Wildlife Troopers, and the U.S. Forest Service are investigating the case.

Blair Miller is a Helena-based reporter. The Daily Montanan is a nonprofit newsroom.

HELENA — Two grizzly bears have recently been relocated to a Wyoming part of the Greater Yellowstone Area from the North Fork of the Flathead.

A female sub-adult bear aged 3-4 years was relocated to an area west of Dubois, Wyoming. A 4-5 year old male was relocated to the west side of Yellowstone Lake.

Both bears were captured by Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks within two days of each other. While other bears have been captured in the past, these sub-adult bears were chosen for relocation because of their age, lack of previous conflict, and lack of a settled home range.

Additionally, the bears will bring a more diverse genetic pool to the area, says Dustin Temple, Director for Montana FWP.

“The Greater Yellowstone ecosystem’s been genetically isolated for roughly a hundred years. This gives nature a head start on making sure that there is introduction of a different genetic profile into that population. We know that that population is a little less diverse than the Northern Continental Divide ecosystem, so it’s important for bears, first of all,” says Temple.

Governor Greg Gianforte called for grizzly bear delisting during the press conference, giving the power of management over to the state.

“It’s time for the bear to be delisted and this is one additional step showing we’re committed to a healthy population across the entire region,” says Gianforte.