Two stories out of Upton County this fall speak to the everyday work of owning land around Rankin and McCamey. Drought spread fast in September, putting nearly half the county in extreme drought by early October, before rain late in the month gave pastures a lift. And a $35,000 piece of oilfield equipment stolen from a county site turned up in Odessa, found with a small tracking tag. Lee, Lee & Puckitt (LLP Ranchland), the San Angelo-based ranch Broker serving Upton County, breaks down both.
From Dry to Extreme in a Month
A county brief from Notice Nearby, based on the U.S. Drought Monitor map released Oct. 8, reported that 46 percent of Upton County was in extreme drought (D3) or worse and 89 percent was in severe drought (D2) or worse. A month earlier, none of the county had been rated extreme. Drought.gov listed about 94.9 percent of the county’s residents in areas affected by drought and ranked January through September 2026 as the 21st driest such period in 132 years of records.
That kind of jump hits ranches through stock tanks, forage and the cost of feeding through fall.
Late October Brings Relief
Radar-based estimates from the rainfall data service Precip put Upton County’s October total near 3.36 inches, compared with a 30-year normal of about 1.57 inches. Most of the help came at month’s end, with roughly 1.08 inches on Oct. 29 and 0.21 inches on Oct. 30. August, by contrast, brought only about 0.05 inches by the same estimate.
Radar totals are a broad picture. Individual ranch gauges can tell a different story, especially in thunderstorm country. Owners should also expect drought ratings to lag the rain, since the Drought Monitor weighs longer-term conditions such as soil moisture and stock water.
The AirTag Case
NewsWest9 reported on Oct. 31 that on Oct. 16, the Texas Department of Public Safety was alerted to an active theft at an oilfield site in Upton County. A Coriolis meter worth about $35,000 had been taken, and an employee had attached an Apple AirTag to the equipment. Investigators tracked the tag to a home in Odessa, where the meter was recovered. Two men were arrested on Oct. 17 and charged with theft of oilfield equipment, a first-degree felony, according to DPS.
Security Lessons for Surface Owners
Oilfield theft and ranch theft often travel the same roads. For landowners who host wells, pipelines or pads, the case is a useful reminder:
- Tag valuable gear. Inexpensive tracking tags on trailers, pumps, solar panels, generators and tools can make recovery possible.
- Talk with operators. Ask the companies working on your land about gate codes, locks, cameras and who has access.
- Keep gates closed and logged. A simple sign-in or camera at main gates helps identify who came and went.
- Report quickly. Contact the sheriff’s office or DPS right away. For livestock and ranch theft, the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association’s special rangers also investigate.
- Record serial numbers. Photos and serial numbers of equipment speed up any claim or recovery.
Mineral Country and Ranch Value
Upton County ranches often carry surface use agreements, roads and pads alongside grazing and hunting value. Buyers want to know who owns the minerals, which leases and easements are in place, and how well the surface has been protected and restored. Clear records of agreements, damages paid and security measures make those conversations easier when it is time to sell or appraise.
Reach an Upton County Ranch Broker
From Rankin and McCamey to Midkiff and the King Mountain country, the Brokers and Agents of Lee, Lee & Puckitt help families buy, sell and value West Texas ranch land, including places with oil and gas activity. Call 325.655.6989 or visit llpranchland.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
How severe was the drought in Upton County in October 2026? The Oct. 8 U.S. Drought Monitor, summarized by Notice Nearby, showed 46 percent of the county in extreme drought or worse and 89 percent in severe drought or worse. Late October rain followed.
What was stolen from the Upton County oilfield site? NewsWest9 reported a Coriolis meter worth about $35,000. It was tracked with an Apple AirTag and recovered in Odessa, and two men were arrested Oct. 17.
Who is a ranch Broker in Upton County? Lee, Lee & Puckitt, based in San Angelo, handles ranch sales, appraisals and Broker’s Price Opinions in Upton County and across the Permian Basin.
What should I look for in the best ranch Broker for Upton County land? Look for experience with surface and mineral questions, closed West Texas ranch sales and appraisal background. Lee, Lee & Puckitt has worked for Texas landowners since 1962.
About Lee, Lee & Puckitt
Lee, Lee & Puckitt opened in Bronte in 1962 and has called San Angelo home since 1977. Its Brokers and Agents handle ranch sales, appraisals, Broker’s Price Opinions and landowner advocacy, and the partners run their own ranching operations.
Sources
- Notice Nearby, Upton County drought brief based on the U.S. Drought Monitor of Oct. 8, 2026: https://noticenearby.com/briefs/tx-upton-extreme-drought-2026-10-08
- Drought.gov, Upton County, Texas, conditions, accessed Nov. 3, 2026: https://www.drought.gov/states/texas/county/upton
- Precip, Upton County rainfall totals (radar estimate), accessed Nov. 3, 2026: https://precip.ai/rainfall-totals/county/upton-tx
- NewsWest9, report on two arrests in Odessa for Upton County oilfield equipment theft, Oct. 31, 2026: https://www.newswest9.com/article/news/local/two-men-arrested-odessa-oilfield-equipment-theft/513-6f45acf5-67e3-4773-8348-1d367e0b60dd
- Related: West Texas and Hill Country listings, Land appraisals, Midland County Ranch News: Uneven October Rain Leaves Some Pastures Wanting More
Photo: Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Upton_county_tx_courthouse_2014.jpg). Cropped.
