Bravo Outdoors

For twelve solid years we had a great run. She was truly loved more than myself by many due to her fun and enjoyable personality. When it was time to work though she answered the call for many hunters and huntresses. She loved to ride, swim, and work. She HATED a cow that tried to sneak a peak into the ride but didn’t mind sitting in the mule and watching them with us at all. With countless recoveries on the trail some of her more remarkable stories included one three day old recovery, several two day old tracks and a plethora of 24 hour old tracks where she some how pulled the rabbit out of the hat and blew everyone’s minds. She had a pretty extensive medical record too with all the cuts, pokes, and quills she endured along the journey but it never slowed her down. We nearly lost her once on a long chase after a big ram that ended with the ram and plunging her in the nearest water we could find to revive her. The last couple seasons I could see her heart, nose, and will were still with it but the body was slowing down on her. She mostly just went along for the ride and gave us moral support. She survived a 3 hour emergency surgery after getting maimed by an old aggressive whitetail buck and miraculously recovered from everything. She also survived a lot of late night drives back home with me dozing off at the wheel, but never complained about it. She was able to get one last good track in for a long time hunter/friend of ours at the ranch in Bracket after that and had the biggest grin on her face when we got up to them. Unfortunately Champagne passed away on us a couple weeks ago and gave us a few minutes for goodbyes before doing so. I’d be lying if I said I could see the screen and keyboard clearly at this point to keep typing. There’s so much more to be said about a great dog like her but it would take about twelve years to cover all of their accomplishments. She was a really good dog to all of us and she will be missed. We loved her like a family member and were truly blessed to have her all these years. RIP Champagne ‘Champ’ 4/13-4/25

Here is an outstanding axis buck that we started off the season trailing in Campwood. Unfortunately the temperature was still reaching the 100 mark so we decided to get on it that evening. Loney and Merlot trailed this deer approximately 3/4 of a mile before jumping him. We had several areas where the buck had spent a good amount of time throughout today and hung up there for a bit. They were able to sort it out and finally jumped the deer in an oak mott. After jumping him they trailed him another 250 yards where they were able to get him stopped and bayed up down in a creek bed. We were able to finish him there and after cooling everyone off we got him loaded up. Congratulations to this fellow on a true giant axis buck! Thanks for the call, and good work Merlot and Loney!

Had a call one evening over summer in the middle of June about this beautiful axis buck hit with an arrow. They knew the shot was a little low and had trailed blood for about 100 yards before losing it. We finished eating supper and loaded the dogs to head out. We made our way up to Juno to meet with to get started tracking him. The dogs consistently worked the trail down through a dry creek bed for a little over half a mile. About the time we were running out of flat ground, and a little bit of optimism the dogs jumped him. After a short chase they had him down when we got to them and we were able to finish him there. Congratulations to these hunters on an outstanding deer! Thanks again for the call gentlemen and great work again Loney and Merlot!

Catching up on media with one from this summer. Had a call one night while we were on the way to track one the opposite way. Knew the shot was low and the bolt didn’t look too promising. Decided to try it first thing the next morning. It didn’t take Merlot long at all to pick up on the trail and jump this buck! He jumped him about 200 yards in and ran him back to camp where he bayed solid for us to finish him. Thanks again for the call, and the patience! Congratulations again on a great axis!

Had a call south of Uvalde about a good deer that the hunter had shot that morning and trailed all day. When they told me what all they had found I knew we would have a good chance at recovering this deer as long as it hadn’t been pushed off the ranch at that point. We got there and turned the dogs out at the last of the trail that they called it quits. It took them a little while to sort things out, but once they did they were gone. Loney found the deer approximately 450 yards in, and had him bayed a minute before Champagne caught up to them. We got to them shortly after and they had him down for us to finish. What an awesome, low fence deer! Congratulations to these gentlemen on an outstanding buck and great work Champagne and Loney on another good recovery!

Had a call just south of Rocksprings. The hunters knew by the sign that this could potentially be one that they might push, so they back out and waited for us to get there. When we got there they took us straight to where they shot the deer and we turn Champagne out. She went straight down into the canyon and worked up the draw a bit. About a quarter of the way up the other side she bayed solid. When we got to them we were able to finish the deer there and made for a quick and easy recovery! Not the case for retrieving him though. Thanks again for the call gentlemen and congratulations again to these guys on their deer! Great work again Champ! She is getting up in age and slowing down some, but still goes into it with the same heart! This might be her last good year. Also such a treat taking ‘P’ along with us, and she enjoys it!

Made a run up to Rocksprings to help recover this incredible axis buck. There was a very cold and windy front that blew in that evening so we decided to start it where they left off. After a few minutes of sorting things out Loney and Champagne both lined out, and bayed this buck about 350 yards ahead of us. We could barely hear them baying due to the wind, and it didn’t last very long. By the time we got to them they had him down there, and we were able to get the buggy in to load him up. What a great axis buck! Congratulations to this hunter, and the ranch as well on raising and harvesting on this deer! Great work Loney and Champ on another quick recovery!

Got a call about a great, low fence deer south of Del Rio which they knew by the sign they needed to back out and call. We got there on a nice cool morning which turned into a warm, sunny one by the time we got to the sign. We turned Champagne and Loney out and they immediately took to it and left. Champagne pulled off right away and let Loney have it. After a quick few hundred yards we heard him baying solid down in the draw. We all caught up to him just in time to watch him lay the buck down which allowed us to easily finish him there. What an outstanding buck indeed for Val Verde county! Congratulations again to this hunter and to this ranch on a beautiful trophy, and thanks again for the call! Great work again Loney and Champ!

After trailing a deer up in Pandale one morning we had another call about an axis buck in Rocksprings that had been shot the evening before. We made our way up there next and got there late that afternoon. We turned the dogs out and they went straight for a draw where they had seen the buck go into that morning. After exploring it a little bit they finally jumped him and made about a 300 yard run where Loney rolled him up. He just about had him finished when we got to them. Thanks again for the call and great work again Champagne and Loney on another great recovery! Congratulations on yalls beautiful axis buck! Went 2/2 this day.

Got a call one morning about a deer up in Pandale. When we got there we decided to start where they found the last blood. From there Loney back tracked it, but Champagne took right to it. She trailed him approximately 600 yards and and kept a subtle bay on him until we got to her. The deer stayed in a draw which lead into a big canyon, and bedded up along the rim of the canyon wall. Loney had just about caught up to us when we got the deer down. It was good to see Champagne come out on top with this track. She is almost 11 now and Father Time is starting to creep in on her. This could be her last good year of hunting. She surely has been a blessing, and we all lover her dearly. It’s great to see the torch being passed but also bittersweet. Congratulations to this young man on a great Val Verde county buck, and thanks again for the call! Great work once again Champ!

Had a call from our friends with about a gut shot ram. We made our way out there and got started a little before dark. Champagne and Loney hit the trail and took off. They got out ahead of us in the creek bed approximately 700 yards and went to baying. They kept this ram bayed on the side of a bluff until we were able to catch up to them and finish him. This was another really good ram we were delighted to help with. Thanks again for the call, and congratulations to this gentleman on a true giant aoudad ram! Great work Loney and Champagne!

Not much to this one. Just a quick and easy track made by Loney up in Carta Valley! They knew they made a good shot, but had zero sign to show for it. After looking a bit with little direction to go on they called us for some help. Loney was on him before the collar loaded on the gps. I believe we are 3/3 on this ranch over the years. Thanks again for the call gentlemen! We wish everyone a very Merry Christmas from Bravo Outdoors!