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History
Bray
Ranch began in 1907 when Edgar Bray and his wife
moved by horse-drawn carriage from Cedaredge to
Redvale, Colorado. The ranch began as a small
operation but grew as time passed. Edgar's son, Bill
inherited the ranch and ran a flock of sheep
throughout the mountains of southwestern Colorado.
During that time he started a small cattle operation
that was the starting point for today's herd. Bill's
son, Robert, took over the ranch full time in the
early 1980s and ran about 2,000 sheep, a small
cattle herd and began a small
hunting outfitting operation with just a few clients
per year.
Today
Today
the ranch operates a cow-calf and yearling operation
in addition to an extensive hunting operation. Bray
Ranch runs about 800 head of mother cows and when
conditions permit up to 400 yearling calves.
Robert's son, Lance has carried the tradition that
started the ranch by maintaining a small flock of white faced sheep. Each year our family
welcomes scores of hunters to the ranch who are
seeking great hunting opportunities.
The
Ranch
The
ranch is located in southwest Colorado in San Miguel
and Montrose counties It runs from an elevation of 6,000
feet to well over 10,000 feet. The lower properties are
sage flats, Pinion Juniper and canyon lands with
numerous isolated grain, alfalfa and hay fields.
The higher elevations range from Ponderosa Pine to
Oak Brush and Aspen Habitats. The ranch is
home year-round to a very large number of mule deer
and elk as well bear and all other kinds of wildlife
including Gunnison Sage Grouse and Gunnison Prairie
Dogs. A recent land acquisition of 1,800
additional acres provides greater hunting
opportunity.
Family
Bray
Ranches is truly a family operation. The ranch
relies on each member of the family to provide their
support and expertise throughout the year.
Besides
the ranch, hunting, boards and appointments, Robert
and Melissa have four children who keep them busy
with five beautiful grandchildren. Robert sits
on the board of the U.S. Ag Bank and is actively
involved in several local and state-wide landowner,
water and property issues. Melissa also works
as a medical transcriptionist.
Garin works as
a lobbyist for Colorado Legislative Services, is
married to Chad who works for the Colorado Farm
Bureau, their daughter Emlyn was born in July of
2009.
Zandon
returned to help manage the ranch in the spring of
2008. He is
married to Sara, who is a school teacher, they have
two children, their daughter Keiran and son Cole who
was born in May of 2009.
Lance
also helps manage the ranch, is married to Nichol
who is a dental hygienist. They also have two
children, their son Colton and daughter Darcy.
Chayden
has his pilot's license and works at Denver
International Airport for Great Lakes Airlines, he
has a significant other, Meegan, who we all hope will
join the family soon.
Front, From
Left: Keiran, Cole, Robert, Darcy, Melissa, Emlyn
and Colton
Rear, from left: Sara, Zandon, Meegan, Chayden,
Chad, Garin, Nichol and Lance |
