Conditional use permit approval will open the way for the "Bullhead Hunting Club" on the Grayson Ranch in Paradise Valley, Nev. The property was actually approved a number of years ago for a hunt club when Nevada First Corporation owned the land. That permit expired in 2008 and was not renewed until now.
Nevada First Corporation property has since sold to Crawford Farms.
Applicant Brandon Crawford confirmed that the hunt club operation will comply with all state hunting regulations and the requirements for a hunt club under license from the Nevada Division of Wildlife. Terrain will be marked and hunters will be required to wear highly-visible orange clothing.
Crawford said his family will be doing agricultural activities on the ranch, but the hunt club will operate in the late fall/winter/very early spring months when there are no cattle or workers in the area.
The game bird hunting will be done with shotguns, which do not have the long range capability of rifles. Crawford explained that game birds will be brought into the area for the hunt club, hunters will pay for the privilege of hunting and will be accompanied by a guide to ensure they stay within the area approved.
The previous hunt club license under Nevada First Corporation estimated as many as 50 hunters might join the club and hunt at different times during the season.
"We don't know the potential for the business, but we hope to see it grow," Crawford said. He added that they plan to have the hunt club open from October to March, adding, "We're ready to go this year if this (conditional use permit) is approved."
A number of concerns were expressed by Fred and Kris Stewart, whose 96 Ranch property borders a five to six-mile portion of the Grayson Ranch property where the hunt club will operate.
"For the health and safety of our livestock and workers we feel we'll have to post our property for 'No Trespassing,'" Fred Stewart said. The Stewarts wanted the planning commission to require Crawford to pay to post the 'No Trespassing' signs on their property. They said legal requirements for no trespassing enforcement mandate that the signs must be posted every 100 feet, which would cost up to $10,000 for six miles of signs along the fence.
Legal Counsel Gabrielle Carr said the planning commission would not be within its authority to require Crawford to pay to post 'No Trespassing' signs on someone else's property. She said that because 'something might happen' was not a sufficient burden of proof to require posting.
"We're not opposed to the hunt club, we just want to ensure safety," Kris Stewart said.
The Stewarts also wanted to make sure no game animals would be brought in which could cause health problems for cattle (such as fallow deer or white-tailed deer).
Crawford assured them his application and intention were for upland game birds only. He also assured Stewarts he will accompany the hunters and make sure they stay well clear of the adjoining property.
"We can just move deeper into our own property," he confirmed.
He offered to give his cell phone number to Stewarts and to the planning commission office so he could be contacted if there were any problems or concerns with hunt club activities.
Local resident Robyn Wilshaw noted she ran a pheasant hunt club in California and said the local fish and game personnel will be a great resource to ensure the hunt club will operate within its permit requirements. The permit will have to be renewed yearly. The conditional use permit was also approved for one year.[[In-content Ad]]
