Permit OK'd For Hunting

The Kimball County Commissioners met in regular session on Tuesday, Jan. 19. The regular agenda items were addressed before the 10 a.m. public hearing on a conditional use permit.

A preliminary report was provided at 9:45 by County Zoning Administrator Shelia Newell. The application for a conditional use permit was submitted by Real Western Wings, which is owned by Dale and Ruth Critchfield and landowner Lonnie Yung for an "indoor or outdoor recreational facilities that due to the nature of the facility generally require a location separated from urban areas located in a 10.26 acre tract" about 11 miles south of Kimball.

Real Western Wings CSA #290 provides pheasant, chukar and sharp-tailed grouse hunting using private land and CRP south of Kimball.

According to Zoning Administrator Shelia Newell, the Planning Commission, which met on Dec. 21 to discuss the conditional use permit voted to recommended to the commissioners that the permit be approved. The permit will expire on Oct 5, 2025.

The public hearing opened at 10 a.m. in order to receive public comments and concluded at 10:22. The commissioners voted unanimously to approve the permit

With no other comments, Dale Critchfield spoke at the hearing. He stated that last year he had about 70-80 clients and now has about 275 clients on his list to hunt pheasants and other birds. He leases a little over 900 acres for his control hunts. Critchfield raises about 3,035 birds, and about 60% to 65% are released for hunting purposes.

In addition, Critchfield handed out his rules, procedures and maps of the areas that are available for hunting. Critchfield said with the rules, procedures and maps he "hopes to eliminate any problems."