edible notables
THRILL OF THE CHASE
One of the oldest traditions thrives at Green Gulch Ranch.
WRITTEN BY AMANDA BURDEN
PHOTOS BY JACI GOODMAN AND COURTESY OF BIG FISH CREATIONS
Bundled in coats, pants, and gloves, father and son hike together over rugged high country, eyes focused on their hunting dogs that work excitedly, spinning in the sagebrush, noses pinned to the ground. Suddenly, one dog catches a scent and stands still, leg aloft. The second dog rushes up from behind, flushing a pheasant to the sky. Shots break the silence and the pheasant plummets to the earth, assuring a great feast for the whole family.
Instead of tramping for miles over public lands that can be swamped with hunters, during the season, these two are enjoying the thrill of the chase at Green Gulch Ranch in Vinton, Calif., about an hour north of Reno. During the season (Oct. 1, 2014 to March 31, 2015), the private hunting ranch’s owners release 2,000 pen-raised pheasants and 3,000 chukars over their 3,800 rural acres. Club members hunt on wide, open flats and low-lying rocky ridges, following their dogs over beautiful Sierra Valley.
“There is a certain joy that comes with working so closely with my dog out in the field,” says Dr. Clark Pillsbury, a Reno resident and longtime club member. “To watch my dog hunt and retrieve the bird is very rewarding. Green Gulch Ranch really helps me work with my dog by planting the birds in easy cover, hard cover, or whatever is best for the hunt and my dog.”
Family affair
Green Gulch Ranch is owned by the Harrison family. Byrd, his wife JP, and their son Zac (along with Zac’s wife, Kerstin, and their two children) all live on the property. First, only the family hunted on the land. Twenty-five years ago they decided to turn it into a private hunting ranch. Now 100 members enjoy the club, with most making the journey from Reno. Members can share the experience with friends, with each member able to visit the ranch multiple times per season. Every year, a member can hunt up to 20 pheasants or 40 chukars or any combination of that amount.
“It’s a fun thing to do because as much work as is involved, it’s an opportunity for people to get away from the city,” Byrd says. “Yet it’s only 30 minutes from town.”
Because the Harrisons’ property encompasses 3,800 acres, members hunt by themselves on 30 acres to 400 acres. Members are assigned to a field and have all day to hunt. They can spend three to four hours or all day. No more than five groups venture out each day.
Members harvest their birds and take them home for dinner. Many are great cooks, but Green Gulch’s owners also offer inspiration for different fowl preparations on their website.
Besides the Harrisons’ personal house, several restored historical barns sit on the property. One was built in 1895. The beautiful scene is enhanced by the rustic barns and the Harrisons’ flock of peacocks, chickens, and guinea fowl that stroll around the property, as do their blonde Labradors. Wild geese-filled manmade ponds and hay fields — the family’s other business — add ambience as well.
“Green Gulch Ranch has a special beauty that I share with my entire family,” says Don O’Gorman, a longtime Green Gulch pheasant club member and Reno resident. “Hunting has become a family tradition at Green Gulch Ranch, as my children, and now grandchildren, enjoy the sport. Even my spouse participates in all of the hunting activities.”
All the trappings
For him and his guests, O’Gorman says a day on the ranch includes a picnic lunch while taking in the abundant wildlife.
“We have seen herds of deer, hawks, geese, ducks, birds of prey, squirrels, and the occasional snake go by,” he says.
Hunters need a valid California hunting license and an upland bird stamp. Green Gulch will provide a guide and dog for a small fee. In addition, a trap and skeet range is available for hunters to sharpen their skills for daytime and nighttime shooting.
Besides the ranch providing a fun family day out, Zac says the experience also teaches people new to the sport where meat originates. Byrd notes that hunters have always known where their food comes from, but some newbies need the lesson.
“We’ve lost touch with where our food comes from,” Zac says. “Hunting teaches people that food isn’t just from store.”
For membership fees and more details about Green Gulch Ranch, visit http://www.Greengulchranch.com or call 530-993-1129.
Amanda Burden is publisher and editor of edible Reno-Tahoe. She enjoyed meeting the Harrisons and walking their beautiful property.
