10th Annual Veterans Hunt
Crooked Foot Upland Bird and Game Hunting Club 10th Annual Veterans Hunt
An SCI Lansing Michigan Sponsored Event
It was a cold windy day with wet snow but no one seemed to care!
On November 9th I stood with approximately 100 veterans for a group picture for my 5th consecutive year of attending the event and thought of their sacrifices to serve our great country and how important this event is to them.
I suspect many witnessed or were involved in horrible situations. However, today everyone was all smiles and excited to be part of the 10th Annual Veterans Pheasant Hunt at Crooked Foot Hunting Club! Registration and plenty of hot coffee and donuts started the morning followed by the Pledge of Allegiance and welcome address by the Crooked foot host and owner Tony Mazzali.
After a raffle and group picture we headed to our assigned stations and waited for the horn blast that signaled it was time to load up and get ready. I normally hunt in fingerless gloves which normally are more than adequate, however the cold wet snow trumped the dexterity advantage. As normally happen in a tower shoot some stations in the circular rotation are hot and some no shots are fired. My partner and fellow board member Marty Crimp an Engineers Engineer always has a reason, never an excuse for missing. Several years ago his glasses needed an adjustment, this year he left his beautiful Spanish bespoke side by side home since he did not want to get it wet and brought out a pump that did not fit him. Me I just go by the old saying “to hit is history and miss is mystery.”
After the shoot a hot lunch was served and greatly appreciated.
A walk-up hunt was available after lunch for those that wanted to participate.
A package of dressed out pheasants was available for every participant to cook up and enjoy later with family or friends.
In summary a great day in spite of the weather for the participating veterans and a shout out to an outstanding program by the Crooked Foot owner, employees, volunteers, and us sponsors!
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How did the concept of modern hunting clubs like Crooked Foot come about?
John Olin was a successful industrialist and inventor. He had a broad interest in manufacturing and his wide range of companies made everything from firearms, ammo, rocket fuel, and Lifesaver candy. In his later years he became one of the 20th century’s most influential philanthropists, but at his core he was conservationist and lifelong hunter.
John Followed in his father’s footsteps and graduated from Cornell University with a degree in Chemical Engineering. After graduation he joined his father at the Western Cartridge Company. In 1931 during the Great Depression John gambled the family fortune to purchase Winchester Repeating Arms Company which was in receivership. Later he merged both companies in 1935 to form Winchester -Western. During his long career John applied his inventiveness to real hunting needs and was awarded 24 USA patents for arms and ammo design and manufacturing. Most notable was the development of the Super-X shotgun shell. The Super-X was developed in 1921 grew out of his experience waterfowl hunting and the need for a longer reaching, harder hitting load.
John introduced the use of progressive burning smokeless powder to increase velocity at safe pressures, in addition the lead shot used was improved by alloying and copper plating for harness. The Super-X was also the first shell to use plastic hulls which would not swell and jam which was a common problem with traditional paper hull construction.
The creation of Nilo Farms
The Post-World War Two years brought changes to American hunting. Returning G.I.’s had the means and time to enjoy hunting. The rapid expansion of residential, commercial, and industrial properties, improved road systems, and newer farming practices combined to put pressure on game animals and places to hunt. Olin was concerned that unless something was done to offset this problem hunting would eventually disappear especially near large suburban and urban areas. He also believed private property could be naturally developed into hunting preserves where hunters would pay to hunt pen raised and released birds. John knew this could be a difficult sell as hunters would be wary of anything resembling an artificial experience. Another challenge existed with state game departments that viewed the program as an additional enforcement program and questioned the value of such as program. John knew to be successful the hunt experience had to have healthy birds, good cover to hunt in and a knowledgeable staff to run the operation.
Olin purchased three farms that were in poor shape outside of East Alton, Illinois near the Olin headquarters and the Winchester ammunition plant. He then turned the 600 plus acres of played out land into a model experimental hunting preserve that would also serve as testing grounds for Winchester products. He contracted with conservationists and wildlife biologists to create game bird cover interspersed with diverse food sources.
Nilo Farms was a success and was a leading model for developing the hunting preserve concept and set a high standard for others to follow. Today Nilo Farms remains an active in promoting the hunting and shooting sports, particularly our youth. Available programs include all of the clay target sports and hunting pheasant and chukar with professional guides and well -trained dogs.
John Olin used his time, wealth, and influence to promote conservation and bring scientific insight into the management of habitat and game animals. As hunters we owe him a tremendous debt of gratitude for his and other conservation leaders of that era who fought to preserve our hunting legacy.
In case your what to know the Nilo name it is Olin spelled backwards!
