Honoring heroes with a hunt
Annual event brings Chicago firefighters to Webster County
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Among the ranks of the Chicago Fire Department are plenty of people who like to hunt, but don't have access to many good places to do so.
Webster County is full of prime pheasant hunting areas. It is also home to lots of people who want to do something to show their appreciation for firefighters and other first responders.
An annual event, held again this past weekend, brings the hunting grounds and people of Webster County together with the Chicago firefighters for a couple days of pheasant hunting.
"We couldn't be more appreciative of the extreme generosity they've shown us," said Tom Ryan, who retired from the Chicago Fire Department after 32 years of service.
"They couldn't treat us any better," he added.
Jim Kersten, of Fort Dodge, and a friend from his college days, Doug Aller, created the hunting expedition. Kersten has the local connections to make it happen, while Aller, who manages investments for the Chicago firefighters union, has all the needed contacts with first responders. The two enlisted Jerry Beck, a leader of the local chapter of Pheasants Forever, to help.
This year, six Chicago firefighters came to Webster County for the hunt.
Collectively, they bagged 21 birds.
Ryan, who was president of the firefighters union for about a decade, took his father's shotgun on the hunt. It is a Browning 12-gauge under and over double barreled model. It's a heavy shotgun, but Ryan said it was very meaningful for him to have it with him.
He said he may have hit one bird. Being outdoors with the other hunters on two fine fall days was more important for him, he said.
The landowners who allowed hunting on their property were Richard and Joan Stark, the Steve Schmallenberger family, Dan Krog, Deb Becker and family, Dave Olson and Norm Lundquist.
Joe Harvey, of Fort Dodge, let some of the hunters stay in his lodge south of the city.
Local Pheasants Forever members volunteered to help, and some brought their hunting dogs.
Troy Anderson and his T-Roys catering business provided the Saturday night meal.