1

Abram B. Konrad with his new hunting gun at the family home on Parsons Road
1933
Pelee Island, Ontario

Credits:
Essex Kent Mennonite Historical Association

2

Throughout the year, Islanders supplemented their diet by hunting rabbits and catching fish in Lake Erie and Island canals. Gerhard Wiebe remembers, "Pickerel became part of our diet [in the 1940s]. One of our hired men also helped some of the fishermen. He showed Mom how to make 'dust' with a rolling pin our of Cornflakes cereal, beat some eggs, dip the washed pickerel fillets in egg, roll them in the Cornflakes dust, and fry them in butter in a cast-iron pan. We had to learn to beware the bones!"

3

Fishing: George Wiens, second from right, with three friends, displaying their catch
Circa 1932
Pelee Island, Ontario

Credits:
Essex Kent Mennonite Historical Association

4

Neighbours Frank Steingart and Jake Heinrichs displaying their catch
1944
Pelee Island, Ontario

Credits:
Essex Kent Mennonite Historical Association

5

Brothers Nick and George Wiens, second and third from left, hunting rabbits with their friends
Circa 1944
Pelee Island, Ontario

Credits:
Essex Kent Mennonite Historical Association

6

Ken Dick remembers, "My dad did the cooking once we moved here [in 1948], and many times John [G. Wiebe, with whom we lived] would say, 'Well, what are we going to have for supper tonight?' and my dad'd say, 'Well, how about pheasant?' or how about rabbit or something like that, and John'd say, 'I'll be back in a minute.' He'd have shot the pheasant out of the tree, and already plucked it and so on, or skinned the rabbit."

7

Jacob Epp and daughter Ruby Epp holding pheasants and one rabbit at their home on the East-West Road
Circa 1932
Pelee Island, Ontario

Credits:
Essex Kent Mennonite Historical Association

8

Island farmers pressed the Pelee Town Council to request permission from the Department of Lands and Forests to hold a hunt. Their motive was the extensive damage being done to crops by pheasants. When biologist Benson visited Pelee, he concluded there were sixty thousand pheasants on Pelee Island. The birds, it was alleged, followed the rows of freshly seeded grain, feeding, and thereby reducing the farmers' yields. The request was granted and the first pheasant hunt was held in 1932.

9

1943 Pheasant Hunt at the Ginter Home
1943
Pelee Island, Ontario

Credits:
Essex Kent Mennonite Historical Association

10

The hunt was always held in late October. Some hunters would arrive on Wednesday, hunt for two days, and leave on Friday afternoon or Saturday morning. Most came on the Pelee Boat and others came by airplane.

11

The Annual Two-Day Pheasant Hunt
Circa 1932
Pelee Island, Ontario

Credits:
Essex Kent Mennonite Historical Association

12

The hunt was advertised by the London Free Press, The Windsor Star, The Detroit Times, and various other newspapers. It became well-known all over Canada and the United States.

The hunters came from all walks of life. Hunters boarded with Island families, or stayed in the hotel and private clubs. Some families had to hire help from other Islanders, or from the mainland, and these people were paid for their help.

13

Anne Fast remembers, "The hunters were served about six or seven meals during their stay. Supplies not available locally were brought in from the mainland. We had our own eggs, dairy products and meat, but buying bacon for breakfast was a real treat for us."

14

There was no indoor plumbing so water was carried in from the wells. Without electricity, food was cooked on a wood stove.

Bacon and eggs were served at breakfast. Meals consisted of homemade chicken noodle or vegetable soup. Roast chicken and beef dishes were served with homegrown vegetables. The bread and various desserts were all freshly baked.