The Great Hinckley Hunt of 1818
Hinckley was named for a Judge Hinckley of Northampton, Mass., who in the early years of the 19th Century bought three townships in Ohio. One of these townships and the town of Hinckley take their name from that of the judge.
While today the name is often associated with the annual return of the buzzards, early historians remembered it for a roundup of wild animals that took place there 178 years ago.
The event was known as “The Great Hinckley Hunt of 1818.” It came about after settlers from New England cleared adjoining acreage for farm land while Judge Hinckley’s holdings remained heavily forested and full of game.
Soon the animals, who hid in the forest, would emerge at night to raid the settlers’ farms. Ferocious wolves would slay as many as 100 sheep in a single night. Bears broke into pens to devour scores of pigs, and deer leveled crops.
Finally a hunt was organized by about 600 of the settlers. On Dec. 24, 1818, they encircled a large wooded section with firing lines. Shortly after sunrise, a signal was given and the lines, each with its own leader, advanced inward from all four directions, forcing the game to the center of the circle.
There was plenty in the larder for all that Christmas season. The hunt accounted for 300 deer, 21 bears and 17 wolves beside hundreds of turkeys, foxes and raccoons.
Just one man was injured, and he was only slightly wounded by buckshot.
Good thing they wern’t fishin’ 
