68 NEBRASKAland • APRIL 2016
These photos of my uncle Everett "Fuzzy" Stilwell were
taken sometime between the 1930s and 1950s. The picture
with the hides and coyote head skins was taken on the
Valentine Wildlife Refuge southwest of Valentine where Fuzzy
stayed when he trapped for the Refuge. As I recall, he was
paid so much for every coyote head skin he turned in. He
did on many occasions have the talent to call in coyotes; he
could make a call like a rabbit in distress, and it would attract
coyotes in, which he then shot.
When he trapped for the government, he stayed in a
bunkhouse on the east side of the Refuge buildings. In the
off season, when he wasn't trapping for the government, he
worked for a rancher during the haying season. In between, he
hunted and fished and literally lived off the land. He had a jeep
which had a flatbed, and he built a small camper in which he
kept a sleeping bag, fishing gear and guns and ammo.
The Omaha World-Herald did an article on him in the 1950s
in which he was referred to as "The Viking of the Sandhills."
Fuzzy spent his life in Cherry County and was the eldest of 15
siblings. He never married, but after the World-Herald article,
he had at least two proposals from ladies who wanted to
marry up with him.
– Fran Crowe
McCool Junction, Nebraska
Send contributions to: Portraits from the Past, NEBRASKAland Magazine, P.O. Box 30370, Lincoln, NE 68503-0370. Or e-mail to
Tim.Reigert@Nebraska.gov. Photos should show people enjoying Nebraska outdoor activities, such as camping, boating, hunting or fishing, and must have
been taken before 1980. We will give priority to unusual photos or activities. When possible, please include a story about the photograph and identify the
people, places and approximate date it was taken. Photos will be returned.
