NILO Nirvana: Winchester's Gift To American Sportswomen Turns 70

Winchester celebrates NILO's milestone with this gorgeous short film and special collectible AA shotshell boxes.

posted on July 21, 2022

Seventy years ago, the late John M. Olin—then president of Winchester—decided to create a gift to America's sportsmen and women. He envisioned a hunting and shooting preserve that would house the best retrievers that time and patience could produce; a place where the raucous clatter of wild wings would never be silenced; a place that would stand as a legacy and a testament to the uniquely American tradition of hunting. That place is called the NILO Winchester Hunting & Shooting Preserve, and it's just as beautiful on its 70th birthday as it was in 1952.

Lovingly dubbed "NILO Farms," the preserve got its name from its founder ... it's "OLIN" spelled backwards. To this day, from October to March, hunters, veteran guides and NILO’s famed Labrador retrievers experience some of the finest wingshooting in America. Year-round, it's open for trap, skeet, sporting clays, 5-stand and other shotgun games, as well as special events such as the Kids & Clays Shoot. It's open to all and (as designed by Olin) affordable to the average American.

NILO Farms still has close ties with Winchester Ammunition, given that it's the spot where Winchester's engineers do their testing ... including one of Winchester's most famous shotgun loads ever, the AA. (Winchester AA dates back to 1965, 13 years after the farm was founded!) That's why Winchester's celebrating NILO's 70th anniversary with special commemorative and collectible shotshell boxes. It's only available through retailers, and unlikely to last long on shelves, so keep an eye out at your local sporting goods store!

Latest

Deering Knife 1
Deering Knife 1

Why You Need a Replaceable-Blade Knife

Replaceable-blade hunting knives are all the rage. What’s the big deal?

Four Factors That Make Big-Game Hunting Ammo Effective

A hunting cartridge needs these four things in order to drop animals cleanly and reliably.

Breaking Clays to Beat Cancer

Remington helped to raise thousands for cancer research as it hosted the 2nd annual “Shoot to Cure” sporting clays fundraiser.

Gone Fishin'—and Huntin'!

How will you celebrate National Hunting and Fishing Day?

What to Do With Unwanted Taxidermy

Need to unload some old mounts? Here’s what you can and can’t do with them, and the best way to pass your trophies on.

 

Women's Interests



Get the best of NRA Women delivered to your inbox.