Couple donates taxidermy collection to Habitat for Humanity – Bemidji Pioneer

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When Gary and Deborah Olen decided to relocate from the Cass Lake area to Rochester, they sought someone or some organization that could benefit from the donation of their extensive array of animal mounts and bearskin rugs.
“All those heads – I can immediately know where I shot it and who I was with,” said Gary.
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He said they didn’t want to sell the trophies, although they looked on e-bay and saw bearskin rugs going for $2,000. Instead, they said they wanted to donate the collection to a non-profit or charity organization. Gary’s daughter had volunteered during a college break to build a Habitat for Humanity house in Mexico, so they offered the mounts to Northwoods Habitat for Humanity.
“It was kind of an unusual donation for us,” said Geri Hickerson, local Habitat for Humanity executive director.
She said Habitat for Humanity has the space to display the collection at the ReStore, 1357 Industrial Park Drive S.E. “But on the same hand, we’re not a sporting goods store,” she said.
Hickerson said the Olens had all the mounts professionally cleaned before they donated them and everything is for sale. She said much of the hunting gear has already sold, but some clothing and equipment is still available, along with the mounts.
Gary said he grew up in Milwaukee, Wis., but had opportunities to hunt with friends. He shot his first buck when he was 18. Hunting became a lifelong passion and morphed into a business, as well.
In 1970, he started the outdoors and sporting goods catalog company, Sportsman’s Guide. The company became tremendously successful selling military surplus, overstocks and used goods by mail order.
“It was a win-win-win,” Gary said. “The manufacturer got rid of his overstocks, we sold it and made a lot of money and the customer got a great price.”
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They sold the company about five years ago to retire to their rural Cass Lake home.
“We’re taking with us his first deer he shot when he was 18 and his standing mounted bear – so we’re taking the first and last,” said Deborah. “We had them displayed for a lot of years.”
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