Posted: 10/9/07
For Omer Schleich,
deer hunting has changed a lot since 1949
By Tom Hammell
Special for the Caledonia Argus
Omer Schleich started hunting deer in 1949, the second year a hunt was held in the area.
The 85-year-old Hokah resident moves a little slower than he used to, using a golf cart to get around his farm, hunting with a special permit.
"I remember when there wasnít a deer in this country," he said.
He started hunting raccoon when he was very young with his father and doesnít remember seeing many deer.
Schleich still remembers his first morning of deer hunting.
"It was so windy that morning; I didnít know a dam thing about hunting," he said, "still donít."
At that time he knew the neighbors and didnít need to ask for permission, he said.
Schleich saw people he knew shelling corn out of a crib and an old man he knew said two deer went up to the top of the hill.
He shot, thinking heíd missed, and then saw the deer that he had killed.
"Itís the first deer I ever really seen out here," he said.
Now, he said, there are more deer, and more people hunting them. They are good hunters and can move like a deer.
"We had better hunting when we had a three-day season," he said.
Prices have risen some since he started.
"A license was $3 and if you shot a fox you got a $4 bounty and you made a dollar," he said.
He said the secret to getting the deer is just luck but he has a few spots picked out on his farm overlooking Hokah and LaCrosse.
"I just drive around the edge of the woods," he said.
He said he goes out for about an hour at a time, because he gets cold easily due to open-heart surgery he had a few years ago.
"If I feel like deer hunting, I do." he said. "If I donít I go to New Albin for coffee."
Caledonia Argus
314 West Lincoln St.
P.O. Box 227
Caledonia, MN 55921-0227
507/724-3475
E-Mail: editor.argus@ecm-inc.com