Hides For Habitat - Donated Hides Fund Habitat in Minnesota

MDHA is committed to preserving our hunting heritage, promoting habitat education as well as building and protecting habitat to benefit deer and deer hunters in Minnesota. The Minnesota Deer Hunters Association’s Hides for Habitat program is a recycling program to turn donated deer hides into dollars to be used for habitat. Since 1985, MDHA’s Hides for Habitat program has aided us in our commitment with the collection of 1,034,708 donated deer hides to raise over $5.9 million dollars.

Each fall during the hunting season, MDHA Chapter volunteers place hides collection boxes at various locations throughout their community. Hunters place their deer hides in MDHA’s hide boxes. Chapters collect the donated hides which are then sold to fur buyers.

The money raised from the Hides for Habitat program along with funds raised from chapter fundraisers, donations and the annual State Habitat Banquet are used locally and statewide to support habitat and habitat related education. In addition to raised funds, MDHA partners with other conservation organizations such as Ruffed Grouse Society, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Pheasants Forever, National Wild Turkey Federation and many local conservation groups. The partners provide funds and support to our efforts which enhances our accomplishments.

Our fundraising efforts make it possible for MDHA Chapters to distribute food plot seed, fruit trees for wildlife and to promote local habitat projects to their members. Chapter members have participated in local habitat projects like tree planting, native browse regeneration, removal of invasive species and winter cover. The work done on these projects creates an opportunity to educate members and youth of the importance and impact made on habitat for deer, other wildlife and the environment.

The Hides for Habitat program and all the great habitat accomplishments achieved from the funds raised would not be possible without the hard work and dedication of chapter volunteers, members and deer hunters. A key component to the success of the program is the relationship chapters have with the businesses in their community. The businesses typically allow chapters, free of charge to put a collection box on their property or provide space to prepare and store hides until pickup.

During the 2022 deer hunting season Hides for Habitat collected 31,755 hides and 16,734 tails that turned into $163,048 raised for habitat. This program offers hunters the opportunity to give back to habitat with their hide and tail donation. You can also participate by contacting your local chapter to ask about volunteer opportunities. A few hours of your time volunteering or a single hide donation does not seem like much, however, added to the efforts all across Minnesota, it certainly does make a difference!

2022 Hides for Habitat
Program Raised $163,048

 Total Hides Collected in 2022..........31,755

Visit mndeerhunters.com or call MDHA’s State Office 218-327-1103 to find contact information and the location of your local chapter. A list of drop box locations will be available on MDHA’s website during the fall hunting season.

To achieve our goals MDHA applies for Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council Grants (LSOHC) and Conservation Partners Legacy Grants (CPL) which are funded through the Outdoor Heritage Fund created by the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment. Since 2010 MDHA has participated in 113 CPL Grants and 5 LSOHC Grants for over $17.8 million worth of habitat projects accomplished or in progress across the State of Minnesota. These grants fund projects to restore, enhance or protect forests, wetlands, prairies and habitat for fish, game and wildlife in Minnesota. Chapters can donate their habitat funds they have raised to support MDHA#s CPL Grant program (CPL Grants require a ten percent match of the grant amount).