Hides for Habitat helps wildlife; here's where to find drop boxes

Each fall about this time, the big orange boxes begin appearing outside convenience stores, bars and Minnesota Department of Natural Resources offices. They're the Hides for Habitat drop-off spots, where hunters can drop off deer hides after processing their deer.

The Hides for Habitat program, managed by the Minnesota Deer Hunters Association, is a highly successful method through which Minnesota hunters have raised millions of dollars for deer and other wildlife habitat.

Since 1993, MDHA and its chapters have spent more than $7.4 million to restore and rehabilitate critical wildlife habitat on public lands.

Since 1985, the Hides for Habitat Program has collected more than 650,000 hides and raised nearly

$3.5 million for habitat projects throughout Minnesota.

This year, the average Grade No. 1 deer hide is worth about $8, said Mark Johnson, executive director of MDHA.

"By the time that donated hide hits the ground in habitat, MDHA has turned it into about $30, thanks to garnering matches from other non-profits as well as state and federal agencies," Johnson said. "It's amazing how much can be accomplished when everyone pitches in."

MDHA chapters provide food plot seed to chapter members, loggers and farmers each year for planting on their property and for seeding trails and logging landings.

In addition, MDHA provides money and assistance for wildlife research and studies of deer habitat and physiology.

Here's a list of Hides for Habitat drop-off boxes in the Duluth and Carlton County area:

Carlton County chapter boxes

Floodwood Little Store

Gary Bottle Shop, Gary-New Duluth

Outdoor Advantage, Minnesota Highway 33 in Cloquet

Sawyer store, Minnesota Highway 210 in Sawyer

Alaspa Gas and Grocery, Highway 33 north in Cloquet

Harold's Service, Carlton

Rob's Mahtowa Tavern, Mahtowa

Nickerson Bar, Nickerson

B.J.'s Express, Wright

Cromwell Self Serve, Cromwell

Esko Little Store: 90 Thomson Road, Esko

Junction Oasis, Highway 210, Carlton

Crossroads Store: Junction of Highways 2 and 33

Boneyard Bar & Grill, Wrenshall

Duckette General store, Nickerson

Blaine Bros. Trucking, Scanlon

Drop Tine chapter boxes

Both Holiday station stores in Two Harbors

Dick Krech's Black Bear Outfitters, Finland

Tails and Scales, Beaver Bay

Lake Superior chapter boxes

Gander Mountain, 4275 Haines Rd.

DNR office, 4805 Rice Lake Road

Holiday station store, Highway 2 and Boundary Avenue, Proctor

Holiday Station store, 27th Avenue West and I-35

Holiday Station store, Pike Lake

Lakeside Super America

Cotton Super America

Gnesen Convenience Store, 6049 Rice Lake Road

Lakewood One Stop, 4942 Jean Duluth Road

Adolph Store, Adolph

Esko Self Serve, 1 West Highway 61, Esko