Every year deer hunters throughout Minnesota provide millions of dollars for deer habitat to increase the health of Minnesota’s deer herd.

Hides for Habitat is the statewide program that collects deer hides during deer hunting season and sells them for money that in turn goes to local MDHA chapters for habitat renewal.

Since 1985, over 515,000 hides have been collected and over $2.4 million has been generated to fund habitat projects.

Hides are accepted from whitetail deer, mule deer, elk and moose.

Seventy five percent of the money is returned to the local MDHA chapter for projects such as land purchases, clear cutting, prescribed burning, winter feeding, site preparation and clover planting and 25 percent is managed by the MDHA State Habitat Committee for similar projects.

&8220;As insignificant as it may seem, this program helps restore and enhance tens of thousands of acres of wildlife habitat in Minnesota each year,&8221; said MDHA’s Executive Director Mark Johnson.”

For local information about MDHA Hides for Habitat program, visit www.mndeerhunter.com, or the Southern Gateway Chapter Hides for Habitat Chairman Clark Hammer (507-256-7609) or Jack Adams (507-373-4153).

Hides for Habitat collection boxes will be at the following area businesses during November.

Morgan’s Meats – New Richland; Short Stop Station – Glenville; Hart Brothers Weaponry – Hwy 69, Albert Lea; Geneva Auto Service – Geneva; Nick’s Meats & Grocery – Hayward; Conger Meat Market & Locker – Conger; Mansfield Meat Market & Locker – Mansfield; Steve’s Meat Market – Ellendale; Craig’s Taxidermy – Freeborn; Tom’s Taxidermy – Clarks Grove; Norby’s &822066;&8221; Station – Albert Lea; Nielsen’s Conoco – Hartland; Bend-in-the-Road – Manchester; Jeff Miller – 5 miles west of Mansfield.