Hides for Habitat "rant"

[kb1965]

I have a question about hides for habitat. On monday I was tasked with the job of dropping off 3 deer hides at one of the local "hides for habitat" drop sites, in east St. Cloud. We, had a new member, age 14, first time out hunting, and we told him to shoot what ever he saw, and he did, a small nubin buck. Well, when we brought the hides in, I was telling him what the hides will be used for. After they inspected the hides. I was told they couldn't take one because it was a fawn hide. The look on the youngest ones face was pure disappointment. They proceeded to show me a hides for habitat sign, and on the bottom of the sign it does state, "No fawn hides". I asked what I should do with it and was told to toss it in the woods or throw it away. So my questoin is, if we are suppose to "donate" our hides, why not take them all? Sorry for the long winded rant but, when you try and set a good example for a new hunter it gets fustrating when you are told things likes this.

[MUSKY18]

That makes no sense what so ever. A hide is a hide at that point. The animal has already been taken. I am not really sure what Hides for Habitat do with the hides once they have them in their possession, but I can't see what the difference would be.

[TylerS]

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the don't take fawn hides because of their fragility during the tanning process.

I worked Hides for Habitat for two winters while in high school. I don't recall there being a "no fawns" stipulation back then, so maybe it has changed.

As far as setting an example for youngsters, maybe not getting angry at a voluntary organization's standards when you don't' know the full reasoning would be a good step? Seems like a pretty petty thing to get riled up about.

Heck, just explain that "well, now we know for next year that they don't take fawns" and leave it at that. Just because the kid gets a little heartbroken isn't the end of the world. Consider it a character building exercise.

Then, toss it in the woods or wherever and talk about how many animals will benefit from that hide as a food source during the winter.

Getting angry doesn't teach a kid anything except that he should get angry, too, just because things don't go his way...

[reinhard1]

unfortunate experience for the first time hunter. maby they should do a better job of advertising the rules [or maby they are in the fine print]. to tell you to throw the hide in the woods would be a violation of the law. i think you did the right thing by contributing for a good cause. unfortunatly the staff there handled it poorly. maby they should change their name to "large hides for habitat". good luck.

[DonBo]

Around here (metro) there are just boxes sitting out here and there in business parking lots. No one standing guard over them telling you what they will or won't accept, and there certainly is no sign saying: NO FAWN HIDES" Maybe you should have just found a different drop box.

[Getanet]

That is odd. My uncle managed the North Suburban Chapter's Hides for Habitat program for many years and I often helped load hides. At least as of a few years ago they accepted fawn hides, as a representative from the hide company inspected each hide and put fawn hides and shot-up hides in a different trailer. They paid less per hide for those but they still took them.

All I can tell you about the Hides for Habitat program is it's an awful lot of work (nasty work) and the money they do make does go into habitat projects. It's too bad you had that experience.

[TylerS]

All I can tell you about the Hides for Habitat program is it's an awful lot of work (nasty work) and the money they do make does go into habitat projects. It's too bad you had that experience.

Amen to THAT. Boy, I could tell you a few stories from my hide-stacking days. Everything from hordes of ticks to maggot infestations to hides so rotten I literally saw a friend's face turn green.

Good work, but I wouldn't do it again if you paid me. Yeeesh...

[Powerstroke]

I would avoid any more discussion of the "fawns issue. It was his first deer and it was a great first deer no matter what the size. Don't let his deer be judged by this one incident. If you cannot find a different place to donate it, I would tell the youngster that I will donate it for him and then maybe just get rid of it if they can't take it. Avoid the moment where someone says its not good enough. Yeah its a white lie, but there is no reason that young man should not feel proud about the deer he shot.

As far as Hides for Habitat, I'm sure it has a good reason and if you disagree, then find a different place to donate the hide. They do use the hides for good reasons and if the fawn hides are too much work it just saves them the hassle by rejecting them.

[Big-Al]

I think that I would question where these hides were really going. I have seen "Hides for Habitat" collection boxes and I have seen "other" collection boxes. Those "other" collection boxes is just someone looking to turn an easy dollar. I have never seen anyone monitoring what goes into the boxes or any instructions or comments on the outside of the box.

[flyfisher03]

If you have the time and place to do it maybe you and your son could look into tanning that hide yourself. If it doesn't come out right oh well you both tried something new. There are plenty of techniques out there on the web.

[hockeybc69]

I have worked the stacking of the hides for MDHA.

We never tossed small hides aside. Everything was sold.

[CNCMike]

If you have the time and place to do it maybe you and your son could look into tanning that hide yourself. If it doesn't come out right oh well you both tried something new. There are plenty of techniques out there on the web.

+1,000

I was thinking exactly the same thing.

[Boar]

Soory to hear obout the dissapointed boy, but what gets me about the boxes is the A holes that put in their legs heads an rib cage just to get rid of it, just seen that to day when i droped of my two hides, a doe a n fawn with no sign stipulation. But people know not to put in limbs an such. good people working for a good cause an they have to put up with that. Boar

[KeystoneLight]

I have been involved with our Chapter's Hide for Habitat program for 15+ years. I think most of the chapters do not give away gloves. The "trade a hide for gloves" is usually a fur buyer and not an official MDHA box. Our buyer buys ALL hides, doesn't matter what size. We use the funding to send kids to Forkhorn Camps, sent 24 kids this year.

[Pooh]

I also stacked and salted hide for the MDHA. Its amazing some of the hides guys save from bow hunting to donate. I like to think I got a pretty tough stomach, but the smell of some of them hides would gag a maggot. I guess at least they are trying. Never had any problems with the buyer taking a hide unless it was fall apart in his hands rotten.

The money goes to good use. I went to camp when I was a kid. Also worked for the local seed guy who put together the food plot mixes that was distributed to members.

Its really too bad he had a bad experiance. Not sure why they wouldn't take it. Better luck next time.