Posted by Sara Niklas

Some hunters intending to donate their deer hides to the "Hides for Habitat" charity...have been deceived by what the Minnesota Deer Hunter's Association calls "imposter boxes."

These boxes have been popping up around the state recently, leaving many feeling duped.

The Hides for Habitat Charity was started in 1985 by the Minnesota Deer Hunter's Association.

Chapters around the state have collected nearly 700,000 deer hides for the program, raising more than 3 and a half million dollars for wildlife restoration and outdoor education.

But, some hunters could unintentionally be putting cash into someone's pocket instead of back into the Minnesota wilderness.

"Instead of being labeled they'll just put 'hides drop box' or something like that and people get the misunderstanding that that's an MDHA drop box and they're dropping their hides in there," said MDHA executive director Mark Johnson.

They're called "imposter boxes" and there's nothing that can legally be done about them.

Johnson says he has no problem with businesspeople who label boxes for purchase or trade, but believes those putting out unlabeled boxes are trying to trick people.

"We have had boxes placed adjacent to or right next to our boxes and it's easy to think, 'oh that's an overflow box,' but that's not the case, if it doesn't say MDHA don't put it in it unless you want to," said Johnson.

Pete Hussman cuts deer at the Four Season's Market in Coleraine and says many customers want to donate to Hides for Habitat.

"Most of the people that have their deer processed are into donating hides. They want to know where their hides are going to they'll even bring them in after they skin them themselves and donate them," said Hussman.

The worst part to Hussman and Johnson is the deception of the public.

"For someone to do it as a personal benefit I think is very morally wrong," said Hussman.

"It's just disappointing that anybody would go and try to deceive other people," said Johnson.

The Minnesota Deer Hunter's Association reminds anyone wanting to donate to Hides for Habitat to check each drop box for the proper labels.