Indiana state park properties to close for deer hunts

Select Indiana state park properties will close temporarily for controlled deer management hunts in the coming weeks.

Each hunt runs two days. The first hunt is on Monday, Nov. 18 and Tuesday, Nov. 19. The second is on Monday, Dec. 2 and Tuesday, Dec. 3. The participating state park properties will close to the general public on the evening before each of the two hunts.

Participating properties are Chain O’ Lakes, Charlestown, Clifty Falls, Fort Harrison, Harmonie, Indiana Dunes, McCormick’s Creek, Ouabache, Pokagon, Prophetstown, Shakamak, Spring Mill, Summit Lake, Tippecanoe River and Whitewater Memorial state parks, as well as Cave River Valley Natural Area and Trine State Recreation Area.

These state park properties will reopen the morning after each two-day hunt. All Indiana state park properties not mentioned will be operating under normal hours.

Biologists from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) evaluate which state park properties require a deer management hunt each year based on habitat recovery and previous harvest rates at each park.

The state parks are home to numerous natural communities that serve as significant habitats. The deer management hunts help control browsing by deer to a level that helps ensure healthy habitats for native plants and animals.

Only individuals selected from the draw may participate at any site.

A full report on the 2018 deer management hunts is available at stateparks.IN.gov/files/sp-DeerRMRR.pdf. The report for 2019 will be available next March.