Special deer hunts to be held in 27 Minnesota State Parks (2004-10-26)
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has issued a reminder
that special hunts will take place this fall in 27 state parks for those
persons selected in the special hunt drawing. While most of the parks will
remain open to the public during the hunts, for public safety reasons, a
number of parks will have some use restrictions.
For the duration of the hunt, restrictions will range from closing trails or
areas of the park, to restricting use of the park to special hunt permit
holders only. For example, Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park will be open
to the public during the special hunt in the park but the park's horse
trails will be closed and use of the other hiking trails is discouraged.
At Afton, Crow Wing, Frontenac, Jay Cooke, Lake Shetek, St. Croix, Savanna
Portage, Wild River and William O' Brien state parks, the use of the park is
restricted to special permit holders only due to the extensive area being
hunted.
PICK UP A MAP AND WEAR BRIGHT COLORS
Visitors who plan to use the parks during the special hunt event should stop
at the office when they arrive to pick up a map of the no hunting zones in
the park. Maps of these zones or signs also will be posted in various
locations in the park.
DNR officials strongly suggest that visitors wear blaze orange while they
are in a park that is holding a special hunt and take care to remain within
the designated no hunting areas.
Visitors might also think about choosing an alternative park nearby for
recreation if a special hunts is being conducted at the park they had
planned to visit. For example, Interstate State Park on the St. Croix River
is an alternative choice for fall hiking or picnicking on the weekends in
early November when nearby Wild River and William O'Brien state parks are
holding their hunts.
Likewise, Wild River or William O'Brien would be good alternatives to visit
when Interstate holds its hunt late in November.
The public is invited to contact the DNR Information Center at (651)
297-6157 or 1-888-MINNDNR (646-6367) for assistance in choosing alternate
locations.
YOUTH HUNT NEW THIS YEAR
St. Croix State Park is hosting a youth deer hunt in addition to the regular
deer hunt in the park. The hunt was initiated this year outside the regular
time frame in order to harvest more deer. During the hunt, the youth hunter
must be accompanied by a non-hunting adult.
HUNTS HELP CONTROL EXPLODING DEER POPULATIONS
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