State parks to close for seasonal deer, goose hunts

In Indiana, 21 state parks, including nearby Brown County State Park, will be closed to the public during two rounds of deer hunting this month, the state Department of Natural Resources announced in a press release.

The first round will be from Nov. 14 to 15. The second will be from Nov. 28 to 29.

Biologists from the DNR analyze state parks to decide which will be closed each year based on which have deer overpopulation problems and whether this puts any endangered or threatened plant species at risk.

The state parks are home to more than 32 state-endangered plants and numerous significant natural communities. The reductions help control deer grazing to a level that helps maintain habitats throughout the state parks, according to a press release from the DNR.

Hunters are chosen each year based on a public drawing that takes place in
September.

While the press release indicated that the program has been successful since the first scheduled hunt in 1993, the program has faced problems in over-selective hunting and hunters who do not show up on the scheduled hunting days, according to the press release.

The DNR also announced that it will open three additional state parks for Canada goose hunting. Ouabache, Shakamak and Whitewater Memorial state parks will be open to Canada goose hunters from Nov. 28 to 29.

Goose hunters do not need to win a public drawing. Hunters will be allowed in the parks on a first-come, first-served basis.
The DNR stressed that the annual goose hunt was only one part of the state’s goose management program that also includes non-lethal methods.

— Zach Ammerman