State Park Properties to Close for Deer Hunts

(MITCHELL) – Select Indiana State Park properties will close temporarily for controlled deer management hunts including Spring Mill State Park in Mitchell and Cave River Valley Natural Area in Campbellsburg.

Each hunt runs two days. The first hunt has taken place and the second hunt is scheduled for Monday, Dec. 2, and Tuesday, Dec. 3.

Properties will close to the public about 5 p.m. the night before the hunts begin and reopen after 4 p.m. as the second day of hunting concludes.

Spring Mill Inn will serve dinner from 5-8 p.m. on the final days of the hunts.

Participating state park 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.

All Indiana state park properties not mentioned will be operating under normal hours.

Indiana DNR biologists 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 habitat. The deer management hunts help control browsing by deer to a level that helps ensure a healthy habitat for native plants and animals.

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