During a special resource management deer hunt Saturday, Dec. 5 through Monday, Dec. 7, Lake Maria State Park will remain open, but visitors are advised to wear blaze orange if they visit the park while the hunt is in progress.
Backpacking sites, camper cabins, and group camps will be closed during the hunt.
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Parks and Trails annually hosts several special deer hunts to manage deer populations.
Only expert special-permit hunters, who were selected in a drawing, will be allowed to hunt within park boundaries.
“Deer are part of the natural communities that we seek to preserve or restore in the state park system,” says Ed Quinn, state parks’ resource management coordinator.
“When deer populations in an area become too high, however, they can have significant negative impacts on native plant and animal communities.  While park restrictions and closures might be a temporary inconvenience to our visitors, they ensure that a safe environment is maintained and help us to keep our natural communities, such as hardwood forests at Lake Maria, healthy.”
For more information about the deer hunt and visitor access, call the Lake Maria office at (763) 878-2325, or visit its web site at www.mnstateparks.info.
The same web site can be accessed for deer-hunt information at other Minnesota state parks.