Bowhunters will again help Ramsey County control the deer populaton throughout the county's park system.
The county's Parks & Recreation Department is partnering with the Metro Bowhunters Resource Base to hold daylong hunts at eight park and trail locations in October and November. Two separate hunts will be held at each location. Each hunt period will be three days long, with the second hunt occurring two to three weeks after the first.
Many locations are the same as in previous years. No hunt will be held at Bald Eagle-Otter Lakes Regional Park, Grass Lake Park or at Tamarack Nature Center.
Hunt locations and dates are:
-
Poplar Lake Open Space (Shoreview/White Bear Township)
Oct. 7-9, Oct. 28-30 -
Turtle Creek Open Space (Shoreview)
Oct. 7-9, Oct. 28-30 -
Battle Creek Regional Park (St. Paul/Maplewood)
Oct. 10-12, Nov. 7-9 -
Fish Creek Open Space (Maplewood/St. Paul)
Oct. 21-23, Nov. 11-13 -
Snail Lake Marsh (Vadnais-Snail Lakes Regional Park, Shoreview)
Oct. 21-23, Nov. 11-13 -
Pig's Eye (Battle Creek Regional Park, St. Paul)
Oct. 21-23, Nov. 11-13 -
Vadnais Lake (Vadnais-Snail Lakes Regional Park, Vadnais Heights)
Oct. 24-26, Nov. 14-16 -
Rice Creek North Regional Trail (Shoreview)
Oct. 24-26, Nov. 14-16
During the hunts, the entire park may be closed. In Battle Creek, off-leash dog areas will be closed during hunts while the off-leash area in Rice Creek North off-leash area is expected to remain open. According to county officials, efforts will be made to keep most major paved hiking and biking trails open.
Signs will be posted at parks where hunts are being conducted and visitors are requested to stay out of these areas.
Archers for the 2016 hunts have already been selected. Anyone interested in participating in future hunts should visit www.mbrb.org.
