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Applications are available to participate in a controlled deer herd reduction at 15 state parks, Indiana Department of Natural Resources Director Larry Macklin announced today.
As in previous years, two separate two-day sessions will be scheduled for the reduction effort. The first two-day session will be Nov. 13 and Nov. 14; the second two-day session will be Nov. 27 and Nov. 28.
The state parks participating in the reduction effort are Chain O’Lakes, Charlestown, Clifty Falls, Harmonie, Indiana Dunes, Lincoln, McCormick’s Creek, Pokagon, Potato Creek, Shades, Shakamak, Spring Mill, Tippecanoe River, Turkey Run and Whitewater Memorial.
According to Indiana state law, the DNR director shall establish by emergency rule a controlled hunt when a species is doing obvious and measurable damage to the ecological balance within a state park, and the ecological balance will not be maintained unless action is taken to control the population of a species within the park.
"This year’s study of forest vegetation confirms that we have almost reached the first major milestone of restoring an appropriate ecological balance in our state parks. The size of deer herds in our state parks has been reduced, deer are doing less damage to important forest vegetation and park ecosystems have been recovering remarkably," Macklin said.
"The results of this year’s reduction effort will allow us to move to a second phase of the project – maintaining the progress we have made so that the fragile ecosystems of Indiana’s state parks are never again threatened by an overpopulation of white-tailed deer," Macklin said.
According to DNR biologists, the number of white-tailed deer can double in a state park within three years if no population controls are in place.
"By taking care of several parks this year, we will enter a maintenance phase next year. I am convinced that by doing this we will need to conduct herd reductions in fewer parks next year. The DNR will continue to monitor forest vegetation each year to determine which parks need deer herd reductions and when," Macklin said.
"The amount of damage done by white-tailed deer has varied from park to park, depending on differences in the ecosystems of each park and the relative number of deer living there. Biologists and park visitors alike have remarked that wild flowers and tree seedlings have been returning to forest floors that were virtually devoid of vegetation just a few years ago," Macklin said.
To determine if too many deer are damaging a park ecosystem, the DNR commissioned Dr. George Parker, a Purdue University professor of forest ecology, to study vegetation at 21 state parks.
"This sixth year of annual assessment found the reduction program that has been implemented by the Department of Natural Resources is allowing recovery in parks that have had several years of annual [deer] removal," Parker stated in his report on the ecological
condition of Indiana’s state parks.
Parker’s report is available on the DNR’s Internet homepage (www.state.in.us).
"I am grateful to the hunters who have taken days off work to participate in the state park deer herd reduction effort. They have helped the DNR get the size of the herds down to more appropriate levels, and they have done so safely," Macklin said.
People interested in participating in the deer herd reduction may obtain application forms on the DNR’s Internet homepage (www.state.in.us). Beginning Aug. 28, applications will be available at all state parks, state reservoirs and the DNR Customer Service Center at Indiana Government South in Indianapolis. The applications must be received by the Division of State Parks and Reservoirs no later than 4 p.m., Oct. 3.
To be eligible, applicants must be Indiana residents, at least 18 years of age by Oct. 3 and hold a valid resident license issued under Indiana law to take deer. Participants will be selected by random drawing.
Hunters who have completed an Indiana Hunter Education Course will be given preference to participate in firearms hunts at 14 state parks. Firearms are limited to shotgun, muzzleloader and pistol.
Hunters who have successfully completed or will complete this fall the International Bowhunter Education Program are eligible to participate in an archery-only hunt at Clifty Falls State Park.
The times, dates and locations of hunter education courses and bowhunter education programs are available at www.state.in.us/dnr/lawenfor/hunt-edu.htm or by calling 317-232-4010.
The number of hunters for each two-day session is:
Chain O’Lakes – 110
Charlestown – 80
Clifty Falls – 90
Harmonie – 170
Indiana Dunes – 95
Lincoln – 80
McCormick’s Creek – 80
Pokagon – 60
Potato Creek – 160
Shades – 155
Shakamak – 60
Spring Mill – 60
Tippecanoe River – 130
Turkey Run – 100
Whitewater Memorial – 85
Uploaded: 8/26/2000
Uploaded: 8/26/2000