(Versailles, IN) – Select Indiana State Park properties will close temporarily for controlled deer management hunts next week.
Versailles State Park is among the properties that will close to the public the evening before the two-day hunts.
The first hunt is Monday, November 16 and Tuesday, November 17, with the second on Monday, November 30, and Tuesday, December 1.
Versailles and the other state park properties will reopen the morning after each of the two-day hunts.
All other Indiana state park properties will be open and operate under normal hours.
“Deer hunts at our properties are important in managing the deer population and its impact on habitat for native plants and wildlife,” said Anthony Sipes, natural resources manager for Indiana State Parks. “Each year, we evaluate which state park properties require a deer management hunt based on habitat recovery and previous harvest rates at each park.”
Other participating state park properties are Brown County, Chain O’Lakes, Charlestown, Clifty Falls, Fort Harrison, Harmonie, Lincoln, McCormick’s Creek, O’Bannon Woods, Ouabache, Pokagon, Potato Creek, Prophetstown, Shades, Shakamak, Spring Mill, Summit Lake, Tippecanoe River, Turkey Run, and Whitewater Memorial state parks; Raccoon and Trine state recreation areas; and Cave River Valley Natural Area, which is managed by Spring Mill State Park.
Only individuals selected from the draw may participate at any site.
A full report on the 2024 deer management hunts is available at https://www.in.gov/dA/7134500383/sp-deer-management-hunt-report-2024.pdf?language_id=1.
The 2026 report will be available in spring 2027.
Information on 2027 state park deer management hunts, including online applications, will be available next summer at on.IN.gov/reservedhunt.
The application deadline is usually mid-September of the year in which the hunts are to take place.
