Cascade River and Judge Magney State Park to remain open during deer hunt on November 6-21

Cascade River and Judge Magney State Park to remain open during deer hunt on November 6-21

Staff report

A special deer hunt will be held November 6-21, 2021, at Judge Magney and Cascade River State Parks to control deer overpopulation and to protect natural resources. Judge Magney and Cascade River State Parks will remain open to visitors, but the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) advises wearing blaze orange if visiting the park while the hunt is in progress. Visitors should check for hunt-related information on the park website and at the park office when they arrive.

In addition, hunts will take place in other Minnesota state parks and recreation areas this fall, and access to the parks will vary. Some will remain open to all visitors, some will have limited public access, and some will be open to participate in these state parks and recreation area hunts, which include regular firearms, muzzleloaders and archery options.

“Too many of one animal or plant species in an area can start to throw off the balance of other species in that area,” said Tavis Westbrook, a natural resources program coordinator with DNR’s Division of Parks and Trails. “When there are too many deer in a park, they feed too much on certain trees and native plants, so occasionally we allow deer hunts as a way to protect natural resources.”