Chesterton, IN – Indiana Dunes State Park, along with several other state park properties in Indiana, will temporarily close for controlled deer management hunts on November 13-14 and November 27-28.
The closure at Dunes State Park and others, including Chain O’Lakes, Clifty Falls, and Fort Harrison, will begin on the Sunday evening prior to each hunt. These parks are part of an annual initiative by Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) biologists to manage deer populations, aiming to balance deer browsing levels with the health of native plants and wildlife habitats. Participation in the hunt is limited to individuals selected through a draw.
The parks will reopen the morning after each two-day hunt. Other state park properties will operate as usual. A full report on the 2022 hunts is available at dnr.IN.gov, with the 2023 report expected in March 2024.