State park to be closed Dec. 6-Dec. 8

MAPLE LAKE, MN – Lake Maria State Park will be closed to the public Saturday, Dec. 6 through Monday, Dec. 8 due to a special-permit hunt to better manage the deer population within park boundaries.
According to park manager Mark Crawford, all park facilities will be closed during these dates, and the entrance road will be blocked.  The park will re-open Tuesday, Dec. 9.
“The objective of the hunt is to reduce deer density to an acceptable level to minimize damage to park vegetation and decrease depredation on adjacent cropland, orchards and gardens,” said Crawford.

“A series of mild winters and less hunting pressure outside the park has led to a larger than normal deer herd.”  In addition, the hunt will serve as an evaluation of alternative strategies to control deer populations.
Only muzzle-loading firearms will be used in the hunt with 25 special permits issued to highly skilled hunters by a drawing last September.
For more information, call the park at (763) 878-2325 or visit its web site at www.mnstateparks.info.