U.S. State Parks Expand Hunting Access Amidst Ecological Concerns and Public Use Conflicts
Across several U.S. states, including New York, Wisconsin, New Jersey, and Minnesota, state parks are increasingly opening or expanding access for hunting, primarily to manage deer populations. This trend is driven by ecological concerns, as park managers report severe forest degradation due to over-browsing by deer. For instance, Harriman State Park in New York, which historically restricted hunting, began a weekday deer hunt in 2025 to restore damaged forests. Similarly, Wisconsin's 2013 Sporting Heritage Act opened nearly all state parks to hunting and trapping. Each park implements varying regulations, such as specific hunting days, designated zones, and permit requirements. In some parks, like Devil's Lake State Park in Wisconsin, hunting seasons can span several weeks in fall and spring, leading to shared trail use between hunters and other park visitors. This expansion often necessitates new rules for both hunters and non-hunters, including safety zones around trails and buildings, and recommendatio...
