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Cuyahoga Valley National Park Deer Management Plan for 2019

Under permits granted by the Ohio Division of Wildlife, sharpshooting on park property will be used to reduce deer populations between January 7, 2019 and March 31, 2019. The National Park Service has contracted with the Wildlife Services branch of the U.S. Department of Agriculture to provide experienced and trained staff to implement the deer program.

Most culling activities will be away from established trails, in open fields and meadows using truck mounted platforms or tree stands to ensure the humane and safe removal of deer. National Park Service staff will assist with field dressing and transporting meat to a processor in order to be donated to area food banks.

Park Rangers will be actively patrolling park lands during the evenings when the deer management activities are planned. Activities may begin as early as 3:00 p.m. and continue through the overnight hours on weekdays only. At times, specific areas will be temporarily closed to ensure the safety of park visitors and neighbors.

They are asking residents to respect all closures and to not travel off formal park trails during the afternoon/evening hours between now and the end of March.