Many people believe that fishing and hunting in national parks isn’t allowed. However, the National Park Service allows hunting at various times of the year on more than 51 million acres of the land it manages—approximately 60 percent of the NPS’ total acreage, according to a 2017 report. That includes 372 refuges and wetland management districts that are open to hunting, as well as 308 districts that are open to fishing.
Of course, it’s true that many areas managed by the National Park Service do not allow for consumptive sports. Fortunately, FarWide can help you identify which areas allow recreational hunting and fishing. Here are five locations for hunting in land managed by the NPS that you can discover with FarWide.
Elk Hunting in Grand Teton National Park
Grand Teton has two areas that allow elk hunting opportunities in late October, November and December: Area 79, along the northeast edge of the park, and Area 75, along the Snake River. As part of an annual elk reduction program, the National Park Service allows hunters with a valid Wyoming elk hunting license and a park permit to harvest elk as part of the program. To participate, hunters will need to contact the Wyoming Game & Fish Department.
Related Reading: The Economic Power of Hunting and Fishing
Turkey Hunting Chickasaw National Recreation Area
Oklahoma’s Chickasaw National Recreation Area is a great area for a variety of outdoor sporting opportunities. Hunters can harvest quail, turkey, squirrel, rabbit, dove, ducks, geese and deer. Fall archery turkey season starts on October 1 statewide.
Hunting in Big Cypress National Preserve
Hunters have been key to the protection of this national preserve. Big Cypress WMA offers a variety of hunting opportunities, including archery, muzzle loading and general gun seasons for white-tailed deer, turkey and hogs–though alligator hunting is not allowed in this particular area.
Related Reading: USFWS Has Good News about 2018 Waterfowl Hunting
Hunting and Trapping in Apostle Islands National Lakeshore
The legislation that created this National Park, which is comprised of 21 islands and 12 miles of mainland in Wisconsin, included provisions for hunting and trapping. Hunters and trappers need a park license and a valid Wisconsin permit to harvest deer, bear and turkey, as well as other furbearers and game birds on the islands. Seasons vary by species.
Deer Hunting in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
For one week in late October and continuing into early November, a special deer hunt is held each year to control deer populations on Michigan’s North Manitou Island in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. For this small window of time, there is no bag limit on the number or sex of the deer that can be taken during the special hunt. Participants will need to obtain a Michigan hunting license and a park hunting permit and apply. The broader DMU 045, which does not include North Manitou Islands but covers much of the rest of the National Park area, offers more flexible dates for deer hunting.
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