Bloomington schedules controlled deer hunts at Griffy Lake to protect forest, native plants

Written from press release

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — December 3, 2025

Griffy Lake Nature Preserve will be closed to the public over two November weekends for controlled deer hunts that city officials say are necessary to protect forest health and plant diversity — a practice that has drawn criticism from some residents in past years.

The City of Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department announced that managed deer hunts are scheduled at Griffy Lake Nov. 15–16 and Nov. 22–23. Only hunters who applied and were selected are allowed to participate. The nature preserve remains closed to general public hunting.

The preserve will be closed to the public beginning at 11 p.m. the Friday before each hunt through 5 a.m. the following Monday. The closure includes all trails and the entire lake. No shoreline fishing will be allowed, and no boats or other watercraft may launch onto Griffy Lake during those periods.

City officials say the goal of the annual hunts is to reduce the number of deer enough to ease browsing pressure on understory plants and tree seedlings, allowing native plant communities to recover and thrive.

Parks and Recreation has used sharpshooters and controlled hunts to manage the deer population at Griffy Lake since 2017, according to the department. Data on deer harvests and plant-height studies at the preserve are available on the city’s website.

Supporters of the hunts, including city staff and some conservation advocates, argue that deer overbrowsing threatens sensitive habitats, reduces biodiversity and harms long-term forest regeneration. But the lethal management program has been controversial with some Bloomington residents and animal advocates, who have previously questioned whether killing deer is necessary or humane and have pushed for non-lethal alternatives.

For more information about the hunts and Griffy Lake closures, residents can follow Bloomington Parks and Recreation on Facebook or call 812-349-3700.

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