Lake County residents and business owners age 18 and older are again eligible to participate in an archery deer-hunting lottery assembled annual by Lake Metroparks, the county’s parks system.
Applications will be accepted through August 18. A lottery system will be used to select participants. Lottery results will be posted August 20.
And as an added incentive, participants who successfully take a deer will be entered into a guaranteed lottery for the next hunting season (2021-2022) if that participant registers to hunt for the next hunting season. This drawing will take place prior to the main drawing, parks officials says.
Hunting partners who harvested a deer the previous season are also eligible. Each program participant has the opportunity to name one “partner” for their own stand and group assignment. The designated “partner” will be allowed to hunt only when the primary participant chooses not to hunt.
The “partner” is required to fill out the partner application, pass the proficiency test and complete the online orientation before they can hunt.
Last season, 27 deer – 22 does, two antlered deer and two button bucks – were taken by lottery winners/participants.
“That’s the most deer ever harvested in the nine years we’ve conducted the lottery and hunts,” said Tom Koritansky, Lake Metroparks’ natural resources manager and the program’s administrator.
“We typically average between 18 and 20 deer harvest per season,” Koritansky said.
While no sika deer were killed last year, there are some of these exotics at one or two hunt locations, the animals being the subsequent production of a small herd that escaped many years ago.
Koritansky said as well that the parks system last year received 289 applications for the on-line lottery. In all, a total of 96 three-week slots are available at a combined four sites where the controlled hunts are held.
“So it averages out to be about a one-in-three chance of being picked in the lottery,” Koritansky says.
Also, the agency conducts a separate hunt series for veterans who have received a military associated disability. Last year the agency’s disabled veterans hunt program had 18 participants, “though we work hard to accommodate every eligible veteran who applies,” Koritansky says.
With the COVID-19 pandemic in full bloom, Lake Metroparks has undertaken some changes. The lottery is being done on-line only with the required in-person archery test being established by appointment-only based upon hunting slot assignment.
Test requirements are spelled out in the rather extensive list of lottery rules and requirements. However, they should not pose a great challenge to anyone who has taken a little time to sight-in and practice with their equipment.
Likewise due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the required successful lottery hunter orientation segment will incorporate an on-line, at-your-convenience feature. A certificate of completion can then be downloaded and must be carried while hunting, Koritansky said.
Koritansky said too that the lottery will feature the assigning of three-week hunting slots at specific locations. No participant will be able to select either the hunting period nor the location.
Blinds and tree stands are provided at two sites, though not both. However, participants may bring their own commercially made stands or blinds. Feeders are available at some locations though participants must bring their own feed, Koritansky said.
Most sites do require some distance to access though Koritansky said the parks system does provide at least one handicapped accessible location.
For complete details and to complete a lottery application, go to www.lakemetroparks.com, go to “Register & Reserve” and then to “Wildlife Management Program.”
- Jeffrey L. Frischkorn
JFrischk@Ameritech.net
JFrischk4@gmail.com
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