Niagara residents planning a visit to Short Hills Provincial Park will need to avoid six scheduled closure days this fall while a white-tailed deer harvest takes place, according to a City of Thorold notice.
The closures begin Wednesday, Oct. 28, with five more harvest dates scheduled through Saturday, Dec. 12. Members of the public will not be permitted to enter the park on those dates.
The Haudenosaunee Confederacy has notified the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks that it wishes to conduct the harvest. The notice says the park closures are intended to protect harvesters, staff and the public.
Dates to check before visiting
The scheduled closure dates are Wednesday, Oct. 28; Saturday, Nov. 14; Sunday, Nov. 15; Saturday, Nov. 28; Sunday, Nov. 29; and Saturday, Dec. 12.
The notice states that the park will reopen at 8 a.m. the day after each scheduled closure. Post-harvest maintenance is to be completed by that time.
Each harvest day will start half an hour before sunrise and finish half an hour after sunset. The public-access restriction applies on the scheduled closure dates, and visitors are asked to follow posted notices and stay out of the park.
Access points to be monitored
Archery will be used for the harvest. A designated harvest zone has been established, and harvesting is to remain within that agreed-upon area.
Harvesters will remain stationary and away from the park boundary, according to the notice. All participants will be advised of the safety protocols and procedures.
Park access points will be monitored during the harvest. Ministry staff will be stationed at authorized access points and other locations to inform visitors that the park is closed and entry is prohibited.
Closure notices will also be posted at park entrances. The closures are authorized under the Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Act, 2006.
Residents seeking further information about the deer harvest can contact Ontario Parks’ Southwest Zone at 519-668-0897 or email Ontario.Parks.Southwest.Zone@ontario.ca.
