Deer hunts to close Griffy Lake for two weekends
The Griffy Lake Nature Preserve will be closed to all public access and recreational use for the next two weekends because of deer hunts . The preserve will close: At 11 p.m. Friday, Nov. 13, 2026, and reopen at 5 a.m. Monday, Nov. 16. At 11 p.m. Friday, Nov. 20, and reopen at 5 a.m. Monday, Nov. 23. “The closure includes all trails, shoreline areas and the entire lake,” the city of Bloomington’s parks department said in a news release. “Hiking, fishing, boating and all other recreational activities are prohibited during the closures. No watercraft may be launched onto Griffy Lake during either hunting weekend.” The 1,220-acre nature park north of Bloomington offers scenic woodlands and a 109-acre lake that formerly served as Bloomington's primary drinking water source. The parks department has managed the preserve since 1971. The city has conducted hunts in the preserve since 2017 to reduce deer browsing of native vegetation. The city said “excessive” browsing can reduce the number of trees and “reduce the abundance and diversity of native plants. Managing deer populations helps these native plant communities recover and supports the long-term regeneration of the forest.” Julie Ramey, community relations manager for the parks department,
