Closures on Santa Rosa Island for Final Deer and Elk Hunts

Date: August 17, 2011
Contact: Yvonne Menard, 805-658-5725

Channel Islands National Park Superintendent Russell Galipeau announces the final hunt closures on Santa Rosa Island from August 28 to December 31, 2011. The non-native deer and elk will be eliminated from the island by the end of 2011 per a court settlement.

In recent years the commercial hunts, managed by the former island owners, have significantly reduced the number of deer and elk. The hunts they conduct from August 28 to October 11, 2011, are expected to remove most of the remaining animals. Public access during this period will be restricted to the locations outside of the hunt management area in the same manner as past years.

Following the commercial hunts the National Park Service and a cooperator will remove any remnant deer and elk. There will be a full island closure in place with no public access for a three- week period from October 11 to October 31, 2011.

From November 1 to December 31, 2011, the island will be open on weekends only. Public access during this time will be restricted to locations outside of the hunt management area. There will be no camping, including beach camping, on Santa Rosa Island from October 11 to December 31, 2011.

“These temporary closures are meant to ensure safety during this final removal of deer and elk from Santa Rosa Island,” said Park Superintendent Russell Galipeau. “Beginning in 2012, there will be no visitor restrictions for hunt management.”

Find a detailed map of the public closures and the public closure notice at: https://www.nps.gov/chis/parkmgmt/public-notices.htm