Forsythe Refuge Hiking Trails to Close for 3-day Deer Hunt

The annual deer hunt at the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge begins Wednesday and most hiking trails will be closed.

From Wednesday, Dec. 13th through Friday, Dec. 15th, the three-day deer hunt will be held at the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge.

Hunters had until August 30, 2023, to claim their winning lottery permits. After that, any remaining unclaimed lottery permits were made available to the public until the end of hunting season.

During the hunt, Acre's Woodland, Jenn’s, and Bristow trails will be closed to hiking during these dates. The Eco Leads trail and Visitor Information Center will be open on these days.

The back portion of the Wildlife Drive will be closed and traffic will be two-way on the dike, with a turnaround point at what is known as the Dogleg. Signs will mark the turnaround point on the Drive. See a map of this traffic pattern below.

Since the refuge was created in 1939, hunting and fishing have been recreational activities available to the public.

If you have any questions or concerns, call  (609) 652-1665 or email at forsythe@fws.gov.