Red Top Mountain Park, Overrun with Deer, Will Close For 'Management Hunts'

Red Top Mountain State Park on Allatoona Lake will close for three days next month while so-called “deer management hunts” take place, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources said on Tuesday.

The park will be closed to public use Dec. 1-3 and will re-open at 7 a.m. Dec. 4.

“Hunters were chosen by lottery, and the hunts are used as a wildlife management tool rather than for recreation,” the state agency said. “The ecosystem within Red Top Mountain State Park has been damaged by the overabundance of deer, and by reducing the herd, the park is helping provide a healthier ecosystem for all species.”

Red Top Mountain State Park is operated by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and provides cottages, camping, picnic areas, boat ramps, hiking and biking trails and additional amenities.

For more information, call 770-975-0055 or visit the park’s website.

Photo credit: Georgia Department of Natural Resources