Benton, IL – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Rend Lake would like to remind visitors that the following recreation areas will be closed to all vehicle and foot traffic during the first weekend of the 2014 firearm deer season. Dates for the closures are November 21-23, 2014. Areas affected by the closure include the North Sandusky picnic area and campground; South Sandusky picnic area, campground, and beach; South Marcum picnic area and campground; North Marcum picnic area and old campground; the Blackberry Nature Trail. These areas will be utilized by persons involved in the annual Rend Lake Deer Hunt for Persons with Disabilities and will be closed due to safety precautions.
In addition, the Corps of Engineers will temporarily close all sections of the Rend Lake Bike Trail, which are under the management of the Corps of Engineers, to persons not actively involved in the sport of deer hunting. This closure will be in effect during all state firearm deer hunting seasons. These closures include bike trail sections beginning west of the Franklin Cemetery and continuing to North Marcum day use area, and trail sections beginning in the North Sandusky day use area and continuing to the South Marcum campground. All persons not involved in the sport of deer hunting are prohibited from utilizing these trails during the periods of November 21-23, December 4-7, and December 12-14. Persons wishing to access hunting spots should remember that Federal law prohibits the use of all terrain vehicles (ATV’s) on all government managed properties.
For more information on these temporary area closings, feel free to contact the Rend Lake Project Office, by phone at 618-724-2493 or by email at rendinfo@usace.army.mil.
Release no. 14-085