County will again allow deer hunting at Lion’s Den

Ozaukee County officials voted recently to again allow gun and bow deer hunting this season at Lion’s Den Gorge Nature Preserve in the Town of Grafton.

Hunters may use shotguns, muzzle loaders and bows.

Muzzle loaders and shotguns are permitted only for nine days when the park is closed to the public.

Late season bow hunting is permitted  for most of the month of December and  the first week in January. 

A gun-hunting permit at Lion’s Den  costs $80. Only10 permits are granted.

Hunting at Lion’s Den has been allowed since 2003.

“The permitted deer hunting has been effectively used as a management tool to preserve the unique native vegetation and habitat of the gorge and the preserve,” county Planning and Parks Director Andrew Struck told the Natural Resources Committee on Tuesday. 

Rifles are not permitted to be used in the 73-acre park since residences are near to the preserve on three sides.

“The demand for hunting at Lion’s Den Gorge Nature Preserve has been very strong over the last several years,” Struck said, noting that his department gets about 75 applications a year.

Non-county residents can apply for a permit to hunt at Lion’s Den, but precedence is given to county residents, he said, which means nonresidents are rarely issued a permit.

In addition, the committee also voted to permit hunting at the Little Menomonee River Fish and Wildlife Preserve County Park in Mequon. 

Hunting has been allowed there since 2022. A gun permit there costs $75.

Struck said hunting there is primarily for ducks but also for deer.