Calverton trails, paths closed for hunting season

The hiking trails and bicycle paths at the Enterprise Park at Calverton will be closed to the public for the rest of the month because of the deer hunting season.

The Town of Riverhead owns the 2,900-acre park, and much of the undeveloped land has been assigned to hunters who take part in the shotgun and muzzleloader season. Because it is town property, only town residents or property owners take part in the hunt, and more than 100 people took part in a lottery to get hunting times and places.

Riverhead Supervisor Sean Walter said the annual hunt has been so successful in culling the deer overpopulation that it might not be needed in 2015. He said the town is negotiating with New York State to let it hold a similar hunting lottery at Wildwood State Park which would be open to any licensed hunter, not just town residents.