BENTON - The first weekend of the 2008 firearm deer season is prompting some closures at Rend Lake to all vehicle and foot traffic from Friday to Sunday, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Rend Lake.

Among the areas closed for the weekend are 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; and the Blackberry Nature Trail.

These areas will be in use for the annual Rend Lake Deer Hunt for Persons with Disabilities and will be closed as a safety precaution.

The areas will reopen Monday.

The Corps will also temporarily close all sections of the Rend Lake Bike Trail managed by the Corps of Engineers, to persons not actively involved in the sport of deer hunting.

This closure will be in effect during all state deer hunting seasons including firearm, muzzle loading and late-winter antlerless deer.

These closures include bike trail sections beginning west of the Franklin Cemetery and continuing to North Marcum Beach and trail sections beginning in the North Sandusky Day Use area and continuing to the South Marcum Boat Ramp.

The areas will be closed to all those not involved in deer hunting from Nov. 21 to 23, Dec. 4 to 7, Dec. 12 to 14 and Jan. 16 to 18.

The Corps also issued a reminder that the use of ATVs on government-managed properties is prohibited.

For more information stop by the Rend Lake Project Office, 12220 Rend City Road, Benton, call 724-2493 or e-mail rendinfo@usace.army.mil.