Afton State Park Prescribed Goat Grazing

2026-11-03

The primary vegetation targeted for removal includes buckthorn , prickly ash , honeysuckle and sumac . The four ( 4 ) poential project locations are near the Visitor Center ( T27 , R20 , S2 ) and Park Office ( T27 , R20 , S10 ). Refer to project maps that follow for approximate size and location of paddocks . The project involves grazing two ( 2 ) paddocks near the Visitor Center and two ( 2 ) paddocks near the park office . The total project area is an estimated 52 . 5 acres split between the four different paddocks . Three of the paddocks have had some grazing in the last five years . All quantities stated are approximate only ; there are NO guarantees . 1 ) Visitor Center a ) 17 . 5 acres ( estimated ) b ) Surrounded by park maintenance roads and trails . Parts of this area have been hand cut or brush mowed over the last four years . This paddock has had goat grazing three times between fall 2021 to spring 2024 . c ) Brush size ranges from first year re - sprouts to 10 + foot tall buckthorn . d ) Site is mixed between flat on top and sloped ( average 21 % slope ) with a north / northwest aspect . e ) Access to this project area will be via park maintenance road . 2 ) Office East area a ) 26 acres ( estimated ) b ) Surrounded by park roads , trails , and restored prairie . Hand cutting brush in this area has been ongoing the last three years . This paddock has had goat grazing four times between fall 2021 to spring 2025 . c ) Brush size ranges from seedling to 10 + foot tall buckthorn . The office east area is a mixture of flat and sloped ( average 32 % slope ) with a south / southeast aspect . d ) Access to the top of this area is near the park shop . Access to the bottom of this area will be from the main park road . 3 ) Office West area a ) 9 acres ( estimated ) b ) * First priority paddock . c ) Surrounded by park trails , restored prairie , and forest . Previous cutting in this area was done more than five years ago . This paddock had goat grazing twice between Spring 2024 and Spring 2025 . d ) Brush size ranges from seedling to 10 + foot tall buckthorn . The office west area is a ravine valley down running north and south with slopes uphill to the east and west . e ) Access is off the main road near the park office . 4 ) Alternate Paddock a ) Grazing in this paddock will occur ONLY if requested by the Project Supervisor or his or her named representative . This area is added in the event the first three paddocks are grazed quickly . b ) 8 . 5 acres ( estimated ) c ) Next to the Office East area . d ) Surrounded by park roads , trails , and restored prairies . e ) Brush size ranges from seedling to 10 + foot tall buckthorn . The alternate paddock is a mixture of flat and sloped ( average 20 % slope ) with a northwest aspect . f ) Access to this area will be from the main park road .

Minnesota

2026-05-02