Deer hunting allowed in parks, beginning this Saturday
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Deer season in Fairfax County parks begins this Saturday, Sept. 11, and runs through Feb. 19, 2022.
During this period, qualified groups of hunters are authorized to use archery to kill deer in designated areas across the county.
Archers are allowed in these parks in the Annandale/Mason District area:
- Mason District Park
- Roundtree Park
- Holmes Run Stream Valley east of Columbia Pike
- Holmes Run Stream Valley adjacent to Roundtree Park and across Annandale Road
- Luria Park
- Deerlick Park
- Wakefield Park
- Americana Park
- Accotink Stream Valley
- Eakin Community Park
- Sally Ormsby Park
- Long Branch Stream Valley
Archers killed 823 deer as part of the Deer Management Program in 2020-21.
Parks remain open to the public during the archery program. Hunters can only take shots at deer from elevated tree stands; hunting from the ground is prohibited in county parks. Tree stands must not be located closer than 100 feet from property lines or closer than 50 feet from established trails.
Deer hunting is allowed Monday through Saturday from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset. Archers are not allowed on private property without permission from the owner or tenant.
The archery program began in 2010. The goal is to reduce and stabilize the white-tailed deer population in order to minimize health and safety hazards, such as deer-vehicle collisions and the potential spread of disease.
Archers must meet state hunter licensing, education, and safety requirements, must demonstrate their skills and marksmanship, and must pass a criminal background check.