Deer season in local parks starts Sept. 7
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| Backyard fawns. |
The 2019-20 Fairfax County deer management season starts Saturday, Sept. 7 and will end Feb. 22.
The county allows groups to use archery to reduce the deer population in designated parks.
Archery is allowed in 113 Fairfax County parks during the 2019-20 season, including the following parks in the Annandale/Mason District area:
- Accotink Stream Valley Cluster – Accotink Stream Valley Park, Eakin Park (Mantua section), Sally Ormsby Park, Eakin Community Park, Brookfield Park, Carrleigh Parkway, Hunter Village Park.
- Holmes Run Cluster – Holmes Run Stream Valley (excluding Luria Park), Lillian Carey Park, Mason District Park, Roundtree Park. Deerlick Park, Lee District Park.
- Lake Accotink Cluster – Lake Accotink Park, Wakefield Park, Americana Park, Long Branch Stream Valley.
The third and final public meeting on the archery program is Thursday, Aug. 22, 7-9 p.m., at the Mount Vernon Government Center, 2511 Parkers Lane, Alexandria. None of the previous meetings were in Mason District.
Qualified bowhunters are allowed to hunt deer Monday through Saturday from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset. All shooting is expected to be done from elevated tree stands.
6 responses to “Deer season in local parks starts Sept. 7”
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I think that this is a great way to cull the deer, I just wish they did not set up stands on the trails that the kids use from Glasgow. Makes me nervous that they are right on the school.
The strips of woods are so small in this area that there really is no choice but to be right up on something. Thankfully, bow hunting is extremely safe to everyone except the deer. Unless people are dressing up as deer and going out trying to get shot, its super unlikely to happen.
"The strips of woods are so small in this area that there really is no choice."
Of course there is a choice. The county can restrict the times when this is done. The idea that half a year has to be set aside for this with no further restrictions is ludicrous. Your lack of concern for the safety of school children is troubling.
Is it right they hunt during the day? I thought this was a night effort so as not to interfere with families and kids in the parks and they are closed at night? That could be a tough conversation you might not expect to have during a walk in the park.
School kids shouldn't really be in the woods in the night or early morning hours so their risk is small to non-existent. The deer population needs to be reduced since there aren't a lot of natural predators wandering the woods. I don't think that any wolves have been spotted to naturally cull the deer population and most people probably don't want to use their cars to do it.
Inform yourselves about the program. Here is some information that may clear up misconceptions about the Deer Management Program.
Public Meetings were held to provide an overview of the Deer Management Program and answer any questions you may have.
Fairfax County Government Center: Thursday, August 8, 2019 – 7 PM to 8 PM
12000 Government Center Pkwy., Fairfax, VA 22035 (Conference Rooms 2 & 3)
North County Government Center: Tuesday, August 13, 2019 – 7 PM to 8 PM
1801 Cameron Glen Dr., Reston, VA 20190 (Community Room A)
Mount Vernon Government Center: Thursday, August 22, 2019 – 7 PM to 8 PM
2511 Parkers Ln., Alexandria, VA 22306 (Community Rooms 2 & 3)
Archery will be conducted from September 7, 2019 – February 22, 2020. Archers are permitted to hunt at approved park locations Monday through Saturday, beginning 30 minutes prior to sunrise until 30 minutes past sunset. No hunting is allowed on Sunday.
Parks are NOT closed to park patrons during this time. Archery program signs will be posted at park entrances and on trails informing visitors of this deer management activity and asking visitors to remain on established trails. Hunting is conducted from elevated tree stands located at least 100 feet from the park property lines and 50 feet from established park trails.
Archers must comply with all requirements for licenses, permits, and Hunter Safety Education as mandated by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. Additionally, archers are required to complete a course through the International Bowhunter Education Program. All archers must also pass a proficiency test to demonstrate superior marksmanship in order to qualify for the program. Archers are required to wear program identification and display visible parking permits to show that they are associated with the Fairfax County Deer Management Program. All archers must pass a criminal background check to participate in the program. Archers are not allowed on private property without permission by the owner or tenant.
If you have any further questions, please contact Sergeant Earit W. Powell, at [email protected] or 703-324-0280 or Dr. Katherine Edwards, Wildlife Management Specialist, at [email protected] or 703-246-6868.
You can also visit the Fairfax County Deer Management Program website at:
https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/wildlife/deer-management-program
https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/wildlife/archery-program
Map of park locations can be viewed at:
https://fairfaxcountygis.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=409cc24c643d453387f752ce6e06bcad