Arlington's Sharpshooting Plan to Kill Deer is Moving Quickly

Arlington's White-tailed Deer are in critical danger. The Arlington, Virginia Sharpshooting Program to control deer population is moving forward at a frightening pace.

On Monday May 5, 2025, the Arlington Natural Resources Joint Advisory Group held a public meeting at The Arlington Trades Center in South Arlington.

The Arlington Natural Resources Division is rushing to simultaneously procure sharpshooters this summer, release the March 17-21 Deer Drone Survey data, and create a public website to present their inhumane and ineffective plan to kill Arlington deer in January - February 2026.

John Marlin, Deer Management Program Coordinator, Arlington Parks and Natural Resources Division Deputy Division Chief, presented the Arlington Deer Management Implementation Update.

IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT YOU LISTEN CAREFULLY TO THE DETAILS, TONE, AND NUANCES OF THE LETHAL ARLINGTON DEER MANAGEMENT UPDATE.

At the very beginning of the meeting, Jeannette Louise Smith made a three minute public statement urging County Officials to establish peaceful coexistence with deer and implement successfully proven, science-based, humane, non-lethal policies that benefit humans, deer, and our forests.

The 20 minute Kill Update begins at 1:20:00 and ends at 1:40:00 in the video recorded meeting.

In brief, the raw data from the March 17-21, 2025 Deer Drone Survey is being analyzed for public release as soon as possible. They will “package it and communicate it in a way that’s constructive and digestible.”

At the same time, The Arlington Natural Resources Division is creating a website to release the interconnected components of Arlington’s Lethal Deer Management Program.

Components of the Deer Killing Program include: methods and procedures for browse surveys, management thresholds, developing maps for service areas, and preparing to hire sharpshooters and outline killing operations.

The Arlington County Natural Resources Division's primary goal is to kill deer by sharpshooting. Minimal fencing and repellents for small areas to protect priority plant species will be used.

The Deer Kill Staff will write a formal management plan to guide operations in 2025 and beyond. They are working on specifics of deer meat donation (testing, processing, distribution) with both Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources and food security staff.

Mr. Marlin would not commit to a specific timeline for all these elements to be made public. However, it is recorded in the meeting video and reported in the April 2025 Old Glebe Civic Association Newsletter that the Deer Management Plan is "currently scheduled for a July 1st release.”

In summer, July 2025, fencing to protect conservation areas and the minimal use of repellants is expected in Bon Air Park.

In Fall 2025, browse impact assessments will track deer-browsing specifically focusing on "woody plants.”

In January and February 2026, Sharpshooting deer is scheduled to commence.

Since November 2024, No Killing Deer in Arlington has advocated for peaceful coexistence with deer. They continue to request Arlington residents to email The Arlington County Board and Department of Natural Resources:

1. Oppose sharpshooting deer. Urge the Arlington County Board and The Arlington Parks and Recreation Natural Resources Division to develop and implement successfully proven, science-based, humane, non-lethal strategies that benefit humans, deer, and our forests.

2. Urge the County Board to repeal their amendments to the Firearms Ordinance and the Miscellaneous Offenses and Provisions of the Arlington County Code to ensure the safety of residents from guns near homes located in close proximity to Arlington Parks.

Click here to email The Arlington County Board and Department of Natural Resources.

For more information on peaceful coexistence with deer in Arlington visit: No Killing Deer in Arlington.

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• Act Now: Stop Sharpshooting Deer in Arlington, Virginia!