Public Invited to Testify at Deer Management Meetings

The 2011-2012 Fairfax County Deer Management Program will run from September 2011 through March 2012. The Deer Management Program utilizes all three population control methods currently permitted by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries – archery, managed hunts and sharpshooting.

The sharpshooting and managed hunts will be conducted at selected park sites throughout the county.

An information meeting for the public  for the archery portion will be held at McLean Government Center on Aug. 16. No deer hunts are scheduled for parks in McLean. But hunts will be held in Great Falls parks, Colvin Run, Difficult Run, Sugarland Run, Riverbend Park.

Archery is the primary management tool used to control deer and accounts for over 96 percent of the deer harvested in Fairfax County. The Archery Program was developed with the recognition of archery as a safe, efficient and sustainable deer management tool in regions such as Fairfax County.

The Archery Program will be conducted as part of the Fairfax County Deer Management Program from Sept. 24, to Feb. 11, 2012.

During the Archery Program, a qualified Archery Group will conduct deer management activity from elevated tree stands in authorized areas within a selected park. Each group is comprised of experienced hunters who have demonstrated superior marksmanship and skill. An ethical standard is strictly enforced for all participants in the Archery Program. All activity must be conducted at least 100 feet from park property lines and 50 feet from established park trails. Selected parks will not be closed to park patrons during this time. Sunday hunting is not permitted in Virginia.

Last year’s program recorded a harvest of 815 deer, the largest on record since the deer management program began in January 1998. Sharpshooting operations conducted at 15 parks yielded 226 deer. Managed hunts were conducted at four parks with a yield of 137 deer. The Archery Program was conducted at 11 parks with a yield of 452 deer.

More detailed information.