Fairfax County Using Archery Program to Control Deer Population

Fairfax County’s five-month archery program will open on Sept. 12 with the intention of reducing the size of the white-tailed deer population in the county.

Using bows and arrows, hunters registered in the archery program will be permitted to hunt these deer in the cluster of Fairfax County woodlands to which they’re assigned. The county said archery is its primary deer management tool, and it also noted approximately 1,500 deer were taken from private land in addition to 850 from county parks in 2014.

The Vienna cluster of woodlands includes Clarks Crossing Park, Difficult Run stream valley, Lahey Lost Valley Park and Tamarack Park. There’s also a nearby Colvin Run cluster that includes Difficult Run, Colvin Run Mill Park, Wolftrap stream valley, Lake Fairfax and more.

Fairfax County reminds those registered in the program or intending to register that legal hunting hours span from 30 minutes prior to sunrise until 30 minutes after sunset.

The Virginia Department of Natural Resources said archery hunting for deer is a safe activity, as most shots are taken in close range and from above, allowing the ground to serve as a backstop for arrows once they’re fired.

The county will host two public hearings about the archery program at the Fairfax County Government Center, the first of which is scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 13, at 7 p.m., and the second of which is scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 18, at 7 p.m.

For more information or access to the registration forms, click here.