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TextUrban Archery In Fairfax County
Why is archery used as a method to control the deer population in Fairfax County?
Archery has been shown to be a safe and effective deer management tool to control deer populations on public and private lands in Fairfax County and other high-density jurisdictions. Qualified bowhunters with superior skill, ethics, and experience are able to efficiently and discreetly hunt deer in areas where firearm use is restricted or prohibited, or not an effective or sustainable deer management tool. There are strict firearms restrictions in Fairfax County.
Archery is used in Fairfax County to help manage high density deer herds at:
- Selected Fairfax County Parks
- Mason Neck Wildlife Refuge
- Fort Belvoir
- Private property
Archery is the primary deer management tool used to hunt deer on private property in Fairfax County and accounts for over 75 percent of the 1200 (or more) deer harvested each year.
Has archery been used previously as part of the Fairfax County Deer Management Program?
Archery was first approved as a deer management tool by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors and Fairfax County Park Authority Board in October 2000. Archery has been re-approved as a deer management tool each year since 2000. A pilot archery program was implemented in fiscal year 2002 and 2003. It was not successful.
A new Archery Program was developed and implemented in fiscal year 2010. The first season was very successful. The harvest rate was 75 deer from two park sites. The wounding rate was extremely low at 3.84% (3 of 78 deer).
Should park visitors at public parks selected for the Archery Program be concerned about public or personal safety?
No. Archery is one of the safest, most efficient, and sustainable available methods for deer population control on public and private property in Fairfax County. All authorized archery hunting activity is closely monitored by the Fairfax County Wildlife Biologist with the assistance of other County officials, including Park Authority and Police Department staff.
In the Archery Program, only archery groups with skilled and ethical bowhunters can qualify to participate in this deer management program. Superior skill (marksmanship), ethics, and experience are a requirement. Each archery group must comply with stringent rules and regulations to participate in the Archery Program if selected via archery hunt lottery. The superior quality of each ethical hunter contributes to the tradition of excellence established for the Archery Program.
What parks have been selected for the Archery Program?
Fiscal Year 2013
- Accotink SV South (Norfolk Southern Railroad to 7900) + Byron Avenue Park (808 Acres)
- Accotink SV North + Wakefield Park (Arlington Blvd to Little River Turnpike) + Americana Park (1097 Acres)
- Burke Lake (614 Acres)
- Colvin Run SV (w/ portion of Colvin Run Mill) (74 Acres)
- Confederate Fortifications & Johnny Moore SV (515 Acres)
- Cub Run SV (825 Acres)
- Difficult Run SV (w/ Clark’s Crossing & Lahey Lost Valley Parks) + Tamarack Park (1051 Acres)
- Accotink SV North + Eakin Park (Arlington Blvd to Little River Turnpike) + Sally Ormsby Park (951 Acres)
- Elklick Preserve & Hickory Forest (1464 Acres)
- Ellanor C. Lawrence Park (670 Acres)
- Huntley Meadows (1425 Acres)
- Lake Accotink Park (448 Acres)
- Laurel Hill (includes Golf Course) (835 Acres)
- Old Colchester Park and Preserve **NEW SITE** (140 Acres)
- Poplar Ford (439 Acres)
- Riverbend (418 Acres)
- Scott’s Run Nature Preserve **NEW SITE** (384 Acres)
- South Run SV + Lake Mercer Park + South Run District Park (752 Acres)
- Sugarland Run SV (225 Acres)
- Sully Historic Site (61 Acres)
- Pohick SV (823 Acres)
Who can provide additional information about the Fairfax County Deer Management Program (Archery)?
Fairfax County welcomes your questions. If you have questions, concerns or comments, please contact Sgt. Earit Powell at earit.powell@fairfaxcounty.gov
The Fairfax County Wildlife Biologist (Fairfax County Police Department) works closely with the Fairfax County Park Authority to implement the Fairfax County Deer Management Program and Archery Program each year.
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