Night-time sharpshooting operations are conducted by the Fairfax County Police Department at select parks in the county when parks are closed to the public. This operation involves systematic culling of deer by trained police officers under a special kill permit authorized by the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources.
Each park that is selected for the operation has a safety evaluation conducted by Police Department personnel. Tactical operations plans are developed for each park. Night-vision equipment, thermal imaging and suppressed firearms are used to expedite field procedures and to ensure discrete operations.
County staff and uniformed public safety officers are present at parking lots and trailheads on nights when sharpshooting is conducted to inform park patrons of the deer management activity and prevent unauthorized access as a safety measure.
Deer harvested during sharpshooting operations are donated to provide food for individuals, including donations to Hunters for the Hungry. This non-profit organization donates venison to food pantries and food banks to provide meals for those in need. Hunters for the Hungry has processed and distributed over 7.9 million pounds of venison providing a total of over 31.7 million servings to those in need since the program began in 1991.
Learn more about the Fairfax County Deer Management Program and why deer management is conducted.
