The Fairfax County government’s seasonal archery program to cull the deer herd in the county began Sept. 7 and runs through Feb. 15.
The effort, in effect since 2010, is conducted in public areas of the county under the oversight of the Fairfax County Police Department.
Last year, hunters in the county program harvested slightly more than 700 deer through the use of archery.
Program standards require that all archers meet state licensing, education and safety requirements and must demonstrate skill and marksmanship, in addition to carrying program identification. Archers are also required to have completed additional training through the International Bowhunter Education Program to participate.
Parks remain open to the public during the archery program. Fluorescent-orange signs are posted in parks where hunting is authorized. Hunters can only take shots at deer from elevated tree stands; hunting from the ground level is prohibited in county parks.
Tree stands must not be located closer than 100 feet from property lines or closer than 50 feet from established park trails. Archers are not allowed on private property without permission by the owner or tenant.
Hunting is permitted Mondays through Saturdays from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset.
More information about the Fairfax County Deer Management Program can be found at https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/wildlife/deer-management-program.
