Supervisors change policies about deer in Prince William County VA.

Solving the overpopulation of deer problem in Prince William County came a step closer to realization Jan. 13 when the county’s board of supervisors made it easier for homeowner associations to eliminate deer with bow and arrow.

Existing county law made it unlawful to shoot or hunt with firearms or bows within 100 yards of a regularly occupied structure without prior permission of the owner or occupant. Changes will let bow hunters shoot not less than 100 feet from an occupied dwelling with the owner/occupant’s permission. Archers also can shoot on their own property, provided the arrow doesn’t cross or land on another property without advanced permission of the neighbor.

A property owner also can get a kill permit from Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF) for killing deer on land of at least two acres and zoned for agricultural use. Angela Horan, county attorney, told the meeting a kill permit is not the same as a hunting license.

Lake Ridge Parks and Recreation Association (LRPRA) had championed changing the rules to address the burgeoning deer population in the development. A Dec. 9 meeting called by LRPRA had more than 100 residents in attendance to consider a solution. A show of hands at the meeting indicated residents wanted the problem addressed.

Capt. Scott Vega of the county’s police department told the Jan. 13 supervisors’ session that in 2013, an Occoquan District homeowners association voted to allow a managed deer hunt with bow and arrow in its community. Some residents disagreed with the decision and asked the police department if the hunt were lawful.

The commonwealth’s attorney subsequently determined that “hunt” includes bow and arrow as well as firearms, which then prohibited the proposed managed hunt.

A public hearing on the matter was held last March, and then turned over to the county’s farm bureau and weapons control board for recommendations.

Vega explained eight public meetings were held on the rules, and that surrounding jurisdictions have “wildly diverse” regulations on deer hunting.
Eleven area residents spoke at the public hearing, mainly in favor of lessening bow-hunting rules.

Ron Pereira, LRPRA general manager, explained “there are too many deer in Lake Ridge. We need a solution. One hundred yards can’t implement bow hunters in Lake Ridge.  We have 1200 acres, and 100 yards won’t work.”

Robert Flanigan said he had killed more than 200 deer with bow and arrow. Harry Wiggins, Lake Ridge, said he has a tree stand in his front yard, which is patrolled by “eight or nine deer.” He invited the public to contact him about using the tree stand.

A Fort Lyon Drive resident said it was “good to clarify the difference between gun and bow use,” adding there is “a deer problem in Lake Ridge.”
A Westminster resident disagreed with loosening deer regulations, contending that “a hunter may not kill with the first arrow” and would pursue an injured deer. He said he preferred keeping the 100-yard rule.

Nancy Viers, Coles District resident and president of the Prince William Wildflower Society, said she was in favor of the regulation changes since deer remove all natural plants in an area.

Kevin Rose, a biologist with VDGIF, told the public hearing that 74 percent of county residents want the deer population cut through hunting.
“Non-lethal methods do not work,” Rose stated.

He reported there have been only five bow and arrow accidents in the state since 1960, while there are more than 70,000 “annual archers.” He added there have been four fatal accidents in the last year from drivers hitting deer with their vehicles.

Charles Smith, Prince William Conservation Alliance, reported that deer alter forests and have lasting ecological impacts.

Sheila McManus of the River Ridge community in Lake Ridge said she does not want 100 yards adjusted to 100 feet. She said the area is too dense, and that her neighbors “do not want any culling.”

“One hundred feet courts disaster,” McManus opined, asking whether planned ordinance changes had been distributed in Spanish for Spanish-speaking residents.

A Nokesville bow hunter said he was concerned with the effects of a rules change on private property rights. Another woman saw the deer hunting change as a safety issue, suggesting the public be given a chance to vote on the proposal.

In commenting on the rules change Jan. 14, county planning commissioner Kim Hosen, who works for Prince William Conservation Alliance, explained that “homeowner associations maintain more open space than Prince William County Government. They need to be given the tools to accomplish their stewardship goals. Deer management is important in maintaining open space.”

Hosen represents Occoquan District on the county’s planning commission.