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Signs like this one, in Holmes Run Stream Valley, are posted in parks approved for deer hunting. |
Bow hunters who meet certain qualifications are allowed to shoot deer from temporary deer stands installed in trees in designated parks.
Parks remain open during deer season, but visitors are urged to stay on the trails. Deer hunters must park in designated areas and display a parking pass on their windshield. Hunting is prohibited on Sundays.
The 2020-21 deer season includes parks in 19 clusters throughout Fairfax County, including these parks in the Annandale/Mason District area:
- Accotink Stream Valley cluster – Accotink Stream Valley Park (656 acres), Eakin Park, Mantua section (72), Sally Ormsby Park (40), Eakin Community Park (33), Brookfield Park (19), Carleigh Parkway (10), and Hunter Village Park (20).
- Holmes Run cluster – Holmes Run Stream Valley, except for Luria Park (80 acres), Lillian Carey Park (54), Mason District Park (80), Roundtree Park (61), Deerlick Park (19), and Lee District Park (76).
- Lake Accotink cluster – Lake Accotink (407 acres), Wakefield Park (161), Americana Park (4), and Long Branch Stream Valley (90).
The Fairfax County Police Department also conducts nighttime sharpshooting events in parks to trim the deer population.
Six parks have been approved in the county for sharpshooting in 2020-21, including Annandale Community Park, Bren Mar Park/Turkeycock Run Stream Valley, and Green Spring Gardens.
The county doesn’t publicly release the dates of these events but is expected to notify nearby residents in advance. Venison from deer killed during these events is donated to Hunters for the Hungry.
During the 2019-20 deer season, 37 deer were killed by archers in the Accotink Stream Valley cluster and 30 in the Lake Accotink cluster. Sharpshooters killed eight deer in Annandale Community Park, nine in Bren Mar Park/Turkeycock Run Stream Valley, and 10 in Green Spring Gardens.
County wildlife officials say the deer population expanded beyond healthy limits and needs to be cut back to reduce deer-vehicle collisions, halt the spread of Lyme disease, and prevent environmental damage to forests.
Questions or concerns about the deer management program should be addressed to Katherine Edwards, wildlife management specialist, 703-246-6868, katherine.edwards@fairfaxcounty.gov , or Sgt. Earit Powell, animal protection police, 703-324-0280 , earit.powell@fairfaxcounty.gov.