Prevent Hunting in Kings Park West

Thank you Mr. Hayler for being the only voice of reason in this group. The only injustice here is so many people pushing their opinions as "facts" and getting everyone fired up for no reason at all. Everyone that is effected by this should have got a letter from Fairfax county in the mail with POCs to contact for more information, as Robert had mentioned. This is the Fairfax county website with the archery program information: http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/living/wildlife/archery/archery-program.htm Facts from the Fairfax County website: * Hunters utilize tree stands which allow the hunter to engage the target from above. The resulting downward trajectory of the arrow means that the ground acts as a natural backstop. Additionally, archery tackle is only effective at short range, which means that the hunter is close to the target, allowing clear views and easy identification of the target. These two factors combined result in the exceptional safety record archery hunting has amassed.” * The Fairfax Urban Archery season has been going on for roughly 12 years and has not had one safety incident. That is with roughly 800 hunters participating last year. * Fairfax county says that 1 in every 136 drivers in VA will have an accident with a deer in the next 12 months. http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/police/topics/100209deersafety.htm * State farm insurance rates VA as #8 in deer collisions and says that one in every 96 drivers will have an accident with a deer in the next 12 months. https://learningcenter.statefarm.com/deer-map/map.html# * Fairfax county has roughly 3-5 times the number of deer per square mile that can be safely sustained. http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/living/wildlife/deer-management/concerns.htm Inaccuracies and misleading comments from previous posts: * ” All deer can be hunted, including fawns and in order to kill a male deer, you have to kill 2 females first” (Untrue, this season starts in September so there are no fawns, they have l

Hunting is a terrible "solution" to this problem. It will attract idiots who like to kill animals. No hunting In kings park west

Please do not allow hunting deer in Kings Park West. It is too dangerous and my family and I enjoy watching them.

Before anyone assumes they know whether the deer population in KPW is sustainable or needs to be managed, it would be sensible to check with the people at Fairfax County who are involved. A look at their website shows NO mention of an approved hunt in KPW. Here is a snap shot of what is said on FCPA's website including the contact info for the Fairfax County employees who could answer questions: All managed hunt participants are required to attend a 90-minute Hunter Safety Brief prior to participating in the public managed hunt. The designated location, date and time of the safety brief will be provided in the confirmation letter sent to all successful applicants selected via hunt lottery. Important site-specific information will be provided during the safety brief including directions, maps, and safety details. Attendance is MANDATORY for all participants and will be recorded via sign-in sheet. If a managed hunt participant is unable or unwilling to attend the Hunter Safety Brief, they will be disqualified from participating in the public Managed Hunt. Fairfax County welcomes your questions. If you have questions, concerns or comments, please contact: Dr. Katherine Edwards, Wildlife Management Specialist, 703-246-6868, [email protected] Sergeant Earit Powell, Program Manager, 703-324-0280, [email protected]

I am very concerned about the safety of hunting in a residential area, but I was once startled by seeing deer crossing Commonwealth at night, so I think that they are a problem. I just don't think that hunting is a safe solution.

Please no hunting !

This is too close to people to be hunting. A BIG Safety issue!!!!

There is NOT a deer problem in KPW. I should know because my husband and two dogs walk all over the parkland and rarely, if ever, see a deer. Homes are TOO CLOSE to the park for even the best sharp shooter to make a mistake.

seariouy, 9 dear left and they have a hunting season? Makes no sense.

Please share this petition on Facebook!

I can't believe this. I hike with my two young children and dog on a daily. Any thing that I can do please feel free to touch base.

Kids and families walk dogs and although there may be an overpopulation, this is not a large wooded park area, this backs up to backyards and trails where people walk. This is unsettling and not safe at all. Unnerving and unsafe.

I don't want to hear in the news, Boy shot by mistake by a Deer Hunter.

The dumbest idea ever. This is a neighborhood, not a gun range.

Not happy and makes me want to rethink on buying a house in the area, also my kids and neighbors kids play in the woods.

This strikes me as beyond insane. I run in these parks and I have three boys who run in these parks. While I generally stay on the trails, I'm not convinced that kids are always on the trails. They may not see the warning signs and they may wander off the trail, just to explore. And yes, some of the exploration may occur during dawn and dusk. I've seen signs in other Fairfax Country Parks warning users to stay on the trail due to sanctioned hunting. It is frightening! While, I'm not convinced that our community has an overpopulation issue with deer, I have to believe that there are far less risky alternatives to controlling any overpopulation issue. I pose the following question to those who have the power to enact these rules. Could you live with yourself if an innocent child, or really any human, were maimed or killed by a hunter? For me, I know that I would be haunted every day with the knowledge that I was culpable, even responsible, for a preventable tragedy.

There are alot of alternatives to hunting to manage.deer populations, especially in a residential area.

Too populated with homes.

No need for this in our community.

Please protect our families from hunting accidents in our neighborhood!