For a year now, they have mowed down our hastas, decimated our vegetable gardens and gnawed on our azalea bushes. Deer, that is. And now it’s payback time, it’s urban archery season even within the city limits of places like Charlottesville, Lynchburg and other cities. From Sept. 1 through October 5, bow hunters with permits and landowner permission can shoot away at the city deer. To be eligible, residential parcels must be at least a ½ acre or more and the property owner must obtain a free urban archery permit from the police department. Hunters should use the utmost in caution and obtain written permission from the landowner. If a deer is shot, the hunter has the responsibility to remove the animal.
If deer are a problem on your urban property, contact the Game Department to line up some expert archers.