Public meeting Sept. 20 to discuss proposal for brief deer hunt at Island Center Forest

King County Parks’ proposal would reduce standard 4-month-long hunt to 17 days

King County Parks has scheduled a public meeting for Sept. 20 on Vashon Island to discuss its proposal for a dramatically reduced deer-hunting season at Island Center Forest.

The meeting, set for 7-8:30 p.m. at the Vashon High School Commons, 20120 Vashon Highway SW, gives the public an opportunity to comment on the County’s proposal to limit deer hunting at Island Center Forest on Vashon Island to a 17-day period in October, when all other access to the public open space would be prohibited.

Under the County’s proposal, hunting would occur Oct. 15-31, and hunters would be required to purchase a modern firearm hunting license. Bows and arrows, crossbows, muzzleloaders, revolver-type handguns or shotguns would be allowed; center-fire or rim-fire rifles are prohibited on Vashon Island.

The proposal, which is based on input from the public and state wildlife management officials, is intended to address public safety at the popular recreation site, while allowing the deer hunt to continue on the only public land on Vashon Island that has traditionally been accessible to hunting. Current Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife hunting regulations allow various forms of hunting to occur in Island Center Forest from Sept. 1 through Dec. 31.

In addition to the public meeting, King County will solicit public input on this proposal through the State Environmental Policy Act. The SEPA document is expected to be available in mid-September on the King County Parks’ website, www.kingcounty.gov/parks. Send comments via email at parksadmin@kingcounty.gov, or via U.S. Mail to Kevin Brown, King County Parks, 201 S. Jackson St., Suite 700, Seattle, WA, 98104-3856.

In 2010, King County temporarily suspended its authorization allowing the discharge of weapons in Island Center Forest – effectively canceling the annual deer hunt, which has taken place for many years.

The County’s decision to cancel the 2010 hunting season at Island Center Forest was made because of safety concerns from neighbors and trail users who noted that increased year-round use of the land by non-hunters could create unsafe conditions in the woods during the long period when hunting was allowed.

No deer hunting will be allowed while King County conducts a public review of its proposal, and the County will evaluate the effectiveness of its decision this year when considering any hunting in 2012.

King County Parks manages the land in collaboration with community partners who make up the Friends of Island Center Forest, a diverse group that includes the Vashon-Maury Island Land Trust, Vashon Forest Stewards, Vashon–Maury Island Audubon, equestrians and outdoor enthusiasts, among many other community members. Learn more about Island Center Forest at http://www.kingcounty.gov/recreation/parks/trails/backcountry/islandcenterforest.aspx.

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King County Parks - Your Big Backyard - offers more than 200 parks and 26,000 acres of parks and natural lands, including such regional treasures as Marymoor Park and Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park, 175 miles of regional trails and a world-class aquatic center. By cultivating strong relationships with non-profit, corporate and community partners, King County Parks enhances park amenities while reducing costs. Learn more at http://www.kingcounty.gov/parks/.