Wake Forest lets arrows fly to control deer population

Wake Forest, N.C. — Archers will soon be able to take aim at deer within the Wake Forest town limits.

The Wake Forest Board of Commissioners voted 4-1 Tuesday night to allow bow hunting of deer. Proponents say it’s a practical measure to control the population of white-tail deer encroaching on developed areas, but others warn of dangers posed by “urban archery.”

Under the new ordinance, archers can hunt for deer on privately owned land at least 5 acres in size, and they must carry written permission from all property owners and provide such permissions to any law enforcement officer who requests to see them.

Arrows must be fired from at least 10 feet above the ground and toward the interior of the hunting parcel, and no arrows can be shot within 50 yards of a home or a road right-of-way or within 100 yards of any day care, school, church or town park.

Any bow hunter also must have all required state permits and abide by state hunting regulations.

Wake Forest must submit a written request to the state Wildlife Resources Commission by April 1 to participate in the 2014 urban archery season, which runs from mid-January to mid-February. Bow hunters also will be able to hunt deer in the town during the regular state archery season, scheduled to begin Sept. 7.

203 Comments

WRAL.com welcomes your comments on this story. All comments are moderated prior to publication based on our posting guidelines. Please review them prior to posting and if your message is not approved.

VIEW ALL 203 COMMENTS

This story is closed for comments. Comments on WRAL.com news stories are accepted and moderated between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Latest Comments

Sorry you had to resort to hunting because you suck at every other sport! Can't handle sports that have an opponent because you hate to lose? commonsense4

Not sure where the hate to lose thing came from. When I was younger and still had knees that worked I ran 10k's and played racquetball which is fairly competitive. And last season I didn't get a deer at all even though I hunted often. Guess you would say I lost. I would say that's hunting. Certainly the deer have a better chance than the cow or pig whose meat graces the supermarket cold section.

When I do harvest a deer (with a rifle now) I clean and process and eat it. How about you?

fishon
February 22, 2013 11:52 a.m.

Most of these bow hunters eat what they kill, Good deal for everyone,,All you bambie lovers,, when you hit one with your car you mind will change

oleguy
February 21, 2013 6:31 p.m.

Sorry you had to resort to hunting because you suck at every other sport! Can't handle sports that have an opponent because you hate to lose? commonsense4

maybe he hates to starve and doesnt want to buy drug and hormone filled meat at his store, adn dont say anything about organic meat, it don't get no more organic than venison. I odnt understand the hate for hunters, you know how the animals were treated before they hit the shelf at your store? How is that less worse than hunting? You anti-gun hunting nuts run on pure emotion because you are scared to death.

Crumps Br0ther
February 21, 2013 6:07 p.m.

"You are right, you are not an expert. I have taken numerous deer with an arrow and they have died within 20 seconds. Unlike the buck I hit with a my car that would have suffered a long time with only broken back legs except I killed it with an arrow. Or the doe waiting for the cops to come to put it out of it's misery on Glenwood Avenue while everyone drove by except the people that called it in after they hit it."

I'm sure you had a perfect shot every time. And if by chance you actually did, although I highly doubt it, I would bet anything that 90% of the time it ends up exactly the opposite of what you said.

Sorry you had to resort to hunting because you suck at every other sport! Can't handle sports that have an opponent because you hate to lose?

commonsense4
February 21, 2013 4:28 p.m.

I am no expert on how to kill animals, I have however, seen a deer shot with an arrow. It is a long, and very painful death. caryzoo

You are right, you are not an expert. I have taken numerous deer with an arrow and they have died within 20 seconds. Unlike the buck I hit with a my car that would have suffered a long time with only broken back legs except I killed it with an arrow. Or the doe waiting for the cops to come to put it out of it's misery on Glenwood Avenue while everyone drove by except the people that called it in after they hit it.

fishon
February 21, 2013 3:59 p.m.