CHESTERFIELD, VA. -
Not in my backyard.
That's what some Chesterfield neighbors are saying about bow hunters getting too close to their property. But bow hunters argue if the county increase the restricted shooting distance, you'll see more deer roaming the streets.
Drive through Salisbury subdivision in Chesterfield and you'll see plenty of 3-story homes lining the streets. Neighbors living here say there's one sport that hits too close to home: deer hunters using bows and arrows.
"We don't want to put blaze orange on our children in our own backyards," said Chesterfield resident Jennifer Lemlar. One by one, she was joined by neighbors sounding off before the County's Board of Supervisors Wednesday, arguing the county should put tighter restrictions on Bow hunters.
"These arrows can carry a great distance. They have a lot of firearm power behind them," said Lemlar.
County leaders want to change the current code to keep bow hunters from using their arrows within 600 feet of a home, business or a public building. They say 600 feet is the same distance prohibited for a firearm.
Right now, Chesterfield residents and their guests are permitted to use bows anywhere on their property, as long as it doesn't soar into their neighbors' yard.
"We're talking about part of the county which is trying to dictate to the entire part of the county." Kevin Carroll chairs the Virginia's Deer Hunters' Association. He tells me bow hunters keep drivers safe on those dark county roads.
"If you don't control a deer herd and you let it get out of hand, then, you're actually creating a more dangerous situation, for people because the most dangerous thing you do is drive a car," said Virginia Deer Hunters' Association Chair Kevin Carroll.
"My next door neighbor has a yellow lab that I look out at at the corner of my eye, looks an awful lot like a deer on a daily basis, and of course much worse, a child," said Jennifer Lemlar.
The Board of Supervisors has postponed a vote for 90 days, so, they can study the issue further.
According to the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, there hasn't been an incident with bow hunters in the Commonwealth in over a decade; the only case involved a hunter falling from a tree stand.
That's what some Chesterfield neighbors are saying about bow hunters getting too close to their property. But bow hunters argue if the county increase the restricted shooting distance, you'll see more deer roaming the streets.
Drive through Salisbury subdivision in Chesterfield and you'll see plenty of 3-story homes lining the streets. Neighbors living here say there's one sport that hits too close to home: deer hunters using bows and arrows.
"We don't want to put blaze orange on our children in our own backyards," said Chesterfield resident Jennifer Lemlar. One by one, she was joined by neighbors sounding off before the County's Board of Supervisors Wednesday, arguing the county should put tighter restrictions on Bow hunters.
"These arrows can carry a great distance. They have a lot of firearm power behind them," said Lemlar.
County leaders want to change the current code to keep bow hunters from using their arrows within 600 feet of a home, business or a public building. They say 600 feet is the same distance prohibited for a firearm.
Right now, Chesterfield residents and their guests are permitted to use bows anywhere on their property, as long as it doesn't soar into their neighbors' yard.
"We're talking about part of the county which is trying to dictate to the entire part of the county." Kevin Carroll chairs the Virginia's Deer Hunters' Association. He tells me bow hunters keep drivers safe on those dark county roads.
"If you don't control a deer herd and you let it get out of hand, then, you're actually creating a more dangerous situation, for people because the most dangerous thing you do is drive a car," said Virginia Deer Hunters' Association Chair Kevin Carroll.
"My next door neighbor has a yellow lab that I look out at at the corner of my eye, looks an awful lot like a deer on a daily basis, and of course much worse, a child," said Jennifer Lemlar.
The Board of Supervisors has postponed a vote for 90 days, so, they can study the issue further.
According to the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, there hasn't been an incident with bow hunters in the Commonwealth in over a decade; the only case involved a hunter falling from a tree stand.
