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Discuss deer management program with representatives from Fairfax County.
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BACKGROUND SUMMARY: Fairfax County Police Department has developed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) which would allow their deer management program to conduct operations on some town property. The Town will hear more information about that program and discuss if it should be brought into the Town of Vienna.
OVERVIEW: In October of 2024, the Town Council requested Fairfax County Hunter Mill District Supervisor Mr. Walter Alcorn include the Town of Vienna in the already established Fairfax County deer management program run by the Fairfax County Police Department. In December of 2024, that request was approved and Fairfax County began drafting a MOU. At the April 28, 2025, Town Council meeting, Town Council adopted town code:
Sec. 3-25.3 - Deer Management Program Notwithstanding any other provisions of the Code of the Town of Vienna relating to the discharge of firearms, within the Town of Vienna, on Town property or Town Parks, the Town Manager and the Chief of Police may authorize the following deer management procedures and applications for deer kill permits as provided pursuant to Virginia Code §29.1-529 as follows: A. The Town manager and the Chief of Police, in coordination with the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (“DWR”), may authorize and conduct deer management operations and the exercise of deer kill permits and Deer Population Reduction Programs (DPOP) on property owned by the Town of Vienna, including all Parks, as well as on private property with the written consent of the property owner. Such deer management operations include the following: i. Sharpshooting, including harvesting of deer using special-trained Fairfax County, Town of Vienna Police Department officers, or licensed contractors.
In May of 2025 the Town received a MOU from Fairfax County. That MOU has been finalized and reviewed by the Town Attorney.
SUMMARY/STAFF IMPRESSIONS: Fairfax County officials will be available to answer any specific questions council may have about the deer management program.
RECOMMENDATION: If the Council would like to move forward, the MOU is ready to be signed and the Police Chief can sign it, or other actions the council wishes.
Recommended Action