Arlington, Virginia Citizens Oppose Killing Deer and Support Non-Lethal Wildlife Policies and Strategies

© No Hunting (Bambi) by Dana Ellyn

Arlington, Virginia is an educated and compassionate community.

In Virginia, white-tailed deer and other native wildlife are owned collectively by the citizens of Virginia. They are held in public trust by the Commonwealth for the benefit of all Virginians.

Communities must understand the nature of deer-human conflicts and use available means to establish peaceful coexistence with deer. The issue might not be deer overpopulation, but learning to live equally with them.

The white-tailed deer is the most common deer species in the United States. Culling deer in America is widespread, widely accepted, and negatively impacts many American cities. Lethal approaches to managing deer populations are outdated, ineffective, and inhumane.

Arlington, Virginia parks are beautiful sanctuaries, natural spaces of peace, relaxation, and learning. Our woodlands are home to a glorious diversity of wildlife, including white-tailed deer. These vital green spaces are learning centers of the natural world. They inspire admiration and respect for the reciprocal relationship between plant life, animals, and humans.

It is the responsibility of the Arlington County Government to preserve our local parks and all of the wildlife that lives there, not transform our parks into killing fields.

We oppose the Arlington Virginia Government's unwise, ineffective, and inhumane decision to sharpshoot deer to "control deer population.”

We advocate for peaceful coexistence with deer in Arlington and across the United States.

To preserve and protect our oneness with deer and their right to live free from harm in their natural habitat, we promote compassion and understanding.

We urge Arlington County to initiate successfully proven, science-based, humane policies that respect deer and protect Arlington's entire ecosystem.

We urge the Arlington County Board to repeal their amendments to the County’s Firearms Ordinance (Chapter 13) and Miscellaneous Offenses and Provisions (Chapter 17) of the Arlington County Code, that permits the discharge of firearms for county-supervised contracted professional sharpshooting as a method of "deer management."

In the interest of overall public safety, particularly for the many Arlington communities that surround our parks, we want The Arlington County Government to remove outdated references to lawful hunting practices and ban hunting to prevent safety risks associated with hunting in densely populated areas, like our neighboring government, The Falls Church City Council, did on February 24, 2025.

Arlington, Virginia must set a humane and educated precedent for surrounding counties and American cities.

Together, we can change the future and establish peaceful coexistence with deer in Arlington, Virginia and the entire United States.

No Killing Deer in Arlington is committed to bringing Deer Culling to the forefront of the Animal Rights conversation.

Kill the Cull - Not the Deer!

About the Artist: Dana Ellyn is one of Washington, DC's most successful established artists. Her art is widely collected by history buffs, animal rights activists, and a growing number of art enthusiasts of all tastes around the globe. Visit www.danaellyn.com