Hunters across the region will no longer be able to use buckshot to hunt deer next season in Prince William County.
The Board of County Supervisors voted to change the county code to ban the shell that has nine to 18 lead pellets inside. Instead, hunters will have to use shotgun slugs.
Thus the county entered one of the long-standing controversies over deer hunting.
“It was decided that slugs would be better for a number of reasons — first and foremost, safety,” said Prince William police Capt. Timothy Rudy.
A hunter would only be shooting one projectile, as opposed to spraying an area with up to 18 pellets, Rudy said, reducing the chances of hunting accidents. Vice President Dick Cheney, for instance, was using pellets when he inadvertently shot a Texas lawyer, though they were smaller than deer shot.
Rudy said the slugs would be more humane than buckshot because “a powerful projectile striking the deer [has] more of a chance of a sure kill, but a smaller projectile has more of a chance for wounding [the deer].”
“We are hoping to have an impact on the deer population,” said Rudy, who added that the change would make the county’s policy consistent with that of Marine Corps Base Quantico.
Dabney Watts, of the state Game and Fisheries Department, said Virginia is a big destination for hunters from Maryland, the District and other states.
Fairfax County only allows buckshot hunting during its deer season ,and Stafford County has no restrictions on hunting, said state Game Warden Randy Grauer.
“People are at odds about this whole issue,” Grauer said.
Buckshot has a smaller range, but more projectiles, whereas a slug can travel longer distances, but is only one projectile, he said.
“I think it is evident that the authors of this proposal don’t have any experience in hunting or knowledge of firearms issues,” said Andrew Arulanandam, a National Rifle Association spokesman. “Hunters are required to bring down their animals in a humane manner, and we think limiting the options available to hunters is not in the best interest of anyone or the sport in general.”
Prince William Deer Hunting
»Bow-hunting season begins in late September.
»Muzzle-loading season begins in mid-October.
»Gun season opens the week before Thanksgiving.
