Mount Vernon’s state politicians push legislation targeting waterfowl hunting hideouts

 December 24, 2019 Fort Hunt Herald

A push by residents of Little Hunting Creek to curb the alleged illegal discharging of firearms and unsafe hunting practices in their nook of Fairfax County’s Mount Vernon area has prompted the introduction of new state legislation targeting the licensing of waterfowl blinds.

Hunting blinds are camouflaged hideouts of varying complexity for archers and shooters to go after ducks and other wildlife. Right now, it is legal to obtain a license to set up a stationary blind in the Little Hunting Creek area.

The waterfowl hunting regulation proposed by State Senator Scott Surovell (D-36th District) and Delegate Paul Krizek (D-44th District) would stop the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries from issuing licenses for stationary waterfowl blinds “in any locality where bird hunting with firearms is prohibited.”

The bill will be considered by lawmakers in Richmond once the new Democrat-controlled Virginia General Assembly reconvenes in January 2020.

The legislation may please residents of Little Hunting Creek but could run afoul of hunting and firearms special interest groups because of its statewide impact.

“Current law allows for stationary blinds to be erected in areas where firearm hunting of migratory waterfowl is prohibited, even if hunting with bows and untethered arrows is still allowed,” Surovell and Krizek explained in a joint statement on Monday, Dec. 23, 2019.

“[We] introduced the bill at the request of concerned constituents in Mount Vernon worried about illegal discharging of firearms and unsafe hunting taking place behind their homes on Little Hunting Creek. The new legislation and efforts by the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries to educate hunters about firearm regulations will help curb this problem.”

Krizek called it a “commonsense bill” brought forward by residents who were concerned about their safety and security.

It is not the first time the legislation has been proposed, but Surovell believes it has a better shot of passing this time due to the new Democratic Party majority in the House of Delegates and State Senate.

“It is not safe to hunt with firearms in densely populated areas,” Surovell said.

“Fairfax County has prohibited firearm hunting in the area and the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries should not be leasing duck blinds in Fairfax County.”