Galbraith Mountain trails will be off limits for three-day bow hunt to control deer population
The biking and hiking trails on Galbraith Mountain will be closed Dec. 4-6 for a managed bow hunt to control the local deer population.
The overpopulation of deer on the mountain is attracting predators such as mountain lions to the area, and the deer are also feeding on young cedar saplings, costing the tree farms that own the mountain, Galbraith Tree Farm and Polygon Financial 05 to lose over $100,000, according to a news release from Janicki Logging Co. The logging company is owned by Rob Janicki, who also owns the Galbraith Tree Farm.
The hunt will be managed by the Galbraith Tree Farm and the Janicki Logging Co. by limiting and vetting the hunters participating, closing the mountain for safety and limiting the hunt to bows, which have a much shorter range than firearms and limit the risk of a missed shot flying into a residential area, spokesman Peter Wheeler with Galbraith Tree Farm and Janiki Logging Co. told The Herald.
The three-day closure will affect all trails on the mountain, which will be marked with signage, according to the news release.
“This hunt is essential for mitigating cedar losses that threaten the sustainability of our reforestation efforts,” Wheeler said in the news release. “We are committed to maintaining a healthy forest, and this trial marks our first step in exploring effective solutions to protect new growth while balancing wildlife populations. The outcomes of this hunt will guide our future approach to game management.”
The hunters are limited to 10 people, who have already been selected, Wheeler told The Herald. Each hunter has a valid hunting license and archery deer tag.
The participants are required to harvest all edible parts of any animal they hunt, per Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife regulations. Hunters also are required to take all inedible parts as well by the Galbraith Tree Farm/Janicki Logging Co. to dispose of properly themselves, as the goal is to limit the chance of attracting predators/scavengers to the mountain, Wheeler said.
This story was originally published November 29, 2024 at 1:29 PM.
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