WASHINGTON — Hunters with bows and arrows will soon take to the woodlands to reduce the size of the white-tailed deer population in Fairfax County. The county’s five-month archery program is scheduled to open Sept. 12.

Archery is the primary deer management tool used in Fairfax County. Officials say it has shown to be safe and effective. About 1,500 deer were taken from private land and about 850 from Fairfax parks last year.

The Virginia Department of Natural Resources says archery hunting for deer is inherently safe for people, because the hunters use tree stands and the downward trajectory of the arrow has the ground as a natural backstop. Archers also shoot at close range, allowing clear views and identification of the target.

More than 20 counties and communities in Virginia, including Richmond, permit deer hunting with bow and arrow.

Citizens with questions about the archery program can seek answers at two public hearings at the Fairfax County Government Center. The first is scheduled for Thursday at 7 p.m.; the second, for Tuesday, Aug. 18, at 7 p.m.