WASHINGTON – On Saturday, Fairfax County, Virginia’s archery deer hunting season got underway — an effort meant to help cull the population.

The program runs through Feb. 20, 2016. Hunters must be registered in the archery program. There is no hunting on Sundays.

Many localities are struggling with how to thin out the deer population. It’s a touchy topic especially since not everyone is happy with how that’s done. Right now deer season is underway in two local counties, where they are using bows and arrows.

In Maryland, Montgomery County launched a pilot bow and arrow deer hunting program Friday. Hunting is allowed daily, but it is by permit only. The program will run through the end of January.

In Virginia, Fairfax City has been sterilizing deer, which is very expensive. The endeavor was a first for the state of Virginia, but it was Wildlife Rescue of Maryland that picked up the tab for the program’s first two years.