Hunting is one of those topics that incites a range of opinions on Vashon. Some don’t mind hearing bullets split the air outside their homes, while others understandably would like to see hunting limited to more remote places.

On Vashon, as in many communities, such clashes in ideals can be tricky to navigate, especially when firearms are involved. But hunters should have a place on the island, and keeping Island Center Forest open for hunting could actually minimize issues surrounding hunting on Vashon.

Many who hunt deer on Vashon have agreements with property owners to use their land. When islanders hear shots that seem close to home, it could be because those hunters are in the area with permission, and are hopefully using caution, or because people hunting illegally have wandered near. According to many local hunters, people who aren’t sure where to hunt on the island sometimes end up where they shouldn’t be. There’s no excuse for this, but by opening Island Center Forest to only hunters for the modern firearm season in October, locals and off-islanders alike have at least one place on Vashon to hunt legally. The time and place when this hunting happens is well publicized, so there are no surprises, and others can stay clear.

When King County began its Island Center Forest hunting season as a pilot program, it wanted to see if hunters would even use it, as few came into the forest when it was also open for other uses. So far, hunters have in fact been there. In past years up to 60 hunters have reportedly taken to the forest during the hunt, and during the first half of this year’s season, more than 40 hunters had already gone in. The number of deer killed there has decreased, from eight deer reportedly harvested in 2012 to two last year. But many believe that the recent tree thinning will cause deer to come to the forest in larger numbers than before and will be watching to see if the change makes for better hunting. Those who normally use the forest to walk, bike or ride horses can still do so at the 120-acre Natural Area and Gateway properties, which remain closed to hunting.

Island Center Forest, which used to be owned by the state, is now the only county land where hunting is permitted. Is it worth it? King County should keep an eye on the numbers as the pilot continues. But aside from statistics, hunting at Island Center Forest allows for a decades-long activity to continue on Vashon in a controlled manner. Hunters who are unfamiliar with the island could likely end up there, rather than knocking on doors or trying to spot deer from the roads. And it helps retain a piece of the island’s rural nature, something that’s worth moving walks and horse rides to another place for a couple weeks.