It is currently legal for individuals to hunt deer and other species on private property, including residential subdivisions, within certain areas in the state of GA. There is no minimum land size requirement, and therefore people are choosing to hunt or allow others to hunt in back yards of neighborhoods in subdivisions with small yards and yards with no discernable property lines for hunters to stay within.

Additionally, there is no requirement for anyone who chooses to hunt or allow others to hunt on their property, to notify adjacent neighbors of their intentions to do so.

This clearly creates a dangerous and potentially deadly situation in which a child, an adult, or a family pet could be harmed or even killed should an arrow (or other weapon) miss it's target.

It's also very likely an animal may be struck, but not die within the boundary of the property within which it was targeted/hit. This would lead to a maimed animal running into (and possibly dying within) someone's yard who has not offered hunters permission to access their property, leaving the homeowner to deal with the dead or dying animal. Additionally, a child could potentially access a dangerous weapon (arrow, etc.) that could still be inside the dead or dying animal.

It is very unlikely a hunter can control a bow and arrow or gunshot so successfully as to ensure 100% accuracy so that any arrow, gunshot or maimed or dead animal stay within a small residential backyard.

Therefore, the practice of hunting animals in residential areas of Johns Creek and surrounding cities, with subdivisions containing lots under 10 acres, should be made illegal, immediately, for the protection and welfare of children, adults, pets and personal property which could also be damaged by stray weapons.

Additionally, property owners who hunt or allow hunting on residential lots over 10 acres should be required to notify any neighbors adjacent to said property, and create and maintain clearly visible property boundaries for the hunter and/or neighbors, to minimize the potential for accidents.

The deer population in this area is healthy and well nourished and the deer are already subjected to natural predators (such as coyotes) that effectively keep the population in check. And, more importantly, in 2020, these cities' residential areas are FAR too dense to allow hunters to safely hunt in subdivisions and tiny back yards. 

Please consider these signatures as an expression of the sentiment of the residents of Johns Creek and surrounding cities in Georgia, in lieu of in-person attendance at public meetings or hearings on this matter.

Thank you for your immediate attention to this extremely dangerous and important  matter.