Gwinnett City Proposes Hunting Ban

Concerned bowhunters and residents of Peachtree Corners attended a city council meeting where a proposed ban on hunting in the city was on the agenda.

An attempt was made by the Peachtree Corners city council to ban hunting in the Gwinnett County city, but it appears bowhunting and archery will be allowed to continue.

The proposed ordinance stated, “It shall be unlawful to discharge any firearm, air gun, BB gun, bow, crossbow or any missile within the residential areas of the City of Peachtree Corners.”

The ordinance was tabled before there was an opportunity for public comment during a City Council meeting on Oct. 18.

Lorrie Christopher, a city council member for Peachtree Corners, said the ordinance is being revised to allow bowhunting with some stipulations and will be revisited at a November council meeting.

Luke Crawford, a resident of Peachtree Corners who attended the meeting, brought the proposed ban to the attention of GON. “The mayor said specifically that he had a lot of moms complaining,” Luke said. 

Luke told GON there was a mother present at the meeting who was concerned her daughter would not be able to practice for her archery competition team if this ordinance was passed.

Charlie Killmaster, the state deer biologist for Georgia, said, “I read a few excerpts from the law and offered to the city council our assistance in helping craft language that met the demands and needs for the public but did not preclude the use of hunting as a management tool for deer in the city.”

Charlie attended the meeting and said there were four other hunters who spoke and did a phenomenal job explaining a variety of reasons why hunting in the city is a good thing.

Carson Saville, who grew up and currently resides in Peachtree Corners, said he wants to preserve the right to hunt in the city limits for hunters who do it legally and ethically. He said there is a trespassing issue in the area, but current laws can address those issues.

“I spoke about how we do this (deer management) for a lot of property owners, and that we’re bowhunters who follow the rules versus the people who do it illegally, who are going to hunt whether there is a ban or not,” Carson said.

Council Member Christopher said the hunters who attended the meeting made valid points. She also said they will be working with DNR to revise the ordinance to be written in the best interest of the public’s safety and hunters.