GALBRAITH MOUNTAIN, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – A popular local recreation spot will be closed for a bow hunt next month.

From Dec. 4-6, most of Galbraith Mountain will be closed to the public.

Janicki Logging says crews will conduct a prescribed bow hunt to cut down on the deer population.

Newly planted cedar saplings in the area have faced significant browsing pressure from the deer in recent years according to the logging company. Both Galbraith Tree Farm, managed by Janicki, and Polygon Financial have faced a combined loss of over $100,000 due to the over browsing at their properties on the mountain.

Janicki adds that the overpopulation of deer has created safety concerns by attracting predators such as mountain lions.

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife spokesperson Chase Gunnell says that the instance of bow hunting on Galbraith Mountain does not involve Fish and Wildlife. Rather, he says this looks to be an event where a private landowner temporarily changed their access policies during a pre-existing state archery deer season. The late archery hunting season for the abundant black-tailed deer is ongoing for our area through Dec. 15.

Gunnell adds that there are no conservation concerns with hunting black-tailed deer in western Whatcom County.