King County is seeking input from islanders about whether to continue the limited deer hunt in Island Center Forest that has occurred for the past six years.

The county is proposing to extend the hunt for another five years and will hold a meeting where islanders can voice their opinions on the topic Tuesday. If approved, the 2017 deer-hunting season at Island Center Forest would run from Oct. 14 to 31.

In a plan created with community input, a 17-day-long deer hunting season first occurred in Island Center Forest (ICF) in 2011, while all other recreational access to the King County-managed land was restricted. The plan was made to accommodate hunting and non-hunting activities in the forest and reduced the state’s established four-month-long hunting season at ICF to a season that encompasses the last three weekends of October. Following another round of public feedback, King County established a five-year pilot project of hunting seasons beginning in 2012.

Over the past five years, the limited hunt has seen a total of 296 “visits” — the number of times a licensed hunter entered the forest during the time period — and 22 deer killed, according to voluntary reports from participants. The number of deer killed during each hunt has ranged from just two in 2013 to eight in 2011. The majority of hunters coming to the island for these hunts have been from Pierce and King (not including Vashon residents) counties. Vashon has registered 51 participants in total so far.

With the five-year pilot project completed, King County Parks is again seeking the public’s opinions on continuing the hunt.

County officials will hold a public meeting about the limited deer hunt from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 19, at McMurray Middle School.

Comments are also being accepted online at kingcounty.gov/islandcenterforest, kingcounty.gov/parks/publicnotices and can be sent to David Kimmett at KCParks.SEPA@kingcounty.gov.