On Saturday, roughly 200 acres of the Island Center Forest recreation area will close to all but permitted deer hunters for two weeks.

The limited deer hunt, which began in 2011, was set up as a pilot project by King County in conjunction with the state Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) in response to opposing public views on whether or not hunting should be allowed to continue on the former state lands.

“As state land, that area had always been open to hunting,” said David Kimmett, of King County Parks and Natural Resources Lands Programs. “But when it was transferred to the county, it started being used differently as improvements were made. So there was concern raised about the hunting as things changed.”

The concern came from both hunting supporters as well as detractors, which ultimately led the county and the DFW to establish a five-year pilot program of limited deer hunts. The hunts last for two weeks each fall and correspond to the state’s modern firearms season, when all firearms except rifles are allowed to be used for deer hunting with the appropriate permit.

Referring to the program as a trade-off for both sides, Kimmett explained that both agencies involved will look at all of the data once this season is over, and the long-term viability of the limited hunts will be evaluated. Once they are at that point, a public meeting will be held.

Last year, 70 hunters registered for the hunt, and four deer were culled. The majority of the hunters were from Kitsap and Pierce counties.

“Each year, the number of hunters that register for the Island Center Forest hunt goes up,” he said. “And their success rate is actually on par or high compared to other hunting areas in the county, as well as the state.”

Kimmett also noted that Island Center Forest could see more deer this season, given that the forest was thinned-out last year, leaving more room for the animals to forage as well as better lines of sight for the hunters.

One piece of data that Kimmett felt was noteworthy is that there were no legitimate complaints registered by area residents last year. In previous hunts, there were some issues with hunters gutting their kills and leaving the entrails in the forest. But Kimmett said that issues that have come up have been dealt with, and that it’s a good sign that even though the number of hunters is increasing, problems have decreased.

Island Center Forest will be closed for hunting from Saturday, Oct. 17, through Saturday, Oct. 31. The Gateway and Natural Areas will remain open for public use during that time.