Scott officials have set a public hearing for 7 p.m. Nov. 6 in the municipal building on a proposal to permit archery hunting for deer in limited areas.

However, they made it clear Tuesday that the hearing does not mean the use of volunteer-based Whitetail Management Associates of Greater Pittsburgh is a sure thing, or even that the suggested sites will remain the same.

Thirteen target areas have been earmarked, and the commissioners have selected three for possible hunting, even though they intend to narrow the list to two. The three sites are an isolated area off of Woodridge Drive that borders the city in Ward 6, an open area behind Chatham Park in Ward 9 and an area near the Duquesne Light substation on Rockfield Road in Ward 3.

Other potential hunting grounds are Whiskey Run in Ward 6, three sites on Scrubgrass Road in Ward 8, Green Commons in Ward 3, Meadowlark in Ward 8, Kerr in Ward 2, Hope in Ward 5, Finley Avenue and the creek hillside in Ward 1 and Painters Run in Ward 4.

A property owner from Old Greentree Road said Scott is densely populated and that "people, horses, dogs and cars are at risk from wounded animals."

Betsy Harbin, of Scrubgrass Road, objected to her neighborhood being a target zone.

"Arrows travel very far. They can kill just as much as a bullet. I don't want to be out in my yard [and get hit] or my mother get shot in the car," she said.

Commissioner Tom Castello, who said he goes back and forth on the matter, pointed out the deer population is growing.

"I have eight [deer] in my backyard and that'll turn into 16 next year. What are they going to eat? It's an ongoing problem," he said.

Commissioner Jean O'Toole had humane concerns.

"I don't want to see an animal half-alive or suffering," she said.

Other officials responded that the Whitetail archers follow and track any deer that have been shot.

Representatives from Whitetail will be asked to attend the public hearing. Hours and days of operation would be set and no hunting on private property would be done without the owner's permission.