GRAYSON COUNTY, Tex. -- Deer hunting is a time-honored tradition for many Texomans, but this year questions have been raised about changing hunting laws in Grayson County. County commissioners came down on the side of tradition Monday when they discussed whether allow rifle hunting during whitetail deer season. Stephanie Brletic has the details.

Grayson County is the only Texas County that does not allow rifle use during white-tail deer season, but one anonymous Tarrant County resident is asking Texas Parks and Wildlife to change that.

Grayson County commissioners voted to continue bow-use only on Monday.

Brock Benson, president of the Grayson County Whitetail Association, is happy with the decision.

"We feel that archery hunters may take a little more pride in managing the herd and allowing the herd to grow and allowing it to mature, to get to a healthy age where they can be taken from the herd without causing damage to the herd overall."

Benson says that if rifles are used, the number of deer harvested could double. Resident Bear Smith feels similarly. He says using a rifle makes it easier and quicker to kill more deer, since a rifle can hit the animals from 800-900 yards away, but using a bow takes more skill, since the range is only 40 yards.

"In Grayson County, we have a lot of big deer. If we turn around and start letting people shoot them with guns, we're going to have a serious problem with our deer population because anyone can shoot one with a gun," Smith says.

There are other issues, such as stray bullets that could harm livestock or even residents. Those were risks Grayson County Judge Drue Bynum does not want to take.

"We want to give people quality of life, at the same time we know our population is growing, and if we go out and allow a firearm season for the whitetail harvest in Grayson County, then as the county fills up with people, we feel like that becomes a real safety issue."

There was not a single person in favor of allowing rifle hunting at Monday’s meeting. Citizens actually applauded for the unanimous no-rifle proclamation, a decision Bynum stands behind.

"By being proactive in what we did, we'll send a loud and clear message to the Texas Parks and Wildlife. Senator Estes and Representative Phillips have both said that they would support the decision that came forth today."

Bynum tells us Texas Parks and Wildlife does have the ability to overrule the commissioners' decision, but he does not expect that to happen.