Ohio Magistrate Upholds Deer Hunts at Mill Creek Park

AI was utilized in the writing of this article.

Photo byAnthony RobertsonUnsplash

Jimmy Dean
March 28, 2024

A Magistrate from Mahoning County has issued a ruling that favors Mill Creek Metroparks in response to local residents' concerns regarding the park's deer population management practices.

Magistrate Nicole Butler's opinion, outlined in an 11-page document filed on Wednesday, supports the park district's authority in implementing measures to reduce the deer population on park land. According to the ruling, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife holds the responsibility for approving the park's deer management plan, including the hunting and culling of deer.

Residents who filed the lawsuit in September contested the park's assertion of an overabundance of whitetail deer and objected to the implementation of a lottery system to select hunters tasked with reducing the deer population.

Officials from Mill Creek Metroparks have expressed concerns about the health of the deer herd and the potential damage to plant life caused by deer within the park.

The lawsuit characterized the park's management strategy as a "Deer Slaughter Plan" and raised questions about the accuracy of the park's deer population estimates, labeling plan details as "sketchy".

Additionally, the civil suit raised concerns about potential risks to the safety of residents living near park property as a result of deer hunting activities.

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