Mill Creek MetroParks seeks permission for sharpshooters to kill double the amount of deer

Millcreek Metroparks Trustees are coming under fire for seeking state permission for USDA sharpshooters to kill double the number of deer than it did last year.

Wednesday, September 25, 2024, there is a Save Our Deer meeting at the Newport Library in Youngstown, from 5 to 7 pm.

Previously, sharpshooters killed 38 deer and the board wants permission for 75 deer to be killed.

Hunters during the bow and gun season, at Mill Creek MetroPark property killed 166 deer in an ODNR lottery permit system.

That's a total of 204 deer in 2023.

The Metroparks board claims deer are overpopulated and eating too much of the ground vegetation which they say puts plant life and the forest at risk.

"That first 30 was just a demonstration of let's show we can do this safely and efficiently. In all reality, it should have been higher last year, probably around the 75 mark so that's why we chose this year to request that amount. We are still waiting on word from ODNR," Mark Derico, Mill Creek MetroParks Natural Resources Manager said.

Members of the "Save the Mill Creek Park Deer," group say there is no justification for killing the deer in a park that should preserve wildlife.

Sunday, October 13th at Westside Bowl on Mahoning Avenue there will be a basket raffle with more than 120 baskets and a 50-50 raffle.

The event will be held from noon to 4:00 p.m.

Money raised will go to legal expenses to try and stop the kills and save the deer.

There will be Save Our Deer t-shirts for sale, along with deer Christmas ornaments, and pictures of Mill Creek Park deer.