Deer Reduction Plan

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Protect Wildlife In Mill Creek

In April 2023, a deer reduction plan was approved by Mill Creek Park Board of Commissioners. It claimed there were 387 average deer per mile. We believe this number is greatly exaggerated. Residents spoke at board meetings disputing these numbers. Instead of listening to the residents who have lived in the park for decades, who would be the first to know if the deer population had risen to those levels, the Board of Commissioners approved the hunting. For 10 years!

In September 2023, a civil lawsuit was filed by 4 Mill Creek property owners seeking to stop the hunt. Dennis Malloy, Regional Director of Whitetails Unlimited, and eight years as an Ohio Department of Natural Resources officer, testified regarding the survey Mill Creek conducted. Malloy said, “We have a population, not an overpopulation. I think the numbers are ridiculous. I have looked at other areas, other parts of the country, and there is no way in the world that data is correct.”

From September 30, 2023, to February 4, 2024, hunters, we knew nothing about, “on the honor system” were in our woods by our neighborhoods. Firearm and bow hunting took place in Huntington Woods, Hitchcock Woods, Collier Preserve, Vickers Nature Preserve, Sawmill Creek, Metro Parks Farms, Hawkins Marsh & Springfield Forest. 166 deer were killed by hunters and 38 by paid USDA sharpshooters. Areas of the park located in Youngstown were originally part of the plan, but the city would not allow it.

Residents were restricted from using their property because of numerous safety concerns. They witnessed hunters dragging dead deer. Deer were killed running into highways. Deer shot by arrows were reported in neighborhoods and others were found rotting. Hunters bragged and posted pictures of the “tame” deer they had killed.

The plan also included a targeted removal. On two occasions, USDA sharpshooters were paid to bait, heard and slaughter 38 deer on Mill Creek Park Golf Course. The cost for the slaughter of these deer was $12,069.


Of the 30 deer killed by USDA sharpshooters on October 12, 2023, on the golf course. 13 were under 6 months old! 4 under a year

The 2024 Aerial Survey results show an average of 187 deer per square mile. The previous survey showed 387 per square mile. Mill Creek Park is 20 miles. Simple math tells you the numbers are skewed.

  • Old Survey 387 x 20 = 7740
  • New Survey 187 x 20 = 3740
  • Difference 4000
  • Deer Killed – 204
  • MISSING DEER? 3796

Hunting again took place from September 29, 2024, to January 25,2025. Hunters killed 161 deer and USDA sharpshooters were paid to bait, herd and kill 75 more on the golf course. $14,478 has been paid but year end totals for the 75 deer killed in 2024 have not been published.

survey TOTAL $79,000

  • $32,975 Aerial Survey 2022
  • $35,825 Aerial Survey 2024
  • $ 1,344 Drone Survey 2024
  • $7453 Helicopter Survey 2025
  • $1403 Road Survey 2022

Deer fencing total $17,626

  • $ 1526 Deer Fence W. Golf
  • $16,000 Deer Fence Sanctuary
  • $ 100 Deer Fence Ford Nature

USDA/APHIS Sharpshooters $26,547 – 2024/25 Year end totals are still pending

  • $12,069 USDA 23/24
  • $14,478 USDA 24/25