Deer reductions in the Mill Creek MetroParks reached its highest level last week so far this fall with 14 confirmed deer reductions and another six unconfirmed deer killed by hunters selected through the Ohio Department of Natural Resources lottery.

The numbers increased at the same time that the deer reduction program switched to gun hunting just after Thanksgiving instead of bow hunts before that.

The numbers, as shown on a report provided by Mill Creek MetroParks Natural Resources Manager Rachel Sobnosky, showed that between 14 and 20 deer were killed Nov. 29, the Saturday after Thanksgiving, on various MetroParks properties.

The 14 to 20 is a range because six of the 20 have not yet been confirmed. Sobnosky contacts each hunter to verify that each deer killed came from a MetroParks property because in some cases hunters do not know whether they are on a MetroParks property, Sobnosky has said.

The 14 to 20 deer removed Nov. 29 was the entire total for that week.

The week before that, starting Nov. 22, was the lowest number of deer removed out of the first nine weeks of the deer reductions so far with only two being removed, both with crossbows, one confirmed kill in Hitchcock Woods and one with no park property listed and not confirmed.

Of the 14 to 20 deer taken last week, six were in Vickers Nature Preserve west of the Mahoning County Career and Technical Center in Canfield. Three were taken in the Collier Preserve, formerly known as the Mill Creek Preserve, on Western Reserve Road in Boardman. Two were taken from Hawkins Marsh in Smith Township, two from the Mill Creek Wildlife Sanctuary in Beaver Township, and one from Springfield Forest.

Of the 14 to 20 taken last week, eight were taken with a shotgun and 11 were taken with a rifle. One was flagged because it states that it was taken with a crossbow, but that one is not yet confirmed.

The Mill Creek MetroParks deer reduction program for this year has reduced between 60 to 73 deer so far through hunters selected through the ODNR lottery.

U.S.Department of Agriculture employed sharpshooters removed another six deer from Mill Creek Park south of Youngstown on or around Nov. 20, totaling 50 for this fall, Sobnosky stated in an email. Fifty is the number the Ohio Department of Natural Resources gave the MetroParks permission to remove this year.

Sobnosky stated Tuesday that Mill Creek MetroParks does not intend to ask ODNR for permission to remove any more than the 50 already harvested this year.

Adding to 60 to 73 removed by hunters to the 50 deer removed in Mill Creek Park so far this year by sharpshooters brings the total deer reductions so far this fall to between 110 and 123 deer.

GUN HUNTS

Meanwhile, the MetroParks posted a press release on its Facebook page recently stating that the deer reductions in various MetroParks properties switched to gun hunts last Saturday from archery hunts and will continue with gun hunts on Saturdays and Sundays through Dec. 27.

The gun hunts are by people chosen through the ODNR lottery system.

The hunting takes place at the following Mill Creek Metroparks:

• Collier Preserve

• Hawkins Marsh

• George L. Fordyce Park (formerly known as the Mill Creek Wildlife Sanctuary) in Beaver Township.

• Sawmill Creek Preserve

• Springfield Forest

• Vickers Nature Preserve

For public safety, these properties will be fully closed to the public — including pedestrians and hikers — on gun hunting days (Saturdays and Sundays between Nov. 29 and Dec. 27), the release states. Signage will be posted at entrances on these weekends to notify visitors of the closures.

The release also provided updates on archery hunts in the MetroParks.

The “controlled archery hunt” ended Nov. 22 at all locations where gun hunts will occur. Mill Creek MetroParks Farm concluded its archery season Nov. 22, but will not participate in the gun hunt. Archery hunting will continue through January 25 at the following locations (no gun hunts at these sites): Huntington and Hitchcock Woods. Hitchcock Woods will remain open to the public during the extended archery season, the release notes.