Both sides in the legal battle over hunting deer in Mill Creek Park fired last-minute salvos before Thursday’s court hearing to determine if that hunt will be allowed.

Park attorneys on Monday filed a brief arguing that opponents of the hunt can cite no law to support their request for a preliminary injunction to halt the park’s plan to thin the deer herd.

Attorney Greg Beck says opponents “incorrectly” suggest that the park board has no legal authority to permit the hunt despite permission granted by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

Responding on behalf of the hunt opponents, a brief filed by Attorney Marc Dann argues that nothing in the Ohio Revised Code gives the park district the authority to schedule the hunt.

“The nonsensical and twisted logic gymnastics to reach the conclusion that Defendant should be permitted to proceed in the absence of explicit authority would make Simone Biles proud,” writes Dann in his brief.

According to the lawsuit, the plan was presented to the Metroparks' Board of Commissioners in March of 2023 with the belief that there were "too many" whitetail deer throughout its parks.

The hearing is scheduled to take place at 9:30 a.m. before Magistrate Nicole Alexander in Mahoning County Common Pleas Courtroom Number 5.