YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - The Ohio Seventh District Court of Appeals is considering a case regarding the legality of the deer hunts at Mill Creek Metroparks.

During a Wednesday morning hearing, the Metroparks asked the court to affirm the ruling that the deer hunts were allowed.

Meanwhile, a representative for those who are opposed to the hunts argued that while the park did go through the correct procedure to request a permit to hunt the deer, they do not have the authority to do so.

Additionally, alternative methods to curb the deer population and save endangered vegetation were brought up including birth control for the deer to prevent further population and fencing off endangered vegetation being eaten by the deer.

This comes after the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) approved a request from the Metroparks to remove 75 white tailed deer from the parks during the 2024-25 hunting season.

Judges have taken the matter into consideration and will issue a ruling later.