Say NO to the Neighborhood Bow Medina, OH
Say NO
to the
Neighborhood
Bow
Medina, Ohio
What is happening right now?
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UPDATE 8/24/22: 6 of the 7 Council members voted to pass the hunting ordinance at the Finance Committee meeting on Monday, August 22nd. What this means is that the ordinance will move out of finance and will need to be approved at a city council meeting. The next city council meeting will be on September 12 at 7:30 pm. Please mark your calendars.
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Update 8/31/22: More signs have been ordered. Please consider a donation to cover the cost (link is below). An email will be sent out (subscribe at the bottom of this page) and posted on Facebook letting you know when and where to pick up a sign..
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Click here to see a sample letter to send to the Mayor and council members. Their contact information is below.
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Update 8/31/22: Medina posted a few links on their page regarding the Deer Management Process, Information regarding Medina's Proposed Deer Hunting Program, and other information. Updates have been made to these documents since the Finance Meeting. You will need to scroll down half the page to access them: https://medinaoh.org/city-hall/parks
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Update 9/1/22: Read a letter sent to council from a Medina resident. Click here to read it.
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The City of Medina is planning to do an urban hunt in our neighborhoods.
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The ordinance was voted down in special legislation, but that veto was overridden by Council President, John Coyne, and reintroduced at a finance meeting on July 11, 2022. Watch each council member respond in this video - https://fb.watch/eluIZMlzDq/​
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Read Medina's proposed ordinance here: Proposed ordinance July 2022
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Note that only the ordinance is passed by Council. All other documents can be amended anytime by the mayor or his selected representative.
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In this ordinance, Medina City police will be heavily burdened to determine if areas are deemed safe as well as fielding phone calls and ensuring the outlined rules and regulations are being followed.
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The non-lethal management plan is mentioned, but a Medina specific non-lethal plan has not been shared. A general guideline document from the Humane Society was provided when asked.
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The term used frequently is "culling", Webster defines it as: reduction of a wild animal population by selective slaughter.
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What you need to know
Safety / Liability
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Children
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Hunting accidents
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Property damage
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Pets
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Wounded deer
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Arrows in yards
Sources
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Although many City Councils and administrations state that culling is safe, the ordinance specifically states that the Medina City Council will not be held liable.
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Per insurance companies, if you give permission to a hunter to hunt on your property, you are liable for any of their injuries. If the hunter causes any damages, on ANY property, the hunter is liable.
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In 2020, 14 (2%) of the 632 vehicle accidents in Medina, were related to deer. In 2021, 17 (1%) of the 1170 vehicle accidents, were related to deer. (Source: Medina City)
Culling
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Culling will not stop concerns about gardening.
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Deer population will NOT be significantly reduced. Each "hunter" is only allowed 2 doe and 1 buck per hunting season.
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Because culling is not a sport, cities report hunters are hard to find.
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The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) receive a significant amount of funding from hunting licenses. They only allow for specifically approved, non-lethal studies.
Sources
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Google - there are many sources that explain why culling is ineffective.
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Many hunters have said they hunt for the sport of it, and culling isn't part of the sport.
Neighborhood
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According to the City of Medina, the average Medina lot size is 1/4 acre.
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The city will allow hunting at homes that back up to a park while the park is open.
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The city is working with the school system to allow culling on school property.
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Hunting season is only open when school and sports are in session (September - February).
Crossbow and Long Bow
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The city requires the hunter to qualify with a bow/crossbow at 20 yards, but that is not the same as qualifying from an elevated platform for two reasons. Firstly, the distance increases due to the angle of the shot. Secondly, shooting at a downward angle is a different shooting stance and grip as compared with a level shot.
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A modern high powered crossbow can shoot up to 5000 feet when fired at a upward 45 degree angle. That means you could stand at the Medina square gazebo and fire northbound at a 45 degree angle and hit Drugmart on North Court Street. (More information)
Do Your Part
Contact City Council
Contact the mayor and the Medina City Council and let them know safety MUST be their priority! Click here for a sample letter. To see which ward you reside in, click here to see a map.
Donate to the cause.
The majority of Medina citizens may be shocked to learn that bow hunting may be allowed in our neighborhoods where our children and pets play.
Funds collected will be used to inform our community about the potential risks and danger through yard signs, mailings, and other awareness tools.
How to coexist with deer
Candy to a child is the equivalent of hostas to deer. To learn about other alternative plants and ways to protect your garden, click the links below.
Contact Us
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