SYRACUSE — Syracuse Village Council is debating whether or not to allow controlled deer hunting within the village limits.

The discussion will continue at council’s next regular meeting scheduled for 7 p.m., Dec. 2 at village hall. Residents for and against the issue are encouraged to attend to voice their opinions.

At its most recent meeting, Councilwoman Joy Bentley brought up the option of the controlled hunt after speaking about the logistics with the Meigs Soil and Water Conservation District Office as well as the city of Marietta which allows controlled deer hunts.

Bentley’s suggestions for the controlled hunt were based on Marietta’s ordinance. The suggestions included the controlled hunt be strictly a bow hunt, a hunter must have a land owner’s permission to hunt on the property in question, the person who wants to hunt must qualify by demonstrating they can shot a bow properly and pass an archery proficiency test, hunters must provide proof of completion of an Ohio Hunter Education Course and National Bowhunter Education Course, hunters must also provide proof of a combined single limit personal injury and property damage insurance in the minimum of $1 million, hunters should have a hunting permit card issued by the village.

Also, hunting would be limited to a tree stand so a hunter is shooting downward and the deer killed would be reported to the village clerk-treasurer. Bentley suggested the controlled hunt within the village limits be held in January and February, saying this seemed a safer time to hunt because fewer people are doing outdoor activities during these months. It was also suggested the village check aerial photos with the corporation lines to see how much huntable areas there are, including in the areas of Rose Valley, Snowball Hill and the lower end of Syracuse. Again, these were all suggestions for council to consider and nothing has been voted upon.

The Marietta ordinance was put in place to alleviate the overpopulation of deer in the city. The ordinance also states hunting is not allowed within 100 feet of any occupied structure. It also states hunting is only allowed on contiguous parcels of property at least one acre in size and only with the written permission of the property owner. Hunters must also have their arrows marked with their names for identification. In Marietta there is also some city owned property that was made available for the controlled hunt.

The Marietta ordinance originally passed in August, 2008 and was reinstated this past August.

In Syracuse, Mayor Eric Cunningham has spoken out against the idea, saying it was “asking for trouble,” citing what he feels is a limited amount of available hunting space within the village limits.