Poaching in Avon Lake? Rumors Swirl About Competing Hunting Groups

Whether or not there is a hunting competition going on in Avon Lake remains unverified, but an Jennifer Fenderbosch addressed the issue at a Nov. 17 Environmental Committee meeting.

“There’s a rumor of two poaching teams,” Fenderbosch said, adding she heard they were on Lake Road and Avondale Street. “It’s under investigation. I heard there are two teams and they’re in competition with each other.”

Fenderbosch addressed the issue after discussing the overpopulation of deer in Avon Lake.

Hunting is not permitted in Avon Lake.

“There’s no hunting at all,”  David Owad said earlier this year. “No hunting with guns, bow and arrows or sling shot.”

There is a “culling program” in place however. That program allows individuals to apply for a culling permit from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), however strict regulations are in place. Culling, by bow and arrow, is only permitted on agriculturally zones property 5 or more acres in size for months that vegetation is growing. The property needs to grow vegetation for a profit and there needs to be proof of agricultural damage that has suffered a profit loss. ODNR reported no applications were taken out in Avon Lake.

Owad said there have been no arrests and no confirmation that poaching was going on in city limits.

“There were two circumstances where someone was seen with a bow and arrow,” Owad said. “We received two calls and it may have been the same person (seen on two occasions.)

Owad confirmed the calls were received from both the east and west ends of town.

“We’re still looking into it, but there’s been no arrests,” Owad said.

He said he has heard rumors of the poaching but was unsure where the information came from.

“We haven’t confirmed any animals being shot and we have no information about competing groups,” Owad said.  

Reports of poaching should be reported to the Avon Lake Police Department at 440-933-4567.