Smaller group of hunting-ranch protestors turn out for Vienna protest

By Ed Runyan

runyan@vindycom

VIENNA

Their numbers were smaller and their hopes of stopping the Candywood Whitetail Ranch from opening this year were all but gone, but 20 people turned out Monday to hold signs and continue to protest the business.

“We’re just trying to keep it in front of the media, keep the public involved,” said Holly Justice of Youngstown, organizer of the physical and online protests that have occurred over the past few months.

“We know it’s official, but they have to apply again in the fall. We’re going to talk to the [Ohio Department of Natural Resources] early and reach out to the Vienna Township trustees,” she said.

Justice said she accepts that the ranch will be open for business sometime this year, after ODNR and Ohio Department of Agriculture approval of the owner’s plans to provide hunting of white-tailed deer and other game for a price.

But the owners of the ranch have not provided answers to protesters’ questions about how the business will operate, Justice said.

Mark Thompson of West Middlesex, Pa., father-in-law of one of the ranch owners, attended a similar protest a month ago, when about 100 sign-holding, chanting people turned out in frigid weather.

Thompson said the hunting would be safe for neighbors because it would be done from tree stands, meaning the shots always would be fired at a downward angle.

Justice, however, said there have been reports that contradicted that, so neighbors are concerned.

Thompson said such hunting typically takes place from August through January.

Justice said she hopes talking to the ODNR months in advance of the ranch’s annual application deadline late this year will enable the group to better get its message across to state officials.

The group only learned of the pending application for a license weeks before the deadline to approve it.

In addition to deer, the ranch will provide hunting of elk, fallow deer, red deer, rams, sheep, hogs, buffalo, Barbary sheep, red deer hinds (females) and blackbuck antelope, according to the ranch’s ODNR application.

Phil Pegg, Vienna Township trustee, said Monday nothing about the ranch had changed from the township’s point of view – there is still nothing trustees can do to prevent the ranch from operating.