(a) Except as described in divisions (b) and (c) of this section, the hunting of animals or fowls within the municipality is prohibited. No person shall hunt to kill or attempt to kill any animal or fowl by use of firearms, bow and arrow or any other means; provided, however, that property owners may cause household vermin, such as mice, rats and moles to be trapped or killed.
(b) The Mayor may grant written permission to residents, employees of the Village, and/or persons whom the Mayor delegates to hunt deer in the Village where overpopulation has been determined to threaten property value, harm to plants and shrubs, and the urban forest, or at Gorman Heritage Farm or other public property after such overpopulation has been acknowledged by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, the Hamilton County Park District, or other skilled wildlife biologists or experts.
(c) The Mayor may also grant written permission to residents, employees of the Village and/or other persons whom the Mayor delegates to hunt coyotes when it has been determined by the Mayor in consultation with the Chief of Police or other appropriate experts that such coyotes are a danger or a nuisance.
(d) If it is desired to hunt on private property, the applicant shall provide documented written permission from the private landowner before submitting the application to the Mayor for such approval.
(e) Any application made to the Mayor to hunt deer within the Village shall conform to the deer management guidelines/rules as established in the deer management program. The deer management guidelines shall be enforceable as part of any permit granted by the Mayor. In all circumstances, deer will only be harvested through the use of archery equipment.
(f) The hunting of coyote may only be done through the use of archery equipment. Any application made to the Mayor to hunt coyote with the Village shall conform to the coyote management guideline/ rules as may be established in the coyote management program. The coyote management guidelines shall be enforceable as part of any permit granted by the Mayor.
(g) All State of Ohio Department of Natural Resources hunting rules and regulations, including the requirement of obtaining a license, must be followed whether hunting on private or public property even when permission to do so has been granted by the Mayor.
(h) Residents, employees of the Village, and/or other persons seeking permission from the Mayor to hunt pursuant to this section, either on private or public property, shall first be required to successfully complete a skills qualification test determined and administered by the Village of Evendale Police Department.
(i) Whoever violates any provision of this section is guilty of a third degree misdemeanor. Punishment shall be as provided in Section 698.02.
(Ord. 13-41. Passed 8-15-13; Ord. 16-09. Passed 2-9-16.)