(a) No person shall hunt, trap, kill or attempt to kill any animal or fowl by the use of firearms, bow and arrow, air rifle or any other means within the corporate limits of the Municipality, except as provided herein.
(b) The prohibitions found in (a) do not apply to hunting and/or trapping activities within the Municipality that would otherwise be permitted under the laws of the State of Ohio, provided that all of the following conditions apply:
(1) The hunter holds a current, valid hunting license issued by the State of Ohio for those activities for which a hunting license is required;
(2) Written permission has been obtained from the owner of or the person having lawful possession of the property on which the hunting or trapping is to occur. The written permission referred to herein must be in possession of the hunter or trapper at all times and produced upon request of a police officer or game warden. Written permission to hunt or trap on a particular piece of property may be granted for any period of time provided there is no prohibition against hunting or trapping at that time by statute or ordinance of the Municipality.
(3) The hunting and/or trapping takes place on a parcel of land that is agriculturally zoned and is located south of State Route 16 and east of State Route 37. For the purposes of this section, the Open Space zoning classification, which permits agricultural uses, shall be considered an agricultural zone; and
(4) The hunting and/or trapping does not take place within three hundred (300) feet of any cemetery, school, church, occupied structure, or public or private roadway.
(c) The provisions in subsection (a) hereof shall not apply to any health department employee, law enforcement officer, or bona fide pest exterminator who, in the scope of his or her official duties or employment, is required to capture or exterminate any bird or animal in the interest of the public health, safety and welfare. The provisions in subsection (a) hereof shall not apply to a person holding a nuisance trapping permit issued by the Division of Wildlife of the State of Ohio for the trapping of wildlife or animals constituting a nuisance. Nor shall the provisions in subsection (a) hereof apply to any person who secures or attempts to secure possession of his own pet, bird or animal, or who employs a standard device for the purpose of catching mice, rats, bats, or similar vermin infesting the person’s habitation or place of business.
(d) Target shooting is permitted in the area specified in subsection (b)(3) above, provided that the target shooting is on a parcel or combination of parcels that is at least five (5) acres in size, and that no projectile from said target shooting shall land within three hundred (300) feet of any perimeter property line, cemetery, school, church, occupied structure, or public or private roadway.
(e) Whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor
(Ord. 12-07. Passed 9-19-07.)