Any individual desiring to hunt whitetail deer with a bow and arrow within the city limits of Grove, Oklahoma, shall comply with the following rules, regulations and permitting requirements:
A. Each individual must be at least eighteen (18) years of age, possess a current state of Oklahoma hunting license and a current city of Grove whitetail deer hunting permit. The number of permits will be limited in number. The city of Grove may issue as many or as few permits as it deems necessary or desirable in any given year.
B. In order to obtain a City of Grove whitetail deer hunting permit, each individual must:
1. Show proof of a valid and current State of Oklahoma hunting license and compliance with all other licensing and permitting requirements of the State of Oklahoma and the Department of Wildlife Conservation;
2. Show proof of having taken and passed the International Bow Hunting Education Program or the Oklahoma Hunter Education Course as per State of Oklahoma regulations;
3. Take and pass a Shooting Proficiency Test which consists of three (3) out of five (5) shots to a nine-inch (9") target from a distance of twenty (20) yards. The test is valid for three (3) years from the date of passage.
The Shooting Proficiency Test shall be taken at a City licensed archery facility. For the purpose of this section, a City licensed archery facility is defined as an:
a. Archery facility that has been inspected and approved as a testing facility by the Grove Police Chief or his designee; and
b. Archery facility that has a current and valid City of Grove business license; and
c. Archery facility that complies with the regulations set forth in City Code.
4. Provide a plat or map identifying the location of property upon which the individual intends to conduct hunting activities
5. Show proof of ownership of the land or written permission from the owner of the land on which the individual intends to hunt; and
6. Pay an annual permit fee of twenty dollars ($20.00).
Whitetail deer hunting permits will only be available in person at the Grove Police Department during regular business hours. The City of Grove may refuse to grant any applicant a City of Grove whitetail deer hunting permit in its sole discretion.
C. Individuals shall maintain a distance of one hundred fifty feet (150') from any structure while hunting, unless the hunter has previously received express written authority from the property owner to discharge the archery device within one hundred fifty feet (150') of the structure.
D. Hunters must comply with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation season dates and bag limits for deer archery. Failure to comply will result in the immediate revocation of the hunter's current permit and hunter will not be allowed to make application for any future whitetail deer hunting permit. Furthermore, hunter violation of this section will be in violation of section 1-108 of this code.
E. Bow hunting permits shall be issued to hunt deer on private property only. No hunting shall be allowed on city of Grove property.
F. Individuals shall take shots at the least amount of distance to the whitetail deer in order to maximize safety.
G. Individuals shall report to or call the Grove police department with the following information: date, time and place of the whitetail deer harvested, number of arrows shot, and any complaints received from citizens or landowners, within twenty four (24) hours of harvesting a whitetail deer.
H. Individuals shall obtain written permission from private property owners before hunting on private property and shall carry a copy of the written permission with the Grove hunting permit. The Grove license consists of two (2) parts. One is to be left visible in the hunter's parked vehicle at all times that the hunter is actively engaged in whitetail deer hunting. The other portion of the license is to be carried by the hunter whenever hunting.
I. Individuals on private property shall abide by the rules of the property owner, in addition to the rules of the Oklahoma department of wildlife conservation, and rules contained herein.
J. Hunters are required to use all available means to ensure that all arrow-hit deer are recovered, properly tagged and transported. Hunters are required to remove the entire deer. Hunters shall use proper field dressing techniques and shall not leave entrails in any conspicuous location.
K. Individuals shall report any problems with locating any wounded whitetail deer to the Grove police department.
L. All hunting in accordance with these regulations shall be conducted from an elevated stand only, which shall be at least ten feet (10') off the ground.
M. Longbows, recurve bows, crossbows or compound bows must be at least forty five (45) pounds draw weight, and arrow points must be at least seven-eighths inch (7/8") broadhead with mechanicals allowed.
N. Applications for permits will be taken beginning August 1 of each year. To the extent there are more applications than permits to be granted, permits will be issued on a random draw at least one week prior to commencement of bow season. After the season begins, permits will be granted on a first come/first serve basis until allotment of permits for that year have been issued. (Ord. 621, 8-16-2011; amd. Ord. 793, 9-15-2020)