Notwithstanding any other provision of the city code, deer hunting by bow or crossbow (collectively,
ARCHERY
), as defined by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, is permitted on private property during the central North Carolina deer archery season as established by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. A person may engage in deer archery on his or her own property if he or she has on his or her person a valid North Carolina hunting license (or qualifies for an exemption from licensing by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission), or on the property of another in their absence if he or she has on his or her person both a valid North Carolina hunting license (or qualifies for an exemption from licensing by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission) and written permission from the property owner or the property owner’s authorized agent or manager. Parcels or tracts of land that are either owned by a person engaged in deer archery or for which that person has been given written permission to hunt shall be referred to as
AREAS OF CONSENT
. Deer archery may only occur within areas of consent when the following requirements are met.
(A) Deer archery must be conducted from a permanent or portable elevated platform of at least ten feet above the ground;
(B) Areas of consent must be greater than five acres in area and may be comprised of contiguous parcels or tracts;
(C) No arrow shall be discharged within 50 yards of any residential dwelling, school, church, commercial building, governmental property, occupied structure, street, park, or other recreational area, nor shall any arrow be discharged within 50 yards of the perimeter of the area of consent;
(D) Hunters shall make every reasonable effort to track wounded deer for the purpose of completing the harvest and recovering the carcass;
(E) There is a valid hunting season in effect for which the hunting license applies at the time the bow or crossbow is discharged;
(F) The hunter adheres to all applicable state and local regulations; and
(G) The person discharging the bow or crossbow exercises reasonable regard for the safety and property of other persons.
(Ord. passed 4-1-2014, nunc pro tunc, 3-4-2014)