(a) No person shall hunt or trap animals or fowl within the Municipality, except that law enforcement officers, health officials, persons possessing a nuisance trapping permit issued by the Division of Wildlife of the State of Ohio, and a resident using a live box trap trapping on property which he owns or permanently occupies may trap wildlife or animals constituting a nuisance; and except as provided in division (c) of this Section.
(b) A person holding a nuisance trapping permit issued by the Division of Wildlife of the State of Ohio shall:
(1) Notify the Animal Control Officer or the Police Department of his name, the location and time of placement of each trap placed in the Municipality prior to setting any such trap;
(2) Use a box trap or a trap approved by the Division of Wildlife of the State of Ohio; and
(3) Release such animal outside the City limits within twenty-four hours of trapping or in accordance with State of Ohio, Division of Wildlife regulations.
(Ord. 2016-101. Passed 6-6-16.)
(Ord. 2016-101. Passed 6-6-16.)
(c) The limited hunting of white-tailed deer by crossbow or long bow may be permitted within the City under the following terms and conditions:
(1) The Chief of Police or his designated representative may, in his sole discretion, issue a Municipal Deer Control Permit to a qualified archer applicant (engaged to assist property owners aggrieved by deer damage) only as a corollary to and following the issuance by the ODNR of either its own Deer Damage Control Permit or hunting license, if applicable under State ODNR regulations, for the applicable white-tailed deer hunting season to allow only bow-hunting (long bow and crossbow) of white-tailed deer.
(2) The Municipal Deer Control Permit shall be limited to areas of not less than three (3) contiguous acres by a qualified archer(s), on such forms and subject to such rules and regulations as the Chief of Police may prescribe.
(3) Hunting shall be conducted from an elevated platform only.
(4) Written permission from the property owner(s) must be obtained.
(5) A qualified archer shall be defined as an individual having obtained a valid Ohio hunting license, if applicable, and all other applicable State requirements.
(6) Compliance with all laws, rules and regulations of the City and State is required.
(7) All applicants shall agree, in writing, to defend, indemnify and hold harmless the City for any negligent acts committed by the applicant.
(8) Any other requirements as deemed necessary to preserve and protect the health, safety and welfare of the residents shall be determined solely by the Chief of Police.
(9) The Chief of Police is hereby authorized to promulgate any and all rules and regulations necessary to carry out the provisions of this section, and all other rules and regulations necessary to insure public health and safely, all of which shall be published.
(10) Nothing in this section shall be deemed to prohibit the killing of rats and other undesirable rodents authorized to be killed by the Chief of Police using means for such killing which are also authorized by the Chief of Police.
(11) In order to defray the expenses incurred with the management of this program, a fee of thirty-five dollars ($35.00) per each qualified archer applicant is established and must accompany any application for the Municipal Deer Damage Control Permit.
(Ord. 2017-134. Passed 7-17-17.)
(d) Whoever violates any provision of divisions (a) or (b) of this Section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor. Whoever violates division (c) shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree. Punishment shall be as provided in Section 698.02.
(Ord. 2016-101. Passed 6-6-16.)
(Ord. 2016-101. Passed 6-6-16.)