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Neighbors could get more notice on deer hunting
(by Sali McSherry - August 04, 2010)
Neighbors could get more notice on deer hunting
By SALI McSHERRY
Bentleyville Village Council is scheduled to vote Aug. 18 on proposed changes to its deer-hunting ordinance.
The season for bowhunting for white-tailed deer begins Sept. 25 and ends Feb. 6, 2011.
The amended ordinance would give adjacent property owners the opportunity to request that hunters place flags at mutually agreed-upon locations to signify that hunting is taking place. The owners of property where hunting is done also would agree to serve written notice on all adjacent property owners.
According to the deer-hunting policy that was approved by council 10 years ago, the mayor or police chief is required to serve written notice to all village residents each time hunting is to take place. That was taken out of the proposed amendment, because it is difficult to accomplish and unrealistic, said Councilman John Bourisseau, who chairs the safety committee. It doesn't make sense, he said, because hunters do not necessarily know when they're going to hunt, since it depends on weather conditions and other variables. He said there have been no safety issues in the past decade.
Councilwoman Wendy Gillund has said she considered the posting of the flags a courtesy only and that it should be an opt-in rather than an opt-out activity among neighbors.
Council removed a proposed item in the hunting agreement that said "any disruption of hunting emanating from an adjacent property owner will rescind this requirement."
Councilman Joseph Hudson objected, saying the right of the adjacent property owner should not be taken away.
Since Ohio Revised Code specifically forbids the harassment of hunters, the sentence was removed, council said.
The proposal clarifies that all residents will be notified in writing prior to the onset of the bowhunting season.
Mayor Leonard Spremulli said he would notify all residents via letter of the dates of bowhunting season.
Mr. Bourisseau said the information also will be included in the village newsletter.
Resident Tim Baker previously told council he wanted the village regulations to be enforced by hunters and property owners. Mostly, he said, he and his wife, Cheryl, wanted to be notified every time a hunter would be hunting on property adjacent to his and to use flags around the perimeter of the property while hunting.
Hunting in Bentleyville is limited to using a crossbow or a longbow. It is confined to an area of at least five acres, and owners of contiguous properties may join together to combine properties. The properties cannot be separated by a road, and no more than one residential dwelling can exist on the five acres.
Hunters must apply to the police chief or his designated representative for a hunting authorization permit, which then is issued if the applicant has secured all necessary state licenses and obtained written approval from the property owners.
Last season, the village issued 17 permits for deer hunting, Police Chief Timothy Pitts said.
Homeowners associations also may restrict or prohibit deer hunting within their boundaries, according to village regulations.
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