Help, I got a dilimma!

[vvarmitr]

Tonight I caught the farmer working the field across the road. He has no problem with me hunting groundhogs there. In fact he & the land owner shoot g'hogs there.
Now my problem is this is in the city limits. :(
Do I need to get an Animal Damage Control permit?
Do I have to get permission from the Mayor?
Has anyone had to deal with this kind of issue?
I would appreciate any words of wisdom. :)
Thanks guys!

[CatDaddy]

Id call the county sheriff if I were you. They whould be able to tell you or atleast direct you to the right person. Or you could call ODNR.

[salmoide]

Most cities have an ordinance that you cannot use a firearm inside their limit's, I'd check with the city first. If in violation you could be charged with a weapons violation and who wants that on their permanant record, it could hamper you someday when purchasing a weapon since the gun laws are being changed so rapidly. I'd investigate thoroughly before getting in hot water over some ground hogs.

[vvarmitr]

I should have thought of the Police Dept. :o
Rest assured Salmoide, I'm not touchen a trigger until I have in writing that it is okay for me to shoot g'hogs there!
I know a guy who got in trouble for shooting an arrow at an animal in this town. I didn't get into trouble going though my divorce, & I sure as shooten ain't getten in trouble over "some groundhogs." :D ;)
I'll see what I can find out today & keep you guys posted.

[Thunderflight]

You could always use a blow gun with poison tipped darts...:D

TF

[vvarmitr]

Like they would let me get away w/ that. Not only would I probably have to have a permit for the blowgun, but also have a perscription for the poison. :rolleyes: :mad: :D

[Thunderflight]

Not in Mississippi. You can use poison pods on your arrows there.

TF

[vvarmitr]

I said I would keep you posted:
The Mayors office said I need to talk to the Chief of Police, who is on vacation. Nuffen! :(
So I called the county game warden. I always thought he was cool, I just didn't know how cool. We had quite a talk about all kinds of wildlife management issues. As for the city limits hunting he had no problem w/it as long as I abided by the game laws.
He did tell me to try to get a variance to the city laws that prohibit me from shooting the g'hogs. I said something about using the dog & he said that was a no-no. He said dogs can pursue game, but they are not to be used to kill game. That's our job. I said "what if I'm out walking my dog in a field & she happans upon a g'hog?" :rolleyes: He said "Just keep walking." :D ;)
I'll be on afternoons next week so I'll be able to see what kind of trouble I can get into. :D I'll let you guys know. You'll hear it first here on the Ohio Sporstsman. :D

[Thunderflight]

Please do, I'd be interested in seeing how this comes out.

TF

[vvarmitr]

I went to the Mayor's Office/Police Dept. The Chief is still on vacation & the Mayor wasn't in. So I spoke to the Detective, who is in charge & he gave me some hi-lited copies of the laws that "he thought" pertained to me. They are as follow:
505.11 HUNTING PROHIBITED.
(a) No person shall hunt or pursue game within the corporate limits. No problem; I'm not hunting , I'm exterminating.
Then he gave me this one. :rolleyes:
545.03 POINTING AND DISCHARGING FIREARMS; EXCEPTIONS.
(a) No person within the City shall intentionally point or aim any firearm either loaded or empty, at or toward any other person. :confused: How does this apply to me w/ what I'm wanting to do?
However, the one just under the above & not hi-lited, code 545.03 (b) states:
The Mayor may give permission in writing to any person to operate a shooting gallery or to discharge firearms for any lawful purpose, upon proper application being made by the person together with a statement giving the reasons for the application and designating the time and place.
Bingo! Now I've got something to go on.
Anyways I go to talk to the land owner to get his permission as well as the farmer's & here I know the guy from my retail days. :cool: Get this, as I'm going around the block in this 55 & older community & I see this g'hog dash for his hole under a house & he runs into a "catchem alive" trap on the side, jumps over it, keeps going. LOL Boy do they need my help!
Back to the owner....... He is happy that I show up because the residents are complaining about the g'hogs. He said that he will not only give me permission, but write a letter requesting my services. He said stop by & get it tomorrow. With that said I gotta go

[CatDaddy]

Its looking good for ya!

[Thunderflight]

I wonder what the mayors stance will be.

Bad thing is he's got to worry about the city getting sued if something happens. Then again this is Ohio and people tend to be more conservative and a have lil more common sense too.

Who knows.....

TF