ThisWeek CW 08/27/2015

http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/canalwinchester/news/2015/08/24/metro-parks-seeks-change-in-citys-hunting-zones.html

Central Ohio Metro Parks officials have asked the city of Groveport to amend its current map of hunting and trapping zones to show that such activities are prohibited at Three Creeks Metro Park.

At the Aug. 10 Groveport City Council meeting, the city staff introduced legislation to prohibit hunting and trapping at Three Creeks. According to a November 2011 Metro Parks rules and regulation document, the parks system only allows hunting and trapping at Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park.

City Administrator Marsha Hall said the current hunting and trapping zone map includes areas where other regulations and rules may take precedence, such as state licensing and hunting seasons, or other city or park regulations.

“If you look at the map itself, there are areas within the city in which hunting is permitted; land that is undeveloped and (where hunting is) permitted by the owner,” Hall said. “Some of the land is public property, like the golf course.”

However, she said, even though The Links at Groveport golf course shows up as a permitted area on the map, additional permissions are still required prior to doing any hunting or trapping. Any land not designated as a permitted area on the hunting and trapping zone map is automatically considered closed to hunting unless the property owner asks the city to amend the map.

“Hunting is permitted by the city only during hunting season while the golf course is closed,” she said. “The person must apply for a hunting permit and is then provided with a copy of the map.”

Council was scheduled to hear a second reading of the proposed ordinance at its Aug. 24 meeting, afterThisWeek‘s press deadline.