OHIO House OKs bill to lift ban on Sunday hunting

The measure applies only to private land, and witten permission is still required.
By JEFF ORTEGA
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
COLUMBUS -- Ohio's general prohibition on hunting wild fowl and other wild animals on Sundays on private land would be lifted under a bill passed by the Ohio House on Wednesday.
The House voted 92 to 2 to approve the bill, sending the measure to the Senate.
The bill's chief sponsor said the bill would allow sportsmen who work another opportunity to hunt.
"Some people are working six days a week," said state Rep. Robert Latta, a Bowling Green Republican.
No registration: Chapterhead: The bill would also eliminate current law that provides for the registration of private land for Sunday hunting, said a legislative analysis of the bill.
Latta said written permission from the property owners would still be required to hunt, under the bill.
"You always have to have permission," said Latta.
The Ohio Division of Wildlife supports the bill.
"It'll make it a lot easier for someone who's working six days a week ... to gain access," said Mike Budzik, chief of the wildlife division.
There are some exceptions to the current ban on Sunday hunting on private land.
On own land: Under current law, according to Budzik, a private landowner who owns 20 or more acres could hunt on his own property on Sunday in a legal season.
If a private landowner owns less than 20 acres, he isn't allowed to hunt on his own property, Budzik said, according to current law.
Under current law, one or more owners of land totaling at least 100 acres could register their land with the state to allow Sunday hunting.
There was a lot of confusion about the Sunday hunting laws.
"Basically, it would be like any other day of the week now," Budzik said, under the bill.
Farm bureau: Although it hasn't taken an official position on the bill, the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation has some concerns, particularly about possible trespassing on farmers' lands, said Scott Williams, the bureau's director of state legislative affairs.
"We just want to make sure [the state] continues the enforcement of trespassing laws," Williams said. Many farmers are concerned about hunters and others trespassing on their land, he said.
Wildlife division officials say they don't believe enforcement will be a problem.
Previous law changes have stiffened the penalty for trespassing.
It would be up to private property owners to grant permission for Sunday hunting.
Up to owners: "It's a property rights issue," said Budzik. "It leaves it up to the property owners." "I see it as an economic development issue," said state Rep. Stephen P. Buehrer, a Delta Republican and a co-sponsor of the bill.
Buehrer noted that Ohio gets revenue from hunting and fishing licenses and related spending.
"If you give people ... more opportunity to pursue the sport, it'll allow for more revenue, said Buehrer, who voted "yes."
The bill would also allow any motorist who kills a deer by hitting it on the highway to claim the deer provided the motorist files a timely accident report.
Only an Ohio driver can do that under current law.
State Reps. Shirley Smith, D-Cleveland, and Ray Miller, D-Columbus, voted "no" on the bill. Five representatives didn't vote.