Those wishing to register their land for the 2024-2025 longbow/crossbow deer hunting season in the City of North Ridgeville (starting September 28, 2024 and ending February 2, 2025) need to submit the required land registration application to the police department by mail: 7070 Ranger Way, North Ridgeville, OH 44039 or e-mail: [email protected].
After the land registration form is submitted, it will be reviewed by the Mayor and Chief of Police. You will be contacted by phone or e-mail as to whether the land has been approved or denied for the purpose of longbow/cross bow hunting within the City of North Ridgeville. If approved, land can be hunted upon during the upcoming bow hunting season.
GENERAL INFORMATION
If land is approved for deer long bow/cross bow hunting, all persons given permission to hunt upon the property during the season must have and carry on their person the following:
1) A current State of Ohio hunting license (when required by the state)
2) An Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) land permission slip signed by the landowner
It is landowner’s responsibility to ensure that those who hunt on the property are aware and follow all ODNR and local ordinances regarding same. Landowners need to be aware that they can be held equally and mutually culpable for any violation occurring on their site and repeated violations of law may be grounds for the land registration permit to be revoked.
While we urge you to read the law in its entirety (the City Ordinance 618.165 regarding the bow hunting of deer and the Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations 2024-2025) some of the highlights from state and local law are as follows:
• North Ridgeville does not allow “open hunting”. The hunter must be invited onto land by a registered landowner.
• All hunters under the age of 18 must be accompanied by someone 18 years of age or older. (NRCO 618.165)
• All longbow and crossbow hunting of deer on registered sites must be carried out from an elevated platform or tree stand that is a minimum of 8 feet off the ground. No longbow or crossbow shot(s) may be taken on the ground (NRCO 618.165).
• Hunting deer with any weapon other than a longbow or crossbow is and shall remain strictly prohibited (NRCO 618.165). All longbows and crossbows must comply with ODNR rules and regulations.
• Longbow/crossbow season starts September 28, 2024 and ends February 2, 2025 (set by ODNR).
• Hours to hunt deer with longbow/crossbow are ½ hour before sunrise to ½ hour after sunset (set by ODNR).
• Only deer are to be hunted, no other animals.
• Total bag limit is determined/regulated by ODNR.
• If a deer is struck by an arrow on your registered piece of land but does not fall until it reaches someone else’s property, hunters must gain permission from the other property owner prior to retrieving it. If the other property owner does not give the hunter permission to enter upon their lands or the landowner cannot be located to gain their permission, the hunter may not retrieve the fallen deer. Entering the land of another without permission may result in the hunter being charged with criminal trespassing.
If you have any additional questions, please contact North Ridgeville Police Department at (440) 490-2001 or ODNR Wildlife District Three Office at (330) 644-2293.