While hunting on someone else’s property, it’s required by Ohio law that you need to have written permission from the property owner. Without it, you could be charged with a third degree misdemeanor.
While trudging through the wilderness, hunters may find themselves crossing property lines, possibly ending their trip with a third-degree misdemeanor.
Almost every hunting season, the Athens County Sheriff’s Office receives calls about individuals hunting on a property that isn’t their own without written permission from the landowner.
If the suspected hunter or hunters are found guilty of the offense, they can end up with a fine up to $500 with a maximum of 60 days in jail. Repeat offenders can receive a second-degree misdemeanor, which can result in up to a $750 fine and 90 days in jail.
According to a news release from the sheriff’s office, two men were accused of “running hounds” in Millfield, in northern Athens County. The individual watching over the property called in the complaint, which prompted deputies to question the two men who did not have written permission.
The investigation was forwarded to Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
Jay Abele, the law enforcement supervisor for District 4 — which includes Athens — for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, said his office has jurisdiction over cases classified as hunting without permission.
“The law states that no person will hunt or trap on another person’s land without written permission,” Abele said.
Abele said when his department finds someone on a property, charges are only pressed if the landowner wishes to do so. If charges are pursued, the suspected individuals are issued a summons to appear in court.
“(The prosecutors) make the determination on whether or not the individuals are charged,” Abele said.
When faced with unfamiliar, trespassing hunters, Abele urged the importance of contacting the local sheriff’s office as well as the designated state wildlife officer for the county.
“We get a complaint from the landlord and respond as quickly as we can,” said Chris Dodge, the state wildlife officer for Hocking County.
Dodge explained that the total charge for someone’s first offense in Athens County is $249. $150 of that constitutes a fine, and the extra $99 covers court fees.
Dodge said the number of calls the wildlife office gets related to hunting without permission varies from year to year, adding that the season dictates the number of calls the office receives too.
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“People aren’t hunting as much in the spring,” he said.
Abele explained that in some situations, law enforcement will catch someone walking off the property, and claim that they weren’t hunting. When that happens, criminal trespassing charges are added, which are handled by the Athens County Sheriff’s Office.
Athens County Sheriff Rodney Smith said if the individual has permission, but doesn’t have a signed permission, a citation will still be issued.
“If they don’t have (the permission), it’s still trespassing,” Smith said. “Some hunters just get lost and we keep that in mind.”
Smith explained it’s a situation that can be easily fixed by pulling up property grids on the deputies’ iPads, so they can get a general idea of where the properties begin and end.
“As long as they get written permission beforehand, it shouldn’t be a problem,” Dodge said.
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