Title 15, Title 15. Conservation of Natural Resources

(A) The chief of the division of wildlife may adopt, amend, and rescind such rules as the chief considers necessary to control or eradicate parasites and diseases of game birds, game quadrupeds other than captive white-tailed deer, fur-bearing animals, or nonnative wildlife on th…

Every person who owns, holds, or controls land or water, within a state or federal waterfowl management area, shall obtain annually a permit from the chief of the division of wildlife prior to permitting the hunting or taking of waterfowl on that land or water. The annual permit …

(A) On receipt of a notice pursuant to section 3123.43 of the Revised Code, the chief of the division of wildlife shall comply with sections 3123.41 to 3123.50 of the Revised Code and any applicable rules adopted under section 3123.63 of the Revised Code with respect to a license…

As used in sections 1533.83 to 1533.85 of the Revised Code: (A) "Political subdivision" means a municipal corporation, township, county, or other body corporate and politic responsible for governmental activities in a geographic area smaller than that of the state.(B) "Shooting r…

The chief of the division of wildlife, in accordance with section 1531.10 of the Revised Code, shall adopt rules establishing generally accepted standards for shooting ranges. These rules shall be no more stringent than national rifle association standards, and include standards …

(A)(1) The owner, operator, or user of a shooting range is not liable in damages in a civil action to any person for harm that allegedly is caused by the creation of noise at the shooting range or the failure to limit or suppress noise at the shooting range if the owner, operator…

As used in sections 1533.86 to 1533.90 of the Revised Code:(A) "Ginseng" means the plant Panax quinquefolius L., also known as Panax quinquefolium L., commonly known as American ginseng.(B) "Wild ginseng" means ginseng that grows in an uncultivated state and in its natural habita…

There is hereby established in the department of natural resources the Ohio ginseng management program, which shall be administered by the chief of the division of wildlife. The program shall be administered to achieve and maintain a sustained yield of ginseng so that harvesting …

The chief of the division of wildlife shall adopt rules under section 1531.10 of the Revised Code as necessary to carry out the purposes of sections 1533.86 to 1533.90 of the Revised Code, including, but not limited to:(A) Establishing a harvest season for wild ginseng;(B) Establ…

No person shall buy or otherwise acquire or convey ginseng for resale or export without a registration permit issued annually by the chief of the division of wildlife in accordance with rules adopted pursuant to section 1533.88 of the Revised Code. In addition to any other penalt…

No person shall do any of the following:(A) Without written authorization from the chief of the division of wildlife, harvest wild ginseng except during the harvesting season as established by rule adopted pursuant to section 1533.88 of the Revised Code;(B) Without first obtainin…

Any sheriff, deputy sheriff, marshal, deputy marshal, municipal police officer, township constable, natural resources officer, conservancy district police officer, or other law enforcement officer, within the limits of the officer's jurisdiction, may enforce sections 1533.86 to 1…

The chief of the division of wildlife shall seize any ginseng harvested or acquired in violation of any provision of sections 1533.86 to 1533.90 of the Revised Code or rules adopted pursuant to section 1533.88 of the Revised Code. Ginseng so seized is forfeited to the state, to b…

Unless otherwise directed by the director of natural resources, all fees, fines, penalties, and forfeitures arising from prosecutions, convictions, confiscations, or other actions taken under sections 1533.86 to 1533.90 of the Revised Code shall be paid into the state treasury to…

The chief of the division of wildlife, upon approval of the wildlife council and the attorney general, may enter into agreements with the appropriate officials of one or more states, whereby the chief will issue nonresident fishing licenses, hunting licenses, and hunting and fur …

The chief of the division of wildlife, with the approval of the director of natural resources, may issue a permit for the operation of a tag fishing tournament on state-administered and other public waters. A permit may be issued to any person making application to the chief in a…

The chief of the division of wildlife, with the approval of the director of natural resources, shall adopt, and may amend or rescind, rules in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code related to the operation of tag fishing tournaments. The rules shall establish criteria …

In issuing a permit under section 1533.92 of the Revised Code, the chief of the division of wildlife may impose any special conditions upon the operation of the proposed tag fishing tournament that the chief considers appropriate and necessary for safeguarding state-administered …

(A) The department of natural resources is not liable for any death or injury to person or property that may result from the operation of a tag fishing tournament regardless of whether or not a permit has been issued for the operation of that tournament under section 1533.92 of t…

(A) No person who has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a theft or fraud offense under the laws of this state, another state, or the United States shall be eligible to apply for a permit to operate a tag fishing tournament under section 1533.92 of the Revised Code.(B) No per…

(A) No person shall operate a tag fishing tournament without a permit issued by the chief of the division of wildlife under section 1533.92 of the Revised Code.(B) No person shall operate a tag fishing tournament contrary to any special conditions imposed on the tournament by the…

Nothing in sections 1533.92 to 1533.97 or section 2915.02 of the Revised Code shall be construed as prohibiting a fishing tournament in which a prize is awarded by virtue of catching a quantity, size, or weight of fish and not by virtue of catching any specifically marked fish.

(A) Whoever violates section 1533.17 of the Revised Code is guilty of a misdemeanor of the third degree on a first offense and a misdemeanor of the second degree on each subsequent offense. In addition to any other sanction imposed under this division, on a second or subsequent o…