(A) No person shall own or operate a commercial bird shooting preserve without a license issued by the chief of the division of wildlife under this section.

(B) Application for a commercial bird shooting preserve license shall be made on a form prescribed by the chief and shall be accompanied by an annual license fee of two hundred dollars. The application shall contain a list of which species of game birds are to be released for hunting in the preserve, a description of the lands that are to constitute the preserve, a description of the tag and symbol identifying the preserve required under division (D) of section 1533.73 of the Revised Code, and any other information required by the chief.

(C) The chief, upon payment of the license fee, may issue to the applicant a commercial bird shooting preserve license if all of the following conditions are met:

(1) The operation of the commercial bird shooting preserve does not conflict with a prior reasonable public interest;

(2) The proposed commercial bird shooting preserve meets the requirements established in division (A) of section 1533.73 of the Revised Code;

(3) The applicant is the owner or lessee of the land described in the application and maintains his status as the owner or lessee of the land until the license expires;

(4) The applicant produces evidence satisfactory to the chief that he will comply with division (E) of section 1533.73 of the Revised Code.

(D) All licenses issued under this section shall expire on the thirtieth day of April of each year. Any license holder wishing to own or operate a commercial bird shooting preserve in the year following the expiration of his license shall apply for a new license under division (B) of this section.

(E) In accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, the chief may suspend or revoke a commercial bird shooting preserve license if he finds that the license holder has violated or is violating this chapter of [or] Chapter 1531. of the Revised Code or any division rule.

Effective Date: 10-20-1994.