1501:31-29-02. Trapper education course student and instructor regulations

First-time fur taker permit buyers wanting to trap furbearing animals shall complete a trapper education course or other course of instruction as prescribed by the division of wildlife. The approved courses of instruction, shall include, but not be limited to, the subject matter required in section 1533.111 of the Revised Code. The official course, or courses of instruction, shall be approved by the chief of the division of wildlife.

(A) Completion of an approved course of instruction shall include passing of an examination and receiving a certificate of completion prescribed by the chief of the division of wildlife.

(B) Any qualified division employee plus volunteer instructors may give trapper education courses. Said volunteer instructors must be eighteen years of age or older with at least three years of experience trapping furbearing animals and shall have successfully completed a Ohio trapping education course prescribed by the chief of the division of wildlife. In addition to the course requirements in paragraph (A) of this rule, an instructor shall complete courses on teaching techniques, fundamentals, and methods of instruction. Completion of the Ohio trapper education instructor course shall include the passing of an examination and receiving a trapper education instructor certification card prescribed by the chief of the division of wildlife. The chief of the division of wildlife shall establish minimum requirements and procedures for the purpose of renewing instructor certification cards. Instructor certification may be withheld or withdrawn at the discretion of the chief.

(C) Persons possessing and producing a legally obtained trapper education card which identifies the owner and indicates the owner has completed a trapping education course administered by another state or province will be considered to have had equivalent training and may purchase a fur taker permit upon presenting such card to an issuing agent.

(D) In lieu of presenting a previously purchased trapping permit, fur taker permit, or license or evidence of satisfactorily completing an approved trapper education course, persons who are twenty-one years of age or older may make application for and be issued fur taker permit after stating on the application that he is twenty-one years of age or older and has held a previous trapping permit, fur taker permit, or license.

(E) No person shall issue or give a trapper certificate of competency to any person who has not passed a division trapper education course. No person shall obtain, use or attempt to use a division of wildlife trapper certificate without first completing an authorized division of wildlife trapper education course. Instructors will report the names and addresses of passing students to the division immediately after each course. The division will be responsible for maintaining records of students certified and issuing duplicate cards.

(F) All definitions set forth in rule 1501:31-1-02 of the Administrative Code shall apply to this rule.

Five Year Review (FYR) Dates: 10/14/2020 and 10/14/2025
Promulgated Under: 119.03
Statutory Authority: 1533.111
Rule Amplifies: 1533.111
Prior Effective Dates: 06/01/1979, 06/01/1981, 05/31/1983, 05/31/1984, 04/20/1987, 09/15/1987, 06/01/1988, 11/20/1996

Prior History: (Five Year Review (FYR) Dates: 07/19/2016 and 07/19/2021
Promulgated Under: 119.03
Statutory Authority: 1533.111
Rule Amplifies: 1533.111
Prior Effective Dates: 06/01/1979, 06/01/1981, 05/31/1983, 05/31/1984, 04/20/1987, 09/15/1987, 06/01/1988, 11/20/1996)