Peachtree City staff proposed revisions to the city's discharge-of-bows ordinance to bring local code into conformity with Georgia state law, specifically OCGA 27-1-3, which the staff said allows hunting with a bow on private property when state hunting-license requirements are met.

Ted and staff reviewed the ordinance changes during the work session and told council the revisions are intended to reflect that state law supersedes local ordinance where hunting is concerned. Staff summarized the change: "There's nothing really that is changing legally here because the state law already supersedes local ordinance, but it's just so our local ordinance complies with state law." (City staff summary.)

Council discussion focused on two questions: whether the ordinance's drafting should explicitly require that "all proper state licenses are obtained," and how to treat backyard archery practice and private archery ranges. One council member recommended adding the word "are" to the phrase so the sentence reads, in part, "provided that all proper state licenses are obtained." Staff agreed to add that clarification.

Council members were split about allowing backyard target practice without additional rules; staff said archery practice and approval of private archery ranges are currently subject to council discretion and would require more research and potential drafting of distance and safety standards. The chief of police and staff noted that state law addresses public right-of-way and road-safety concerns, but private backyard practice raises safety and neighbor-impact questions.

Next steps: Staff will prepare the ordinance revision that dovetails with OCGA 27-1-3 and bring it to council for formal adoption at a future meeting. Council asked staff to research standard safety distances and vendor/industry guidance before considering explicit permission for backyard target practice or approval criteria for private ranges.