Proposed Regulation Amendments for 2009 - 2010 Hunting & Trapping Seasons
Final Board Action
On February 27, 2009, the Virginia Board of Game and Inland Fisheries proposed amendments to 37 of the Commonwealth's hunting and trapping regulations for the 2009 and 2010 hunting and trapping seasons. During the period of March 11, 2009 - May 11, 2009, the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries received more than 2,200 public comments on the proposed regulation amendments. Final action on the proposed regulation amendments took place at the Virginia Board of Game and Inland Fisheries meeting held on June 2, 2009. The following is a summary of the Board's action on the proposed regulation amendments. The 29 proposed regulation amendments approved by the Board will take effect on August 1, 2009. For specific details on the approved regulations, refer to the Hunting and Trapping in Virginia digest which will be available in late July.
Quick Links:
| DEER | |
|---|---|
| 4VAC 15-90-23 - Youth deer hunting day | |
| Summary of Proposal: | Establish a youth deer hunting day on the last Saturday in September |
| Final Board Action: | The Board approved a youth deer hunting day for the last Saturday in September |
| 4VAC 15-90-21 - Four week open season | |
| Summary of Proposal: | Remove Pittsylvania County west of the Norfolk Southern Railroad from the 4-week deer season to make a uniform 7-week firearms deer season in the county |
| Final Board Action: | The Board approved removal of Pittsylvania County west of the Norfolk Southern Railroad from the 4-week deer season to make a uniform 7-week deer season in the county |
| 4VAC 15-90-70 - Bow and arrow hunting | |
| Summary of Proposal: | Remove Pittsylvania County west of the Norfolk Southern Railroad from the late archery season |
| Final Board Action: | The Board approved removal of Pittsylvania County west of the Norfolk Southern Railroad from the late archery season |
| Summary of Proposal: | Allow archery hunters possessing a valid muzzleloading license to possess a muzzleloading gun when the early archery season overlaps the early muzzleloading season |
| Final Board Action: | The Board approved the proposal to allow hunters possessing a valid muzzleloading license to possess a muzzleloading gun when an archery season overlaps a muzzleloading season (Note: This proposal was modified to include the overlap between the deer archery and deer muzzleloading season for both the early seasons and the late seasons) |
| 4VAC 15-90-80 - Muzzleloading gun hunting | |
| Summary of Proposal: | Remove Pittsylvania County west of the Norfolk Southern Railroad from the late muzzleloading season Change either-sex deer hunting day during the early muzzleloading season from the 2nd Monday to the 2nd Saturday - WBR Increase either-sex deer hunting days on private lands WBR during the early muzzleloading season in Carroll, Grayson, Montgomery, Scott counties Increase either-sex deer hunting days on private lands WBR during the late muzzleloading season in Carroll, Grayson, and Montgomery counties Increase either-sex deer hunting days on private and public lands WBR during the late muzzleloading season in Dickenson (north of Route 83) and Wise counties Reduce either-sex deer hunting days on public lands during the early and late muzzleloading seasons in 14 counties WBR Reduce either-sex deer hunting days on private lands during the early and late muzzleloading seasons in western Rockingham County |
| Final Board Action: | The Board approved all proposed amendments to the muzzleloading regulation |
| 4VAC 15-90-90 - Bag Limit | |
| Summary of Proposal: | Change the antlered buck bag limit from 1 to 2 during the early muzzleloading season west of the Blue Ridge Mountains and on national forest lands in Amherst, Bedford, and Nelson counties |
| Final Board Action: | The Board approved increasing the antlered buck bag limit from 1 to 2 during the early muzzleloading season west of the Blue Ridge Mountains and on national forest lands in Amherst, Bedford, and Nelson counties |
| Summary of Proposal: | Add a buck tag to the bonus deer permit for the counties of Greensville, Southampton, Surry, and Sussex and change the seasonal antlered buck bag limit from 3 to 4 in the counties of Greensville, Southampton, Surry, and Sussex |
| Final Board Action: | The Board did not approve adding a buck tag to the bonus deer permit for the counties of Greensville, Southampton, Surry, and Sussex and changing the seasonal antlered buck bag limit from 3 to 4 in the counties of Greensville, Southampton, Surry, and Sussex |
| Non-Regulatory Proposal - Bonus Deer Permits | |
| Summary of Proposal: | Increase the number of antlerless deer tags on the bonus permit from 2 tags to 6 tags |
| Final Board Action: | The Board approved increasing the number of antlerless deer tags on the bonus permit from 2 tags to 6 tags |
| 4VAC 15-90-91 - Firearms deer season either-sex hunting days | |
| Summary of Proposal: | Increase either-sex deer hunting days in 48 counties or cities Increase either-sex deer hunting days on certain WMAs and state forests Reduce either-sex deer hunting days on public lands in 19 counties WBR Reduce either-sex deer hunting days on private lands in western Rockingham County |
| Final Board Action: | The Board approved all proposed amendments to the firearms deer season either-sex deer hunting day regulation |
| BEAR | |
| 4VAC 15-40-22 - Special bear license | |
| Summary of Proposal: | Establish a special license to hunt bear |
| Final Board Action: | The Board did not approve establishing a special license to hunt bear |
| 4 VAC 15-20-65 - Hunting License and Permit Fees | |
| Summary of Proposal: | Include resident and nonresident special bear license in list of hunting license and permit fees |
| Final Board Action: | The Board did not approve including a resident and nonresident special bear license in list of hunting license and permit fees as the Board did not establish a special license to hunt bear |
| 4VAC 15-50-81 - Validating tags and checking bear by licensee or permittee | |
| Summary of Proposal: | Remove references to deer and turkey on the deer, bear, turkey license |
| Final Board Action: | The Board did not approve removing references to deer and turkey on the deer, bear, turkey license as the Board did not establish a special license to hunt bear |
| 4VAC 15-90-231 - Validating tags and checking deer by licensee or permittee | |
| Summary of Proposal: | Remove references to bear on the deer, bear, turkey license |
| Final Board Action: | The Board did not approve removing references to bear on the deer, bear, turkey license as the Board did not establish a special license to hunt bear |
| 4VAC 15-50-70 - Bow and arrow hunting | |
| Summary of Proposal: | Add 2 weeks to the statewide archery bear season to simplify regulations and make the archery bear season concurrent with the archery deer season Allow archery hunters with a muzzleloading license to possess a muzzleloading gun when and where the early special archery season overlaps the early special muzzleloading season |
| Final Board Action: | The Board approved all amendments to the bear archery season |
| 4VAC 15-50-71 - Muzzleloading gun hunting | |
| Summary of Proposal: | Add 17 counties to the muzzleloading season Increase the muzzleloading season from 4 to 12 days in 37 counties and cities Increase muzzleloading season from 4 days to 6 days in the remaining counties and cities with bear muzzleloader hunting |
| Final Board Action: | The Board approved all amendments to the bear muzzleloading season regulation |
| 4VAC 15-50-10 - Open season; six-week | |
| Summary of Proposal: | Add 34 counties and localities to the 6-week general firearms season |
| Final Board Action: | The Board approved adding 34 counties and localities to the 6-week bear firearm season regulation |
| 4VAC 15-50-20 - Open season; two-week | |
| Summary of Proposal: | Remove certain public lands and portions of counties from the 2-week season so they can be added to 6-week season |
| Final Board Action: | The Board approved removing certain public lands and portions of counties from the 2-week season so they can be added to 6-week season |
| 4VAC 15-50-21 - Open season; six-day | |
| Summary of Proposal: | Establish a 6-day firearms season in 20 counties in Southside |
| Final Board Action: | The Board approved establishing a 6-day firearms season in 20 counties in Southside |
| 4VAC 15-50-22 - Open season; six-week with Saturday opening | |
| Summary of Proposal: | Shift opening day of 6-week season from Monday to the preceding Saturday for 9 counties in western Virginia |
| Final Board Action: | The Board approved shifting the opening day of 6-week season from Monday to the preceding Saturday for 9 counties in western Virginia |
| 4VAC 15-50-110 - Use of dogs in hunting bear | |
| Summary of Proposal: | Provide consistency in the use of dogs for hunting deer and bear in eastern Virginia Clarify portion of Roanoke County (south of I-81) closed to hound hunting for bears |
| Final Board Action: | The Board approved the proposed amendments to the use of dogs in hunting bear regulation |
| 4VAC 15-50-120 - Bear hound training season | |
| Summary of Proposal: | Remove the final week of the December training season in 4 counties in Southside Virginia Make weapons possession language consistent with other training season regulations |
| Final Board Action: | The Board approved the proposed amendments to the bear hound training season regulation |
| TURKEY | |
| 4VAC 15-240-10 - Six-week season primarily WBR | |
| Summary of Proposal: | Add one day (Saturday) to the end of the early 2-week segment of the fall turkey season |
| Final Board Action: | The Board did not approve adding one day (Saturday) to the end of the early 2-week segment of the fall turkey season |
| 4VAC 15-240-11 - Six-week season primarily EBR | |
| Summary of Proposal: | Add one day (Saturday) to the end of the early 2-week segment of the fall turkey season |
| Final Board Action: | The Board did not approve adding one day (Saturday) to the end of the early 2-week segment of the fall turkey season |
| 4VAC 15-240-20 - Two-week season | |
| Summary of Proposal: | Add one day (Saturday) to the end of the early 2-week segment of the fall turkey season |
| Final Board Action: | The Board did not approve adding one day (Saturday) to the end of the early 2-week segment of the fall turkey season |
| 4VAC 15-240-31 - Four-week season | |
| Summary of Proposal: | Add one day (Saturday) to the end of the early 2-week segment of the fall turkey season |
| Final Board Action: | The Board did not approve adding one day (Saturday) to the end of the early 2-week segment of the fall turkey season |
| 4VAC 15-240-81 - Validating tags and checking turkey by licensee | |
| Summary of Proposal: | Require spring gobbler hunters to check their harvest via the phone or online checking systems |
| Final Board Action: | The Board approved requiring spring gobbler hunters to check their harvest via the phone or online checking systems |
| Summary of Proposal: | Remove references to bear on the deer, bear, turkey license |
| Final Board Action: | The Board did not approve removing references to bear on the deer, bear, turkey license as the Board did not approve a special license to hunt bear |
| 4VAC 15-240-91 - Checking by license exempt hunter or person with license authorization number | |
| Summary of Proposal: | Require spring gobbler hunters to check their harvest via the phone or online checking systems |
| Final Board Action: | The Board approved requiring spring gobbler hunters to check their harvest via the phone or online checking systems |
| SMALL GAME | |
| 4 VAC 15-230-21 - Spring season for gray and red squirrel | |
| Summary of Proposal: | Add private lands and open additional WMAs to the June squirrel season |
| Final Board Action: | The Board approved adding private lands and opening additional WMAs to the June squirrel season |
| 4 VAC 15-230-61 - Spring season for fox squirrel | |
| Summary of Proposal: | Add private lands and open additional WMAs to the June squirrel season |
| Final Board Action: | The Board approved adding private lands and opening additional WMAs to the June squirrel season |
| 4 VAC 15-230-60 - Fox squirrel season; first Saturday in September through January 31 | |
| Summary of Proposal: | Open 6 additional counties to Fox squirrel hunting |
| Final Board Action: | The Board approved opening 6 additional counties to Fox squirrel hunting |
| FURBEARERS AND TRAPPING | |
| 4 VAC 15-170-21 - Open season for otter trapping | |
| Summary of Proposal: | Establish a uniform trapping season for otter in all counties west of the Blue Ridge Mountains |
| Final Board Action: | The Board approved establishing a uniform trapping season for otter in all counties west of the Blue Ridge Mountains |
| 4 VAC 15-210-20 - Raccoon chase season; counties west of Route 29 | |
| Summary of Proposal: | Allow training season on National Forest lands in Southwest Virginia from the 2nd Saturday in August through the last Saturday in September |
| Final Board Action: | The Board approved allowing a training season on National Forest lands in Southwest Virginia from the 2nd Saturday in August through the last Saturday in September |
| 4 VAC 15-40-210 - Restricted use of certain steel foothold traps | |
| Summary of Proposal: | Clarify that foothold traps with teeth on the jaws and foothold traps with a jaw spread exceeding 6½ inches can not be set on land |
| Final Board Action: | The Board approved clarifying that foothold traps with teeth on the jaws and foothold traps with a jaw spread exceeding 6½ inches can not be set on land |
| 4 VAC 15-40-170 - Marking of traps by person setting | |
| Summary of Proposal: | Provide trappers with the option of using trap tags with a permanent ID number instead of name and address |
| Final Board Action: | The Board approved providing trappers with the option of using trap tags with a permanent ID number instead of name and address |
| 4 VAC 15-40-195 - Visiting completely submerged, body-gripping traps | |
| Summary of Proposal: | Allow checking of completely submerged body-gripping traps once every 72 hours instead of the current requirement to check traps daily |
| Final Board Action: | The Board approved allowing checking of completely submerged body-gripping traps once every 72 hours instead of the current requirement to check traps daily |
| 4 VAC 15-70-50 - Bobcat Pelts to be sealed before sale, etc | |
| Summary of Proposal: | Eliminate the requirement to seal pelts when they are shipped out-of-state to be tanned for personal use |
| Final Board Action: | The Board approved eliminating the requirement to seal pelts when they are shipped out-of-state to be tanned for personal use |
| 4 VAC 15-170-30 - Otter Pelts to be sealed before sale, etc | |
| Summary of Proposal: | Eliminate the requirement to seal pelts when they are shipped out-of-state to be tanned for personal use |
| Final Board Action: | The Board approved eliminating the requirement to seal pelts when they are shipped out-of-state to be tanned for personal use |
| GENERAL REGULATIONS | |
| 4 VAC 15-40-60 - Possession of weapons in certain locations during closed season | |
| Summary of Proposal: | Include crossbow as a legal weapon and define a "loaded" crossbow Update the definition of a "loaded" muzzleloader |
| Final Board Action: | The Board approved all amendments to the possession of weapons in certain locations during closed season regulation |
| 4 VAC 15-270-80 - Shotgun shell capacity for non-migratory game and migratory game birds | |
| Summary of Proposal: | Allow use of unplugged shotguns for crow hunting |
| Final Board Action: | The Board approved allowing the use of unplugged shotguns for crow hunting |
| 4 VAC 15-270-20 - Rifles prohibited in hunting bear and deer in certain counties and cities | |
| Summary of Proposal: | Remove Suffolk from the list of localities where the use of rifles is prohibited for the hunting of bear and deer |
| Final Board Action: | The Board approved removing Suffolk from the list of localities where the use of rifles is prohibited for the hunting of bear and deer |