Public Comment Period: March 27 – May 10, 2023
On March 16, 2023, the Virginia Board of Wildlife Resources, pursuant to §§ 29.1-103, 29.1-501, and 29.1-502 of the Code of Virginia, proposed amendments to the Commonwealth’s regulations governing wildlife and boating. Comments on the proposals are solicited during a public comment period that closes May 10, 2023. This online comment system is the most efficient and effective way to submit your views and have them seen the fastest.
Comments also may be: made during the May 25, 2023 meeting of the Board; postal-mailed to the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, Attn: Policy Analyst and Regulatory Coordinator, P.O. Box 90778, Henrico, Virginia 23228; or emailed to [email protected]. Comments must be in writing and accompanied by the name, address and telephone number of the party offering them. Comments submitted other than at the May 25, 2023 Board meeting must be received no later than May 10, 2023.
After hearing public comment on the proposed amendments at the May 25, 2023 Board meeting, the Board anticipates adopting final regulation amendments that will be effective on August 1, 2023.
Provide your information to comment »
Deer and Elk Regulations | |
| VAC | Title |
|---|---|
| 4VAC15-90-10 | Game: Deer. Open season; generally. |
| 4VAC15-90-80 | Game: Deer. Muzzleloading gun hunting. |
| 4VAC15-90-89 | Game: Deer. Earn a buck. |
| 4VAC15-90-90 | Game: Deer. Bag limit, bonus deer permits and special antlerless provision for youth hunters. |
| 4VAC15-90-91 | Game: Deer. General firearms season either-sex deer hunting days. |
| 4VAC15-90-530 | Game: Deer. Special elk hunting license, random drawing license program. |
| 4VAC15-90-540 | Game: Deer. Special elk hunting license, Landowner License Program. |
Bear and Wild Turkey Regulations | |
| VAC | Title |
| 4VAC15-50-11 | Game: Bear. Open Season; Generally. |
| 4VAC15-240-31 | Game: Turkey. Open season; certain counties and areas; four-week season. |
| 4VAC15-240-32 | Game: Turkey. Open season; certain counties and areas; six-week season. |
| 4VAC15-240-40 | Game: Turkey. Open season; spring season for bearded turkeys. |
| 4VAC15-240-51 | Game: Turkey. Youth and Apprentice fall turkey hunting weekend. |
General Regulations | |
| VAC | Title |
| 4VAC15-20-66 | Definitions and Miscellaneous: In General. Admittance, parking, or other use fee at certain department-owned and department-managed facilities. |
| 4VAC15-20-130 | Definitions and Miscellaneous: In General. Endangered and threatened species; adoption of federal list; additional species enumerated. |
| 4VAC15-40-195 | Game: In General. Visiting traps, generally; visiting completely submerged, body-gripping traps; use of remote trap check systems. |
| 4VAC15-40-276 | Game: In General. Sale of small game animals and parts. |
| 4VAC15-40-285 | Game: In General. Unauthorized feeding of cervids. |
| 4VAC15-40-290 | Game: In General. Validating tags and reporting bear, deer, elk, turkey, or bobcat. (New) |
| 4VAC15-40-300 | Game: In General. Falsifying harvest information prohibited. |
| 4VAC15-50-81 | Game: Bear. Validating tags and reporting bear and tooth submission by licensee or permittee. |
| 4VAC15-50-91 | Game: Bear. Reporting bear and tooth submission by persons exempt from license requirements or holding a license authorization number. |
| 4VAC15-70-70 | Game: Bobcat. Checking requirements. |
| 4VAC15-90-231 | Game: Deer. Validating tags and reporting deer by licensee or permittee. |
| 4VAC15-90-241 | Game: Deer. Reporting deer by persons exempt from license requirement or holding a license authorization number. |
| 4VAC15-90-500 | Game: Deer. Elk hunting outside the Elk Management Zone. |
| 4VAC15-90-510 | Game: Deer. Elk hunting within the Elk Management Zone. |
| 4VAC15-240-81 | Game: Turkey. Validating tags and reporting turkey by licensee. |
| 4VAC15-240-91 | Game: Turkey. Reporting turkey by persons exempt from license requirement or holding a license authorization number. |
Furbearer and Small Game Regulations | |
| VAC | Title |
| 4VAC15-110-20 | Game: Fox. Open season for red fox. |
| 4VAC15-110-25 | Game: Fox. Open season for gray fox. (New) |
| 4VAC15-110-35 | Game: Fox. Bag limit. (New) |
| 4VAC15-110-80 | Game: Fox. Killing by landowner. |
| 4VAC15-230-60 | Game: Fox Squirrel. Fox squirrel, open season; first Saturday in September through January 31. |
Waterfowl and Waterfowl Blind Regulations | |
| VAC | Title |
| 4VAC15-260-60 | Game: Waterfowl and Waterfowl Blinds. Blinds adjacent to Chickahominy Wildlife Management Area. |
| 4VAC15-260-70 | Game: Waterfowl and Waterfowl Blinds. Blinds on Game Farm Marsh Wildlife Management Area. |
| 4VAC15-260-75 | Game: Waterfowl and Waterfowl Blinds. Blinds adjacent to the Ware Creek Wildlife Management Area. |
| 4VAC15-260-80 | Game: Waterfowl and Waterfowl Blinds. Blinds adjacent to Ragged Island Wildlife Management Area. |
| 4VAC15-260-85 | Game: Waterfowl and Waterfowl Blinds. Non-riparian stationary blinds adjacent to certain department-owned properties. (New) |
| 4VAC15-260-86 | Game: Waterfowl and Waterfowl Blinds. Non-riparian stationary blinds adjacent to select National Wildlife Refuges. (New) |
| 4VAC15-260-120 | Game: Waterfowl and Waterfowl Blinds. Special sea duck season area. |
Boating Regulations | |
| VAC | Title |
| 4VAC15-390-10 | Watercraft: Safe and Reasonable Operation of Vessels. Applicability. |
| 4VAC15-390-11 | Watercraft: Safe and Reasonable Operation of Vessels. Definitions. |
| 4VAC15-390-20 | Watercraft: Safe and Reasonable Operation of Vessels. Motorboats approaching head and head. |
| 4VAC15-390-30 | Watercraft: Safe and Reasonable Operation of Vessels. Motorboats crossing. |
| 4VAC15-390-40 | Watercraft: Safe and Reasonable Operation of Vessels. Overtaking another vessel. |
| 4VAC15-390-50 | Watercraft: Safe and Reasonable Operation of Vessels. Responsibility between vessels. |
| 4VAC15-390-60 | Watercraft: Safe and Reasonable Operation of Vessels. Sailing vessels approaching one another. |
| 4VAC15-390-70 | Watercraft: Safe and Reasonable Operation of Vessels. Duty of vessel required to keep out of way; duty of other vessel . |
| 4VAC15-390-80 | Watercraft: Safe and Reasonable Operation of Vessels. Operators to give right-of-way and reduce speed. |
| 4VAC15-390-85 | Watercraft: Safe and Reasonable Operation of Vessels. Duty where operator's vision obscured. |
| 4VAC15-390-100 | Watercraft: Safe and Reasonable Operation of Vessels. Operation in narrow channel. |
| 4VAC15-390-110 | Watercraft: Safe and Reasonable Operation of Vessels. Departure from regulations to avoid immediate danger. |
| 4VAC15-390-120 | Watercraft: Safe and Reasonable Operation of Vessels. Regulations not to exonerate operator from neglect. |
| 4VAC15-390-130 | Watercraft: Safe and Reasonable Operation of Vessels. Standard whistle and horn signals. |
| 4VAC15-420-10 | Watercraft: Navigation Lights and Shapes. Application. |
| 4VAC15-420-20 | Watercraft: Navigation Lights and Shapes. Definitions. |
| 4VAC15-420-30 | Watercraft: Navigation Lights and Shapes. Visibility of lights. |
| 4VAC15-420-40 | Watercraft: Navigation Lights and Shapes. Power-driven vessels underway. |
| 4VAC15-420-50 | Watercraft: Navigation Lights and Shapes. Towing and pushing. |
| 4VAC15-420-60 | Watercraft: Navigation Lights and Shapes. Sailing vessels underway and vessels under oars. |
| 4VAC15-420-70 | Watercraft: Navigation Lights and Shapes. Vessels fishing with apparatus that restricts maneuverability. |
| 4VAC15-420-80 | Watercraft: Navigation Lights and Shapes. Vessels not under command or restricted in their ability to maneuver. |
| 4VAC15-420-90 | Watercraft: Navigation Lights and Shapes. Pilot vessels. |
| 4VAC15-420-100 | Watercraft: Navigation Lights and Shapes. Anchored vessels and vessels aground. |
| 4VAC15-420-110 | Watercraft: Navigation Lights and Shapes. Seaplanes. |