4VAC15-160-31. Game: Opossum. Open season for trapping.
Summary
The proposal is to include private lands where permission to trap has been granted by the landowner to the list of areas where there is a continuous open trapping season for this species.
Proposed Language
Note: In the “Proposed Language” document, underlined text denotes proposed new language, while text with a strikethrough denotes language that is proposed to be deleted.
Rationale
The Code of Virginia (§29.1-517) enables a landowner to take furbearers during closed season under certain conditions. However, the Code section doesn’t clearly extend this authority to the landowner’s agent. Including the landowner and those to whom they grant permission to trap on their lands within the current continuous open season for trapping of opossums more clearly extends the landowner’s authority within the Code to those whom permission has been granted to address specific issues involving opossums on their lands.