4VAC15-20-65. Definitions and Miscellaneous: In General. Hunting, trapping, and fishing license and permit fees.
Summary
The proposal is to (i) create a three-day trip hunting license for Virginia residents as authorized in §29.1-303.1, and (ii) include the elk hunt lottery application fee for residents and nonresidents in the fee table.
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
- During the 2019 session, the General Assembly passed, and the Governor enacted HB1621 which authorizes the Department to create a trip hunting license for Virginia residents. Prior to passage of this legislation, the Department was only authorized to provide a trip hunting license for nonresidents. To date, the Department has not acted upon its authority to establish a trip hunting license for Virginia residents, but affording residents the opportunity to purchase a three-day trip license may encourage an alternative entry point for individuals to learn how to hunt and afford additional individuals the opportunity to pursue hunting activities within Virginia.
- During the 2020 session, the General Assembly passed, and the Governor enacted HB388/SB262 authorizing the Department to create a special elk hunting license. This legislation also authorized the Department to establish quotas or procedures for selection to purchase a special elk hunting license which has become the Department’s elk hunt lottery. Following passage of this legislation, fees for the special elk hunting licenses were included in regulation, but fees for the elk hunt lottery were not. This proposal would establish the elk hunt lottery fees in regulation like all other licenses, permit, stamp, etc. fees for hunting, freshwater fishing, and trapping in Virginia.