Title of Regulation: 4VAC15-230. Game: Squirrel (amending 4VAC15-230-21, 4VAC15-230-61).

Statutory Authority: §§ 29.1-501 and 29.1-502 of the Code of Virginia.

Public Hearing Information:

May 3, 2011 - 9 a.m. - Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, 4000 West Broad Street, Richmond, VA

Public Comment Deadline: April 15, 2011.

Agency Contact: Phil Smith, Regulatory Coordinator, Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, 4016 West Broad Street, Richmond, VA 23230, telephone (804) 367-8341, or email phil.smith@dgif.virginia.gov.

Summary:

The proposed amendments will open the spring hunting season for (i) gray and red squirrels on all lands except national forest lands and (ii) fox squirrels on all lands on which there is a regular season for fox squirrels, with the exception of national forest lands.

4VAC15-230-21. Spring season for gray and red squirrel.

It shall be lawful to hunt gray and red squirrels from the first Saturday in June through the third Saturday in June, both dates inclusive, on private lands and on Amelia Wildlife Management Area, Big Survey Wildlife Management Area, Briery Creek Wildlife Management Area, Chickahominy Wildlife Management Area, Dick Cross Wildlife Management Area, Dismal Swamp Wildlife Management Area, Fairystone Wildlife Management Area (including Fairystone State Park and Philpott Reservoir), Featherfin Wildlife Management Area, Goshen Wildlife Management Area, Hardware River Wildlife Management Area, Havens Wildlife Management Area, Hog Island Wildlife Management Area (Carlisle Tract only), Horsepen Wildlife Management Area, James River Wildlife Management Area, Little North Mountain Wildlife Management Area, Merrimac Farms Wildlife Management Area, Pettigrew Wildlife Management Area, Phelps Wildlife Management Area, Powhatan Wildlife Management Area (including the Goochland Tract), Rapidan Wildlife Management Area, Thompson Wildlife Management Area, Turkeycock Mountain Wildlife Management Area, and White Oak Mountain Wildlife Management Area except on national forest lands.

4VAC15-230-61. Spring season for fox squirrel.

It shall be lawful to hunt fox squirrels from the first Saturday in June through the third Saturday in June, both dates inclusive, on private all lands in all counties open to fox squirrel hunting during the regular squirrel season, and on Big Survey Wildlife Management Area, Goshen Wildlife Management Area, Havens Wildlife Management Area, Little North Mountain Wildlife Management Area, Merrimac Farms Wildlife Management Area, Phelps Wildlife Management Area, Rapidan Wildlife Management Area, and Thompson Wildlife Management Area except on national forest lands.