Title of Regulation: 4VAC15-260. Game: Waterfowl and Waterfowl Blinds (adding 4VAC15-260-85; repealing 4VAC15-260-60, 4VAC15-260-70).

Statutory Authority: §§ 29.1-103 and 29.1-501 of the Code of Virginia.

Public Hearing Information:

May 30, 2019 - 9 a.m. - Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, 7870 Villa Park Drive, Suite 400, Henrico, VA 23228

Public Comment Deadline: May 15, 2019.

Agency Contact: Aaron Proctor, Regulations Coordinator, Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, 7870 Villa Park Drive, Suite 400, Henrico, VA 23228, telephone (804) 367-8341, or email aaron.proctor@dgif.virginia.gov.

Summary:

The proposed amendment prohibits non-riparian stationary waterfowl blinds adjacent to state wildlife management areas or department-managed properties, making the specific prohibitions in 4VAC15-260-60 and 4VAC15-260-70 unnecessary, therefore those sections are repealed.

4VAC15-260-60. Blinds adjacent to Chickahominy Wildlife Management Area. (Repealed.)

No license shall be issued for stationary waterfowl blinds on Morris Creek and the Chickahominy River in Charles City County adjacent to the Chickahominy Wildlife Management Area.

4VAC15-260-70. Blinds on Game Farm Marsh Wildlife Management Area. (Repealed.)

No stationary waterfowl blinds shall be licensed, and no stationary or floating blind license shall be required for hunting waterfowl on the Game Farm Marsh Wildlife Management Area, or in, or on, the public waters of the Chickahominy River, north of the New Kent-Charles City County line adjacent thereto; provided, however, that this section shall not abridge the privileges prescribed for landowners, and their lessees and permittees, in §§ 29.1-344 and 29.1-347 of the Code of Virginia.

4VAC15-260-85. Non-riparian blinds adjacent to department-managed properties.

Non-riparian stationary waterfowl blinds shall not be licensed or erected on the public waters adjacent to state wildlife management areas or department-managed properties, unless otherwise specified in statute or regulation, and waterfowl hunting within these areas will be permitted only at locations and during times designated by the department. However, non-riparian blinds that were properly licensed and erected adjacent to properties the department owned or managed on June 30, 2019, are exempt from this section, until such time that those licenses expire. This section shall not abridge the privileges prescribed for landowners and their lessees and permittees in §§ 29.1-344 and 29.1-347 of the Code of Virginia.