Seal

REGULATIONS
Vol. 39 Iss. 21 - June 05, 2023

TITLE 4. CONSERVATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES
DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE RESOURCES
Chapter 50
Proposed

REGISTRAR'S NOTICE: The Board of Wildlife Resources is claiming an exemption from the Administrative Process Act pursuant to § 2.2-4002 A 3 of the Code of Virginia when promulgating regulations regarding the management of wildlife.

Title of Regulation: 4VAC15-50. Game: Bear (amending 4VAC15-50-11).

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

Public Hearing Information:

May 25, 2023 - 9 a.m. - Department of Wildlife Resources, 7870 Villa Park Drive, Suite 400, Henrico, Virginia 23228.

Public Comment Deadline: May 24, 2023.

Agency Contact: Cale Godfrey, Assistant Director, Wildlife Division, Department of Wildlife Resources, 7870 Villa Park Drive, Henrico, VA 23228, telephone (804) 308-4210, or email cale.godfrey@dwr.virginia.gov.

Summary:

The proposed amendments eliminate the early three-day general firearms season for bear in 26 northern and western counties where bear populations have declined and increase the general firearms season from three weeks to five weeks for 35 counties in southern and eastern Virginia where bear populations have been increasing.

4VAC15-50-11. Open season; generally.

A. It shall be lawful to hunt bears in the following localities, including the cities and towns therein, during the following seasons:

Location

Season

Accomack County

Closed

Albemarle County

Monday following the last Saturday in September and for two days following; and the The fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.

Alleghany County

Monday following the last Saturday in September and for two days following; and the The fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.

Amelia County

Monday nearest December 2 and for 19 days following through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.

Amherst County

Monday following the last Saturday in September and for two days following; and the The fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.

Appomattox County

Monday nearest December 2 and for 19 days following through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.

Arlington County

Monday following the last Saturday in September and for two days following; and the The fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.

Augusta County

Monday following the last Saturday in September and for two days following; and the The fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.

Bath County

Monday following the last Saturday in September and for two days following; and the The fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.

Bedford County

Monday following the last Saturday in September and for two days following; and the The fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.

Bland County

Monday following the last Saturday in September and for two days following; and the fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.

Botetourt County

Monday following the last Saturday in September and for two days following; and the The fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.

Brunswick County

Monday nearest December 2 and for 19 days following through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.

Buchanan County

Monday following the last Saturday in September and for two days following; and the fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.

Buckingham County

Monday nearest December 2 and for 19 days following through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.

Campbell County

Monday nearest December 2 and for 19 days following through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.

Caroline County

Fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.

Carroll County

Monday nearest December 2 through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.

Charles City County

Monday nearest December 2 and for 19 days following through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.

Charlotte County

Monday nearest December 2 and for 19 days following through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.

Chesapeake (City of)

October 1 through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.

Chesterfield County

Fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.

Clarke County

Monday following the last Saturday in September and for two days following; and the The fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.

Craig County

Monday following the last Saturday in September and for two days following; and the fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.

Culpeper County

Fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.

Cumberland County

Monday nearest December 2 and for 19 days following through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.

Dickenson County

Monday following the last Saturday in September and for two days following; and the fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.

Dinwiddie County

Monday nearest December 2 and for 19 days following through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.

Essex County

Monday nearest December 2 and for 19 days following through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.

Fairfax County

Monday following the last Saturday in September and for two days following; and the The fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.

Fauquier County

Monday following the last Saturday in September and for two days following; and the The fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.

Floyd County

Monday nearest December 2 through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.

Fluvanna County

Fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.

Franklin County

Monday nearest December 2 through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.

Frederick County

Monday following the last Saturday in September and for two days following; and the The fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.

Giles County

Monday following the last Saturday in September and for two days following; and the fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.

Gloucester County

Monday nearest December 2 and for 19 days following through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.

Goochland County

Fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.

Grayson County

Monday nearest December 2 through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.

Greene County

Monday following the last Saturday in September and for two days following; and the The fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.

Greensville County

Monday nearest December 2 and for 19 days following through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.

Halifax County

Monday nearest December 2 and for 19 days following through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.

Hanover County

Fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.

Henrico County

Fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.

Henry County

Monday nearest December 2 through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.

Highland County

Monday following the last Saturday in September and for two days following; and the The fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.

Isle of Wight County

Monday nearest December 2 and for 19 days following through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.

James City County

Monday nearest December 2 and for 19 days following through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.

King and Queen County

Monday nearest December 2 and for 19 days following through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.

King George County

Monday nearest December 2 and for 19 days following through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.

King William County

Monday nearest December 2 and for 19 days following through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.

Lancaster County

Monday nearest December 2 and for 19 days following through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.

Lee County

Monday following the last Saturday in September and for two days following; and the fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.

Loudoun County

Monday following the last Saturday in September and for two days following; and the The fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.

Louisa County

Fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.

Lunenburg County

Monday nearest December 2 and for 19 days following through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.

Madison County

Monday following the last Saturday in September and for two days following; and the The fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.

Mathews County

Monday nearest December 2 and for 19 days following through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.

Mecklenburg County

Monday nearest December 2 and for 19 days following through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.

Middlesex County

Monday nearest December 2 and for 19 days following through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.

Montgomery County
(southeast of I-81)

Monday nearest December 2 through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.

Montgomery County (northwest of I-81)

Monday following the last Saturday in September and for two days following; and the fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.

Nelson County

Monday following the last Saturday in September and for two days following; and the The fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.

New Kent County

Monday nearest December 2 and for 19 days following through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.

Northampton County

Closed

Northumberland County

Monday nearest December 2 and for 19 days following through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.

Nottoway County

Monday nearest December 2 and for 19 days following through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.

Orange County

Fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.

Page County

Monday following the last Saturday in September and for two days following; and the The fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.

Patrick County

Monday nearest December 2 through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.

Pittsylvania County

Monday nearest December 2 and for 19 days following through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.

Powhatan County

Fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.

Prince Edward County

Monday nearest December 2 and for 19 days following through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.

Prince George County

Monday nearest December 2 and for 19 days following through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.

Prince William County

Monday following the last Saturday in September and for two days following; and the The fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.

Pulaski County
(southeast of I-81)

Monday nearest December 2 through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.

Pulaski County
(northwest of I-81)

Monday following the last Saturday in September and for two days following; and the fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.

Rappahannock County

Monday following the last Saturday in September and for two days following; and the The fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.

Richmond County

Monday nearest December 2 and for 19 days following through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.

Roanoke County

Monday following the last Saturday in September and for two days following; and the fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.

Rockbridge County

Monday following the last Saturday in September and for two days following; and the The fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.

Rockingham County

Monday following the last Saturday in September and for two days following; and the The fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.

Russell County

Monday following the last Saturday in September and for two days following; and the fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.

Scott County

Monday following the last Saturday in September and for two days following; and the fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.

Shenandoah County

Monday following the last Saturday in September and for two days following; and the The fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.

Smyth County

(southeast of I-81)

Monday nearest December 2 through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.

Smyth County

(northwest of I-81)

Monday following the last Saturday in September and for two days following; and the fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.

Southampton County

Monday nearest December 2 and for 19 days following through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.

Spotsylvania County

Fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.

Stafford County

Monday following the last Saturday in September and for two days following; and the The fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.

Suffolk (City of)

October 1 through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.

Surry County

Monday nearest December 2 and for 19 days following through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.

Sussex County

Monday nearest December 2 and for 19 days following through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.

Tazewell County

Monday following the last Saturday in September and for two days following; and the fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.

Virginia Beach (City of)

October 1 through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.

Warren County

Monday following the last Saturday in September and for two days following; and the The fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.

Washington County
(southeast of I-81)

Monday nearest December 2 through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.

Washington County
(northwest of I-81)

Monday following the last Saturday in September and for two days following; and the fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.

Westmoreland County

Monday nearest December 2 and for 19 days following through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.

Wise County

Monday following the last Saturday in September and for two days following; and the fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.

Wythe County
(southeast of I-81)

Monday nearest December 2 through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.

Wythe County
(northwest of I-81)

Monday following the last Saturday in September and for two days following; and the fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.

York County

Monday nearest December 2 and for 19 days following through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.

B. Notwithstanding provisions of subsection A of this section, bears may be hunted from the first Saturday in October through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive, within the incorporated limits of any town or city that allows bear hunting.

VA.R. Doc. No. R23-7533; Filed May 04, 2023