TITLE 4. CONSERVATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES
Title of Regulation: 4VAC15-50. Game: Bear (amending 4VAC15-50-11, 4VAC15-50-71, 4VAC15-50-110, 4VAC15-50-120).
Statutory Authority: §§ 29.1-103, 29.1-501, and 29.1-502 of the Code of Virginia.
Public Hearing Information:
June 10, 2014 - 9 a.m. - Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, 4000 West Broad Street, Richmond, VA 23230
Public Comment Deadline: May 26, 2014.
Agency Contact: Phil Smith, Regulatory Coordinator, Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, 4010 West Broad Street, Richmond, VA 23230, telephone (804) 367-8341, or email phil.smith@dgif.virginia.gov.
Summary:
Legislation enacted in the 2014 Session of the General Assembly legalized most forms of hunting on Sundays and allows muzzleloading pistols to be used for hunting in seasons when muzzleloading rifles are permitted. The proposed amendments (i) incorporate hunting on Sundays into the various bear hunting and bear hound training seasons and (ii) allow the use of muzzleloading pistols for the purpose of hunting deer during muzzleloading gun hunting season.
4VAC15-50-11. Open season; generally.
A. It shall be lawful to hunt bears within:
| Location | Season |
| Accomack County | Closed |
| Albemarle County | Fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive. |
| Alleghany County | Fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive. |
| Amelia County | Monday nearest December 2 and for 5 consecutive hunting days following. |
| Amherst County | Fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive. |
| Appomattox County | Monday nearest December 2 and for 5 consecutive hunting days following. |
| Arlington County | Fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive. |
| Augusta County
(North of US-250) | Fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive. |
| Augusta County
(South of US-250) | Fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive. |
| Bath County | Fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive. |
| Bedford County | Fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive. |
| Bland County | Fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive. |
| Botetourt County | Fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive. |
| Brunswick County | Monday nearest December 2 and for 5 consecutive hunting days following. |
| Buchanan County | First Monday in December through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive. |
| Buckingham County | Monday nearest December 2 and for 5 consecutive hunting days following. |
| Campbell County | Monday nearest December 2 and for 5 consecutive hunting days following. |
| Caroline County | Fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive. |
| Carroll County | First Monday in December and for 17 consecutive hunting 19 days following. |
| Charles City County | Monday nearest December 2 and for 5 consecutive hunting days following. |
| Charlotte County | Monday nearest December 2 and for 5 consecutive hunting days following. |
| 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 | Fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive. |
| Craig County | 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 5 consecutive hunting days following. |
| Dickenson County | First Monday in December through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive. |
| Dinwiddie County | Monday nearest December 2 and for 5 consecutive hunting days following. |
| Essex County | Monday nearest December 2 and for 5 consecutive hunting days following. |
| Fairfax County | Fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive. |
| Fauquier County | Fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive. |
| Floyd County | First Monday in December and for 17 consecutive hunting 19 days following. |
| Fluvanna County | Fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive. |
| Franklin County | First Monday in December and for 17 consecutive hunting 19 days following. |
| Frederick County | Fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive. |
| Giles County | Fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive. |
| Gloucester County | Monday nearest December 2 and for 5 consecutive hunting days following. |
| Goochland County | Fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive. |
| Grayson County | First Monday in December and for 17 consecutive hunting 19 days following. |
| Greene County | Fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive. |
| Greensville County | Monday nearest December 2 and for 5 consecutive hunting days following. |
| Halifax County | Monday nearest December 2 and for 5 consecutive hunting days following. |
| 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 | First Monday in December and for 17 consecutive hunting 19 days following. |
| Highland County | Fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive. |
| Isle of Wight County | Monday nearest December 2 and for 5 consecutive hunting days following. |
| James City County | Monday nearest December 2 and for 5 consecutive hunting days following. |
| King and Queen County | Monday nearest December 2 and for 5 consecutive hunting days following. |
| King George County | Monday nearest December 2 and for 5 consecutive hunting days following. |
| King William County | Monday nearest December 2 and for 5 consecutive hunting days following. |
| Lancaster County | Monday nearest December 2 and for 5 consecutive hunting days following. |
| Lee County | First Monday in December through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive. |
| Loudoun County | 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 5 consecutive hunting days following. |
| Madison County | Fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive. |
| Mathews County | Monday nearest December 2 and for 5 consecutive hunting days following. |
| Mecklenburg County | Monday nearest December 2 and for 5 consecutive hunting days following. |
| Middlesex County | Monday nearest December 2 and for 5 consecutive hunting days following. |
| Montgomery County
(southeast of I-81) | First Monday in December and for 17 consecutive hunting 19 days following. |
| Montgomery County (northwest of I-81) | Fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive. |
| Nelson County | Fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive. |
| New Kent County | Monday nearest December 2 and for 5 consecutive hunting days following. |
| Northampton County | Closed |
| Northumberland County | Monday nearest December 2 and for 5 consecutive hunting days following. |
| Nottoway County | Monday nearest December 2 and for 5 consecutive hunting days following. |
| Orange County | Fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive. |
| Page County | Fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive. |
| Patrick County | First Monday in December and for 17 consecutive hunting 19 days following. |
| Pittsylvania County | Monday nearest December 2 and for 5 consecutive hunting days following. |
| Powhatan County | Fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive. |
| Prince Edward County | Monday nearest December 2 and for 5 consecutive hunting days following. |
| Prince George County | Monday nearest December 2 and for 5 consecutive hunting days following. |
| Prince William County | Fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive. |
| Pulaski County
(southeast of I-81) | First Monday in December and for 17 consecutive hunting 19 days following. |
| Pulaski County
(northwest of I-81) | Fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive. |
| Rappahannock County | Fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive. |
| Richmond County | Monday nearest December 2 and for 5 consecutive hunting days following. |
| Roanoke County | Fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive. |
| Rockbridge County | Fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive. |
| Rockingham County | Fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive. |
| Russell County (except on the Channels State Forest and Clinch Mountain WMA) | First Monday in December through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive. |
| Russell County (on the Channels State Forest and Clinch Mountain WMA) | Fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive. |
| Scott County | First Monday in December through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive. |
| Shenandoah County | Fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive. |
| Smyth County (southeast of I-81) | First Monday in December and for 17 consecutive hunting 19 days following. |
| Smyth County (northwest of I-81) | Fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive. |
| Southampton County | Monday nearest December 2 and for 5 consecutive hunting days following. |
| Spotsylvania County | Fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive. |
| Stafford County | 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 5 consecutive hunting days following. |
| Sussex County | Monday nearest December 2 and for 5 consecutive hunting days following. |
| Tazewell County | 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 | Fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive. |
| Washington County
(southeast of I-81) | First Monday in December and for 17 consecutive hunting 19 days following. |
| Washington County
(northwest of I-81 and east of Route 19) | First Monday in December through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive. |
| Washington County
(northwest of I-81 and west of Route 19) | First Monday in December and for 17 consecutive hunting 19 days following. |
| Westmoreland County | Monday nearest December 2 and for 5 consecutive hunting days following. |
| Wise County | First Monday in December through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive. |
| Wythe County
(southeast of I-81) | First Monday in December and for 17 consecutive hunting 19 days following. |
| Wythe County
(northwest of I-81) | Fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive. |
| York County | Monday nearest December 2 and for 5 consecutive hunting days following. |
B. Except as provided in the subsection A of this section, bears may be hunted from the Saturday prior to the fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive, within the incorporated limits of any city that allows bear hunting.
4VAC15-50-71. Muzzleloading gun hunting.
A. It shall be lawful to hunt bear during the special muzzleloading season with muzzleloading guns from the Saturday prior to the second Monday in November through the Friday prior to the third Monday in November, both dates inclusive, except in the cities of Chesapeake, Suffolk, and Virginia Beach.
B. It shall be unlawful to hunt bear with dogs during any special season for hunting with muzzleloading guns, except that tracking dogs as defined in § 29.1-516.1 of the Code of Virginia may be used.
C. A muzzleloading gun, for the purpose of this section, means a single shot weapon, excluding muzzleloading pistols, .45 caliber or larger, firing a single projectile or sabot (with a .38 caliber or larger projectile) of the same caliber loaded from the muzzle of the weapon and propelled by at least 50 grains of black powder (or black powder equivalent or smokeless powder).
D. It shall be unlawful to have in immediate possession any firearm other than a muzzleloading gun while hunting with a muzzleloading gun in a special muzzleloading season.
4VAC15-50-110. Use of dogs in hunting bear.
A. It shall be unlawful to use dogs for the hunting of bear during the open season for hunting deer in the counties west of the Blue Ridge Mountains and in the counties of Amherst (west of Business U.S. 29 from the James River to its intersection with U.S. 29 just south of the town of Amherst continuing north on U.S. 29 to the Tye River), Bedford, and Nelson (west of Route 151); and within the boundaries of the national forests, except that tracking dogs as defined in § 29.1-516.1 of the Code of Virginia may be used.
B. It shall be unlawful to use dogs for the hunting of bear during the first 12 hunting 14 days of the open season for hunting deer in the counties of Greene and Madison, except that tracking dogs as defined in § 29.1-516.1 of the Code of Virginia may be used.
C. It shall be unlawful to use dogs for the hunting of bear in the counties of Campbell (west of Norfolk Southern Railroad), Carroll (east of the New River), Fairfax, Floyd, Franklin, Grayson (east of the New River), Henry, Loudoun, Montgomery (south of Interstate 81), Patrick, Pittsylvania (west of Norfolk Southern Railroad), Pulaski (south of Interstate 81), Roanoke (south of Interstate 81), Wythe (southeast of the New River or that part bounded by Route 21 on the west, Interstate 81 on the north, the county line on the east, the New River on the southeast and Cripple Creek on the south); in the city of Lynchburg; and on Amelia, Chester F. Phelps, G. Richard Thompson, and Pettigrew wildlife management areas, except that tracking dogs as defined in § 29.1-516.1 of the Code of Virginia may be used.
4VAC15-50-120. Bear hound training season.
A. It shall be lawful to chase black bear with dogs, without capturing or taking, from the second Saturday in August through the last Saturday in September, both dates inclusive, in all counties and cities or in the portions in which bear hunting is permitted except in the counties of Accomack, Amelia, Appomattox, Brunswick, Buckingham, Campbell, Caroline, Carroll, Charles City, Charlotte, Chesterfield, Clarke, Cumberland, Dinwiddie, Essex, Fairfax, Fauquier, Floyd, Fluvanna, Franklin, Frederick, Gloucester, Goochland, Grayson, Greensville, Halifax, Hanover, Henrico, Henry, Isle of Wight, James City, King & Queen, King George, King William, Lancaster, Loudoun, Louisa, Lunenburg, Mathews, Mecklenburg, Middlesex, Montgomery (south of Interstate 81), New Kent, Northampton, Northumberland, Nottoway, Orange, Patrick, Pittsylvania, Powhatan, Prince Edward, Prince George, Prince William, Pulaski (south of Interstate 81), Richmond, Roanoke (south of Interstate 81), Smyth (south of Interstate 81), Southampton, Spotsylvania, Stafford, Surry, Sussex, Washington (south of Interstate 81), Westmoreland, Wythe (south of Interstate 81), and York, and in the cities of Hampton, Newport News and Norfolk.
B. It shall be lawful to chase black bear with dogs, without capturing or taking, from the Saturday prior to the third Monday in November and for 12 consecutive hunting 14 days following, both dates inclusive, in the counties of Amelia, Appomattox, Buckingham, Brunswick, Campbell (east of the Norfolk Southern Railroad), Charles City, Charlotte, Cumberland, Essex, Gloucester, Greensville, Halifax, Isle of Wight, James City, King and Queen, King George, King William, Lancaster, Lunenburg, Mathews, Mecklenburg, Middlesex, New Kent, Northumberland, Nottoway, Pittsylvania (east of the Norfolk Southern Railroad), Prince Edward, Prince George, Richmond, Southampton, Surry, Sussex, Westmoreland, and York.
C. It shall be lawful to chase black bears with dogs, without capturing or taking, in the counties of Brunswick, Greensville, Lunenburg, and Mecklenburg from the first Saturday in September through the third Saturday in September, both dates inclusive.
D. It shall be unlawful to have in possession a firearm, bow, crossbow or any weapon capable of taking a black bear while participating in the bear hound training season. The meaning of "possession" for the purpose of this section shall include, but not be limited to, having a firearm, bow, crossbow or any weapon capable of taking a black bear in or on one's person, vehicle, or conveyance.
VA.R. Doc. No. R14-4040; Filed May 14, 2014, 10:24 a.m.