Title of Regulation: 4VAC10-30. Virginia State Forests Regulations (amending 4VAC10-30-40, 4VAC10-30-120, 4VAC10-30-200, 4VAC10-30-210).

Statutory Authority: § 10.1-1101 of the Code of Virginia.

Effective Date: November 19, 2015.

Agency Contact: Andres Alvarez, Chief of Administration, Department of Forestry, 900 Natural Resources Drive, Suite 800, Charlottesville, VA 22903, telephone (434) 220-9022, FAX (434) 977-7749, or email andres.alvarez@dof.virginia.gov.

Summary:

In accordance with Chapter 484 of the 2012 Acts of Assembly, the amendments require any person 16 years of age or older who hunts, fishes, traps, rides a bike, or rides a horse in a state forest to purchase an annual special use permit for a fee of $15.

Summary of Public Comments and Agency's Response: No public comments were received by the promulgating agency.

4VAC10-30-40. Permits.

A permit to do any act shall authorize the same only insofar as it may be performed in strict accordance with the terms and conditions thereof. Any violation by its holder or his agents or employees of any term or condition thereof shall constitute grounds for its revocation by the department, or by its authorized representative. In case of revocation of any permit, all moneys paid for or on account thereof shall, at the option of the department, be forfeited to and be retained by it; and the holder of such permit, together with his agents and employees who violated such terms and conditions, shall be jointly and severally liable to the department for all damages and loss suffered by it in excess of money so forfeited and retained; but neither such forfeiture and retention by the department of the whole or any part of such moneys nor the recovery or collection thereby of such damages, or both, shall in any manner relieve such person or persons from liability to punishment for any violation of any provision of any Virginia State Forests Regulation. A state forest hunting special use permit will be required to hunt or, trap, fish, ride bikes, or ride horses on any state forest or portion thereof on which hunting and, trapping, fishing, riding bikes, or riding horses is permitted.

4VAC10-30-120. Charges.

No person 16 years of age or older shall make, use, or gain admittance to, or attempt to use or gain admittance to the facilities in any forest for the use of which a charge special use permit is made required by the department unless he shall pay the charge or price fixed by the department obtain a special use permit and pay an annual fee of $15. Any person under 16 years of age may hunt, trap, fish, ride bikes, or ride horses on any state forest and is not required to obtain a special use permit or pay an annual fee.

4VAC10-30-200. Hunting and fishing.

No person within the confines of any forest, shall hunt, trap, shoot, injure, kill or molest in any way any bird or animal, nor shall any person have in his possession any bird or animal, dead or alive, within the forest except any bird or animal designated as a game bird or animal by the Virginia Board of Game and Inland Fisheries, and the trapping of, hunting of, shooting at, or possession of any such bird or animal is prohibited except during the lawful hunting season set for the forest or portion thereof by the Virginia Board of Game and Inland Fisheries and only in those forests or portion thereof designated by the Forest Superintendent as lawful hunting areas. A state forest hunting special use permit will be required. All provisions of the Virginia Code concerning hunting must be complied with.

4VAC10-30-210. Fishing.

Fishing is permitted in designated areas in each forest, the only stipulation being that persons fishing must have a state fishing license, have a special use permit, and comply with the Virginia Game and Inland Fisheries rules and regulations.