TITLE 4. CONSERVATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES
REGISTRAR'S NOTICE: The
Board of Game and Inland Fisheries 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, 4VAC15-50-71,
4VAC15-50-120).
Statutory Authority: §§ 29.1-103 and 29.1-501 of
the Code of Virginia.
Public Hearing Information:
May 24, 2017 - 9 a.m. - Department of Game and Inland
Fisheries, 7870 Villa Park Drive, Suite 400, Henrico, VA 23228
Public Comment Deadline: May 10, 2017.
Agency Contact: Phil Smith, Regulatory Coordinator,
Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, 7870 Villa Park Drive, Suite 400,
Henrico, VA 23228, telephone (804) 367-8341, or email
phil.smith@dgif.virginia.gov.
Summary:
The proposed amendments (i) add a three-day open season for
hunting bear in 36 counties or portions of counties to run Monday through
Wednesday in the week prior to the statewide archery hunting season; (ii) add
one week to the muzzleloading hunting season for bears in 34 localities; (iii)
change the start date of the fall bear hound training season to August 1; and
(iv) change the bear hound training season dates in the counties of Brunswick,
Charlotte, Greensville, Lunenburg, and Mecklenburg to match the western bear
hound training season.
4VAC15-50-11. Open season; generally.
A. It shall be lawful to hunt bears within in the
following localities, including the cities and towns therein, during the
following seasons:
|
Location
|
Season
|
|
Accomack County
|
Closed
|
|
Albemarle County
|
Fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in
January, both dates inclusive.
|
|
Alleghany County
|
Fourth Monday following the last Saturday in
September and for 2 days following; and the 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 following the last Saturday in
September and for 2 days following; and the fourth Monday in November
through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.
|
|
Augusta County
(North of US-250)
|
Fourth Monday following the last Saturday in
September and for 2 days following; and the fourth Monday in November
through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.
|
|
Augusta County
(South of US-250)
|
Fourth Monday following the last Saturday in
September and for 2 days following; and the fourth Monday in November
through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.
|
|
Bath County
|
Fourth Monday following the last Saturday in
September and for 2 days following; and the 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 following the last Saturday in
September and for 2 days following; and the fourth Monday in November
through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.
|
|
Botetourt County
|
Fourth Monday following the last Saturday in
September and for 2 days following; and the 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 following the last Saturday in
September and for 2 days following; and the 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 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 following the last Saturday in
September and for 2 days following; and the fourth Monday in November
through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.
|
|
Craig County
|
Fourth Monday following the last Saturday in
September and for 2 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 5 consecutive hunting
days following.
|
|
Dickenson County
|
First Monday following the last Saturday in
September and for 2 days following; and the 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 following the last Saturday in
September and for 2 days following; and the fourth Monday in November
through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.
|
|
Fauquier County
|
Fourth Monday following the last Saturday in
September and for 2 days following; and the fourth Monday in November
through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.
|
|
Floyd County
|
First Monday in December and for 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 19 days following.
|
|
Frederick County
|
Fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in
January, both dates inclusive.
|
|
Giles County
|
Fourth Monday following the last Saturday in
September and for 2 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 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 19 days following.
|
|
Greene County
|
Fourth Monday following the last Saturday in
September and for 2 days following; and the 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 19 days following.
|
|
Highland County
|
Fourth Monday following the last Saturday in
September and for 2 days following; and the 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 following the last Saturday in
September and for 2 days following; and the first Monday in December
through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.
|
|
Loudoun County
|
Fourth Monday following the last Saturday in
September and for 2 days following; and 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 5 consecutive hunting
days following.
|
|
Madison County
|
Fourth Monday following the last Saturday in
September and for 2 days following; and the 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 19 days following.
|
|
Montgomery County (northwest of I-81)
|
Fourth Monday following the last Saturday in September
and for 2 days following; and the 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 following the last Saturday in
September and for 2 days following; and the fourth Monday in November
through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.
|
|
Patrick County
|
First Monday in December and for 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 following the last Saturday in
September and for 2 days following; and the 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 19 days following.
|
|
Pulaski County
(northwest of I-81)
|
Fourth Monday following the last Saturday in
September and for 2 days following; and the fourth Monday in November
through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.
|
|
Rappahannock County
|
Fourth Monday following the last Saturday in
September and for 2 days following; and the 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 following the last Saturday in
September and for 2 days following; and the fourth Monday in November
through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.
|
|
Rockbridge County
|
Fourth Monday following the last Saturday in
September and for 2 days following; and the fourth Monday in November
through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.
|
|
Rockingham County
|
Fourth Monday following the last Saturday in
September and for 2 days following; and the 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 following the last Saturday in
September and for 2 days following; and the 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 following the last Saturday in
September and for 2 days following; and the fourth Monday in November
through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.
|
|
Scott County
|
First Monday following the last Saturday in
September and for 2 days following; and the first Monday in December
through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.
|
|
Shenandoah County
|
Fourth Monday following the last Saturday in
September and for 2 days following; and the 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 19 days following.
|
|
Smyth County
(northwest of I-81)
|
Fourth Monday following the last Saturday in September
and for 2 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 5 consecutive hunting
days following.
|
|
Spotsylvania County
|
Fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in
January, both dates inclusive.
|
|
Stafford County
|
Fourth Monday following the last Saturday in
September and for 2 days following; and 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 5 consecutive hunting
days following.
|
|
Sussex County
|
Monday nearest December 2 and for 5 consecutive hunting
days following.
|
|
Tazewell County
|
Fourth Monday following the last Saturday in
September and for 2 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
|
Fourth Monday following the last Saturday in
September and for 2 days following; and the 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 19 days following.
|
|
Washington County
(northwest of I-81 and east of Route 19)
|
First Monday following the last Saturday in
September and for 2 days following; and the 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 following the last Saturday in
September and for 2 days following; and the first Monday in December and
for 19 days following.
|
|
Westmoreland County
|
Monday nearest December 2 and for 5 consecutive hunting
days following.
|
|
Wise County
|
First Monday following the last Saturday in
September and for 2 days following; and the 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 19 days following.
|
|
Wythe County
(northwest of I-81)
|
Fourth Monday following the last Saturday in September
and for 2 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 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 Except as otherwise provided in this section,
it shall be lawful to hunt bear bears 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 lawful to hunt bears during the muzzleloading
season with muzzleloading guns from the Saturday prior to the first Monday in
November through the Friday prior to the third Monday in November, both dates
inclusive, in the counties (including the cities or towns within) of Albemarle,
Alleghany, Amherst, Appomattox, Arlington, Augusta, Bath, Bedford, Botetourt,
Buckingham, Caroline, Clarke, Culpeper, Fairfax, Fauquier, Fluvanna, Frederick,
Greene, Highland, Loudoun, Louisa, Madison, Nelson, Orange, Page, Prince
William, Rappahannock, Roanoke, Rockbridge, Rockingham, Shenandoah,
Spotsylvania, Stafford, and Warren.
B. C. 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. D. A muzzleloading gun, for the purpose of
this section, means a single shot weapon, .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. E. 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.
4VAC15-50-120. 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 1 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, Charles City, Charlotte, Chesterfield, Clarke,
Cumberland, Dinwiddie, Essex, Fairfax, Fauquier, Fluvanna, Frederick,
Gloucester, Goochland, Grayson (west of Route 16), Greensville, Halifax,
Hanover, Henrico, Henry, Isle of Wight, James City, King and Queen, King
George, King William, Lancaster, Loudoun, Louisa, Lunenburg, Mathews, Mecklenburg,
Middlesex, New Kent, Northampton, Northumberland, Nottoway, Orange, Patrick,
Pittsylvania, Powhatan, Prince Edward, Prince George, Prince William, Richmond,
Roanoke (south of Interstate 81), Smyth (that part south of Interstate 81 and
west of Route 16), Southampton, Spotsylvania, Stafford, Surry, Sussex,
Westmoreland, 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 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, Charlotte,
Greensville, Lunenburg, and Mecklenburg from the first Saturday in September
through the last Saturday in September, both dates inclusive.
D. C. 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. R17-5069; Filed March 29, 2017, 1:42 a.m.