Title of Regulation: 4VAC15-240. Game: Turkey (amending 4VAC15-240-50, 4VAC15-240-60, 4VAC15-240-70).

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) provide fall and spring turkey hunting seasons in the Cities of Newport News and Hampton; (ii) close the Cities of Norfolk and Portsmouth to turkey hunting; (iii) close the archery turkey hunting season concurrent with the close of the first part of the fall turkey season, in which firearms and muzzleloader weapons are legal weapons; (iv) allow slingbows to be used during the archery turkey hunting season; and (v) allow turkey hunters to take two birds per day during the spring turkey hunting season.

4VAC15-240-50. Continuous closed season in certain counties, cities and areas.

There shall be continuous closed turkey season, except where a special spring season for bearded turkeys is provided for in 4VAC15-240-40, in the county of Arlington County; and in the cities Cities of Chesapeake, Hampton, Newport News Norfolk, Portsmouth, and Virginia Beach.

4VAC15-240-60. Archery hunting.

A. Season. It shall be lawful to hunt turkey with archery equipment or a slingbow in those counties and areas open to fall turkey hunting from the first Saturday in October through the Saturday prior to the second Monday in November Friday that is 13 days after the Saturday before the last Monday in October, both dates inclusive.

B. Bag limit. The daily and seasonal bag limit for hunting turkey with archery equipment or a slingbow shall be the same as permitted during the general turkey season in those counties and areas open to fall turkey hunting, and any turkey taken shall apply toward the total season bag limit.

C. Carrying firearms prohibited. It shall be unlawful to carry firearms while hunting with archery equipment or a slingbow during the special archery season.

D. Use of dogs prohibited during archery season. It shall be unlawful to use dogs when hunting with archery equipment from the first Saturday in October through the Saturday prior to the second Monday in November, both dates inclusive.

4VAC15-240-70. Bag limit.

The bag limit for hunting turkeys shall be one a day in the fall, two per day during the spring, three a license year, no more than two of which may be taken in the fall.