Title of Regulation: 4VAC15-50. Game: Bear (amending 4VAC15-50-11, 4VAC15-50-12, 4VAC15-50-71, 4VAC15-50-81, 4VAC15-50-91, 4VAC15-50-110, 4VAC15-50-120).

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

Public Hearing Information:

May 30, 2019 - 9 a.m. - Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, 7870 Villa Park Drive, Suite 400, Henrico, VA 23228

Public Comment Deadline: May 15, 2019.

Agency Contact: Aaron Proctor, Regulations Coordinator, Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, 7870 Villa Park Drive, Suite 400, Henrico, VA 23228, telephone (804) 367-8341, or email aaron.proctor@dgif.virginia.gov.

Summary:

The proposed amendments (i) add the three-day early open season to the Counties of Albemarle, Amherst, Bedford, Frederick, and Nelson; (ii) remove references to Augusta County north and south of U.S. Route 250; (iii) add two weeks of open season to 35 counties in south-central and eastern Virginia; (iv) add two weeks of open season to 11 counties or portions of counties in southwestern Virginia south of I-81; (v) add one week of open season to seven counties or portions of counties in southwestern Virginia north of I-81; (vi) extend the duration of bear hunting within incorporated cities and allow towns to have the same season; (vii) correct a boundary line distinction along Route 16 in Grayson and Smyth Counties; (viii) update the definition of a muzzleloader to current technological standards to match those found in 4VAC15-90-80; (ix) allow for harvested black bears to be checked using the automated harvest reporting system; (x) describe how hunters exempted from needing a license may check black bear harvests; (xi) limit the prohibition on the use of hounds to hunt black bear to only the first two weeks of open deer season should deer season be lengthened to four weeks in Amherst, Bedford, or Nelson County; and (xii) define where bear hound training season is allowed instead of prohibited.

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	Fourth 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.
Alleghany County	Monday following the last Saturday in September and for 2 two 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 19 days following.
Amherst County	Fourth 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.
Appomattox County	Monday nearest December 2 and for 5 consecutive hunting 19 days following.
Arlington County	Monday following the last Saturday in September and for 2 two days following; and the fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.
Augusta County (North of US-250)	Monday following the last Saturday in September and for 2 two days following; and the fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.
Augusta County (South of US-250)	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	Monday following the last Saturday in September and for 2 two days following; and the fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.
Bedford County	Fourth 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.
Bland County	Monday following the last Saturday in September and for 2 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 2 two 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 19 days following.
Buchanan County	Monday following the last Saturday in September and for 2 two days following; and the first fourth Monday in December November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.
Buckingham County	Monday nearest December 2 and for 5 consecutive hunting 19 days following.
Campbell County	Monday nearest December 2 and for 5 consecutive hunting 19 days following.
Caroline County	Fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.
Carroll County	First Monday in nearest December and for 19 days following 2 through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.
Charles City County	Monday nearest December 2 and for 5 consecutive hunting 19 days following.
Charlotte County	Monday nearest December 2 and for 5 consecutive hunting 19 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	Monday following the last Saturday in September and for 2 two days following; and 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 2 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 5 consecutive hunting 19 days following.
Dickenson County	Monday following the last Saturday in September and for 2 two days following; and the first fourth Monday in December November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.
Dinwiddie County	Monday nearest December 2 and for 5 consecutive hunting 19 days following.
Essex County	Monday nearest December 2 and for 5 consecutive hunting 19 days following.
Fairfax County	Monday following the last Saturday in September and for 2 two days following; and 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 2 two days following; and the fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.
Floyd County	First Monday in nearest December and for 19 days following 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	First Monday in nearest December and for 19 days following 2 through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.
Frederick County	Fourth 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.
Giles County	Monday following the last Saturday in September and for 2 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 5 consecutive hunting 19 days following.
Goochland County	Fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.
Grayson County	First Monday in nearest December and for 19 days following 2 through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.
Greene County	Monday following the last Saturday in September and for 2 two 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 19 days following.
Halifax County	Monday nearest December 2 and for 5 consecutive hunting 19 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 nearest December and for 19 days following 2 through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.
Highland County	Monday following the last Saturday in September and for 2 two 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 19 days following.
James City County	Monday nearest December 2 and for 5 consecutive hunting 19 days following.
King and Queen County	Monday nearest December 2 and for 5 consecutive hunting 19 days following.
King George County	Monday nearest December 2 and for 5 consecutive hunting 19 days following.
King William County	Monday nearest December 2 and for 5 consecutive hunting 19 days following.
Lancaster County	Monday nearest December 2 and for 5 consecutive hunting 19 days following.
Lee County	Monday following the last Saturday in September and for 2 two days following; and the first fourth Monday in December November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.
Loudoun County	Monday following the last Saturday in September and for 2 two 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 19 days following.
Madison County	Monday following the last Saturday in September and for 2 two 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 19 days following.
Mecklenburg County	Monday nearest December 2 and for 5 consecutive hunting 19 days following.
Middlesex County	Monday nearest December 2 and for 5 consecutive hunting 19 days following.
Montgomery County (southeast of I-81)	First Monday in nearest December and for 19 days following 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 2 two days following; and the fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.
Nelson County	Fourth 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.
New Kent County	Monday nearest December 2 and for 5 consecutive hunting 19 days following.
Northampton County	Closed
Northumberland County	Monday nearest December 2 and for 5 consecutive hunting 19 days following.
Nottoway County	Monday nearest December 2 and for 5 consecutive hunting 19 days following.
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 2 two days following; and the fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.
Patrick County	First Monday in nearest December and for 19 days following 2 through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.
Pittsylvania County	Monday nearest December 2 and for 5 consecutive hunting 19 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 19 days following.
Prince George County	Monday nearest December 2 and for 5 consecutive hunting 19 days following.
Prince William County	Monday following the last Saturday in September and for 2 two 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 nearest December and for 19 days following 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 2 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 2 two 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 19 days following.
Roanoke County	Monday following the last Saturday in September and for 2 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 2 two days following; and 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 2 two 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)	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)	Monday following the last Saturday in September and for 2 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 2 two days following; and the first fourth Monday in December November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.
Shenandoah County	Monday following the last Saturday in September and for 2 two 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 nearest December and for 19 days following 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 2 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 5 consecutive hunting 19 days following.
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 2 two 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 19 days following.
Sussex County	Monday nearest December 2 and for 5 consecutive hunting 19 days following.
Tazewell County	Monday following the last Saturday in September and for 2 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 2 two 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 nearest December and for 19 days following 2 through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.
Washington County (northwest of I-81 and east of Route 19) I-81)	Monday following the last Saturday in September and for 2 two days following; and the first fourth Monday in December November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.
Washington County (northwest of I-81 and west of Route 19)	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 19 days following.
Wise County	Monday following the last Saturday in September and for 2 two days following; and the first fourth Monday in December November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.
Wythe County (southeast of I-81)	First Monday in nearest December and for 19 days following 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 2 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 5 consecutive hunting 19 days following.

B. Except as provided in the subsection A of this section, bears may be hunted from the first Saturday prior to the fourth Monday in November October through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive, within the incorporated limits of any town or city that allows bear hunting.

4VAC15-50-12. Youth and apprentice hunter bear hunting weekend.

It shall be lawful for hunters 15 years of age and under younger and holders of a valid apprentice hunting license, when in compliance with all applicable laws and license requirements, to hunt bears on the second Saturday in October and the following calendar day when accompanied and directly supervised by an adult who has a valid Virginia hunting license on his person or is exempt from purchasing a hunting license. Adult hunters accompanying youth or apprentice bear hunters on this weekend may not carry or discharge weapons. Bear bag limit, weight limits, and all other take restrictions specifically provided in the sections appearing in this chapter apply to this youth weekend. Bear hunting with dogs is prohibited in the counties Counties of Accomack, Campbell (west of Norfolk Southern Railroad), Fairfax, Grayson (east (west of Route 16), Henry, Loudoun, Northampton, Patrick, Pittsylvania (west of Norfolk Southern Railroad), Roanoke (south of Interstate 81), Smyth (south of Interstate 81 and east west of Route 16), Washington (south of Interstate 81), and; in the city City of Lynchburg; and on Amelia, Chester F. Phelps, G. Richard Thompson, and Pettigrew Wildlife Management Areas. Tracking dogs as described in § 29.1-516.1 of the Code of Virginia may be used.

4VAC15-50-71. Muzzleloading gun hunting.

A. It shall be lawful to hunt 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 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, .45 caliber or larger, firing a single projectile or sabot (with a .38 .35 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.

4VAC15-50-81. Validating tags and checking bear and tooth submission by licensee or permittee.

A. Any person killing a bear shall, before removing the carcass from the place of kill, validate an appropriate tag on their special license for hunting bear or special permit by completely removing the designated notch area from the tag. Place of kill shall be defined as the location where the animal is first reduced to possession. It shall be unlawful for any person to validate (notch) a bear tag from any special license for hunting bear or special permit prior to the killing of a bear. A bear tag that is mistakenly validated (notched) prior to the killing of a bear must be immediately voided by the licensee or permittee by writing, in ink, the word "VOID" on the line provided on the license tag.

B. Upon killing a bear and validating (notching) a license tag or special permit, as provided in subsection A of this section, the licensee shall, upon vehicle transport of the carcass or at the conclusion of legal hunting hours, whichever occurs first, and without unnecessary delay, present the carcass and validated (notched) license tag or special permit to an authorized bear checking station or to an appropriate representative of the department in the county or adjoining county in which the bear was killed or report the kill through the department's automated harvest reporting system. Upon presentation of the carcass and validated (notched) license tag or special permit to the bear checking station, the licensee shall surrender or allow to be removed one premolar tooth from the carcass. At such time, the person checking the carcass will be given a game check card. The successful hunter shall then immediately record the game check card number, in ink, on the line provided adjacent to the license tag that was validated (notched) in the field. The game check card must be kept in possession with the carcass until the carcass is processed. If the carcass is left unattended, the game check card must be securely attached to the carcass At such time, the person checking or reporting the carcass will be given a black bear check card furnished by the department or a confirmation number from the automated reporting system. The successful hunter shall then immediately record the game check card number or confirmation number, in ink, on the line provided on the tag that was validated (notched) in the field. If checked at an authorized bear check station, the black bear check card must be kept in possession with the carcass until the carcass is processed. If the carcass is left unattended, the bear check card must be securely attached to the carcass. If the kill is reported using the automated harvest reporting system, no check card is required as long as the hunter who killed the animal is in possession of the carcass. If the automated harvest reported carcass is left unattended or transferred to the possession of another individual, written documentation including the successful hunter's full name, the date the animal was killed, and the confirmation number must be created and kept in possession with the carcass until the carcass is processed. If the carcass is left unattended, this written documentation must be securely attached to the carcass. Processed carcass parts of a bear killed legally in Virginia may be transported; however, upon request of any authorized law-enforcement officer, sufficient verbal or written information necessary to properly establish legal possession must be furnished immediately.

C. If the carcass is checked at a bear check station, upon presentation of the carcass and validated (notched) license tag or special permit to the bear checking station, the licensee shall surrender or allow to be removed one premolar tooth from the carcass. If the kill is reported through the department's automated harvest reporting system, a premolar must be removed by the hunter immediately after reporting the kill. The premolar shall be placed in an envelope furnished by the department and labeled with the hunter's full name, check confirmation number, date of kill, and the sex of the harvested bear. This envelope with premolar and accompanying information must be mailed or delivered to the department no later than 14 days after the close of the bear harvest season. 

C. D. It shall be unlawful for any person to destroy the identity (sex) of the sex of any bear killed unless and until the license tag or special permit is validated (notched) and checked as required by this section. Successful bear hunters are allowed to dismember the carcass to pack it out from the place of kill, after an appropriate license tag has been validated (notched) as required above in subsection A of this section, as long as they do not destroy the identity of the sex of the animal remains identifiable, and all the parts of the carcass are present when the bear is checked at an authorized bear checking station or reported through the automated harvest reporting system. Any bear found in the possession of any person without a validated (notched) license tag or documentation that the bear has been checked at an authorized bear checking station or automated harvest reporting system as required by this section shall be forfeited to the Commonwealth to be disposed of as provided by law.

4VAC15-50-91. Checking bear and tooth submission by persons exempt from license requirements or holding a license authorization number.

A. Upon killing a bear, any person (i) exempt from license requirements as prescribed in § 29.1-301 of the Code of Virginia, or (ii) issued a complimentary license as prescribed in § 29.1-339, or the holder of the Code of Virginia, (iii) holding a permanent license issued pursuant to § 29.1-301 E of the Code of Virginia, or (iv) the holder of a Virginia license authorization number issued by a telephone or electronic media agent pursuant to § 29.1-327 B of the Code of Virginia shall, upon vehicle transport of the carcass or at the conclusion of legal hunting hours, whichever occurs first, and without unnecessary delay, present the carcass to an authorized bear checking station or to any appropriate representative of the department in the county or adjoining county in which the bear was killed, or report the kill through the department's automated harvest reporting system. At such time, the person checking or reporting the carcass shall be given a black bear check card furnished by the department or a confirmation number from the automated reporting system. If checked at a bear check station, the black bear check card must be kept in possession with the carcass until the carcass is processed. If the carcass is left unattended, the black bear check card must be securely attached to the carcass. If the kill is reported using the automated harvest reporting system, the successful hunter shall immediately create written documentation including the successful hunter's full name, the date the animal was killed, and the confirmation number. This written documentation must be kept in possession with the carcass until the carcass is processed. If the automated harvest reported carcass is transferred to the possession of another individual, the written documentation must be transferred with the carcass to the individual and kept in possession with the carcass until the carcass is processed. If the carcass is left unattended, this written documentation must be securely attached to the carcass. Processed carcass parts of a black bear killed legally in Virginia may be transported; however, upon request of any authorized law-enforcement officer, sufficient verbal or written information necessary to properly establish legal possession must be furnished immediately.  

Upon presentation of the carcass to the B. If the bear is checked at a bear checking station, the person checking the carcass shall surrender or allow to be removed one premolar tooth from the carcass. At such time, the person checking or reporting the carcass shall be given a game check card furnished by the department. The game check card must be kept in possession with the carcass until the carcass is processed. If the carcass is left unattended, the game check card must be securely attached to the carcass If the kill is reported through the department's automated harvest reporting system, a premolar must be removed by the hunter immediately after reporting the kill. The premolar shall be placed in an envelope furnished by the department and labeled with the hunter's full name, check confirmation number, date of kill, and the sex of the harvested bear. This envelope with premolar and accompanying information must be mailed or delivered to the department no later than 14 days after the close of the bear harvest season.

B. C. It shall be unlawful for any person to destroy the identity of the sex of any bear killed until the bear is checked as required by this section. Successful bear hunters are allowed to dismember the carcass to pack it out from the place of kill as long as they do not destroy the identity of the sex and all the parts of the carcass are present when the bear is checked at a big game an authorized bear check station or reported through the automated harvest reporting system. Any bear that has not been checked, via an authorized bear check station or the automated harvest reporting system as required by this section, found in the possession of any person exempt from the license requirements or holding a license authorization number shall be forfeited to the Commonwealth to be disposed of as provided by law.

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 during the first 16 days of the deer open season in the counties 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 described 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 14 days of the open season for hunting deer in the counties Counties of Greene and Madison, except that tracking dogs as described 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 during the open season prescribed in 4VAC15-50-11 in the counties 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), and 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 City of Lynchburg; and on Amelia, Chester F. Phelps, G. Richard Thompson, and Pettigrew Wildlife Management Areas, except that tracking dogs as described 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 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, Buckingham, Campbell, Caroline, Charles City, Chesterfield, Clarke, Cumberland, Dinwiddie, Essex, Fairfax, Fauquier, Fluvanna, Frederick, Gloucester, Goochland, Grayson (west of Route 16), Halifax, Hanover, Henrico, Henry, Isle of Wight, James City, King and Queen, King George, King William, Lancaster, Loudoun, Louisa, Mathews, 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, Albemarle, Alleghany, Amherst, Augusta, Bath, Bedford, Bland, Botetourt, Brunswick, Buchanan, Carroll, Charlotte, Craig, Culpeper, Dickenson, Floyd, Franklin, Giles, Grayson (east of Route 16), Greene, Greensville, Highland, Lee, Lunenburg, Madison, Mecklenburg, Montgomery, Nelson, Page, Pulaski, Rappahannock, Roanoke (west of I-81), Rockbridge, Rockingham, Russell, Scott, Shenandoah, Smyth (except for the part southeast of I-81 and west of State Route 16), Tazewell, Warren, Washington (northwest of I-81), Wise, and Wythe and in the cities Cities of Hampton, Newport News and Norfolk Chesapeake, Suffolk, and Virginia Beach.

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 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 having a firearm, bow, crossbow, or any weapon capable of taking a black bear in or on one's person, vehicle, or conveyance.