Seal

REGULATIONS
Vol. 37 Iss. 23 - July 05, 2021

TITLE 4. CONSERVATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES
DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE RESOURCES
Chapter 20
Proposed

REGISTRAR'S NOTICE: The Board of Wildlife Resources 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.

Titles of Regulations: 4VAC15-20. Definitions and Miscellaneous: In General (adding 4VAC15-20-260)

4VAC15-90. Game: Deer (amending 4VAC15-90-10; repealing 4VAC15-90-290).

Statutory Authority: §§ 29.1-103, 29.1-501, and 29.1-502 of the Code of Virginia.

Public Hearing Information:

August 19, 2021 - noon - Department of Wildlife Resources, 7870 Villa Park Drive, Suite 400, Henrico, VA 23228.

Public Comment Deadline: July 30, 2021.

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

Summary:

The proposed amendments (i) prohibit hunting contests for coyotes and furbearer species in which participants are offered cash, prizes, or other inducements of monetary value; (ii) address the recent detection of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in Montgomery County, create a new disease management zone in counties around that area, and adjust seasons accordingly; and (iii) repeal the Fairystone Quality Deer Management Area now that CWD has been detected within 25 miles of this area because disease management actions necessitate more aggressive deer harvest strategies.

4VAC15-20-260. Coyote and furbearer hunting contests.

It shall be unlawful to organize, sponsor, promote, conduct, participate, or solicit participation in a contest or organized competition in which participants are offered cash, prizes, or other inducements of monetary value for capturing or killing coyotes or fur-bearing animals defined in § 29.1-100 of the Code of Virginia. No part of this regulation shall be construed to restrict coyote bounties authorized in § 15.2-926.1 of the Code of Virginia.

4VAC15-90-10. Open season; generally.

A. It shall be lawful to hunt deer in the following localities, including the cities and towns therein, during the following seasons, all dates inclusive.

Locality

Season

Accomack County

Saturday prior to the third Monday in November through the first Saturday in January

Albemarle County

Saturday prior to the third Monday in November through the first Saturday in January

Alleghany County

Saturday prior to the third Monday in November and for 14 consecutive days following

Amelia County

Saturday prior to the third Monday in November through the first Saturday in January

Amherst County (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, except on national forest lands)

Saturday prior to the third Monday in November and for 28 consecutive days following

Amherst County (national forest lands)

Saturday prior to the third Monday in November and for 14 consecutive days following

Amherst County (east of Business U.S. 29, as defined above)

Saturday prior to the third Monday in November through the first Saturday in January

Appomattox County

Saturday prior to the third Monday in November through the first Saturday in January

Arlington County

Saturday prior to the third Monday in November through the first Saturday in January

Arlington County (antlerless deer only)

First Saturday in September through the Friday prior to the first Saturday in October and the Sunday following the first Saturday in January through the last Sunday in March

Augusta County

Saturday prior to the third Monday in November and for 14 consecutive days following

Bath County

Saturday prior to the third Monday in November and for 14 consecutive days following

Bedford County (except on national forest lands)

Saturday prior to the third Monday in November and for 28 consecutive days following

Bedford County (national forest lands)

Saturday prior to the third Monday in November and for 14 consecutive days following

Bland County

Saturday prior to the third Monday in November and for 14 consecutive days following

Botetourt County

Saturday prior to the third Monday in November and for 14 consecutive days following

Brunswick County

Saturday prior to the third Monday in November through the first Saturday in January

Buchanan County

Saturday prior to the third Monday in November and for 14 consecutive days following

Buckingham County

Saturday prior to the third Monday in November through the first Saturday in January

Campbell County

Saturday prior to the third Monday in November through the first Saturday in January

Caroline County

Saturday prior to the third Monday in November through the first Saturday in January

Carroll County

Saturday prior to the third Monday in November and for 14 consecutive days following

Charles City County

Saturday prior to the third Monday in November through the first Saturday in January

Charlotte County

Saturday prior to the third Monday in November through the first Saturday in January

Chesapeake (City of)

October 1 through November 30

Chesterfield County

Saturday prior to the third Monday in November through the first Saturday in January

Clarke County

Saturday prior to the third Monday in November through the first Saturday in January

Clarke County (antlerless deer only)

First Saturday in September through the Friday prior to the first Saturday in October and the Sunday following the first Saturday in January through the last Sunday in March

Craig County

Saturday prior to the third Monday in November and for 14 consecutive days following

Culpeper County (except Chester F. Phelps Wildlife Management Area)

Saturday prior to the third Monday in November through the first Saturday in January

Culpeper County (Chester F. Phelps Wildlife Management Area)

Saturday prior to the third Monday in November and for 14 consecutive days following

Culpeper County (private lands and antlerless deer only)

First Saturday in September through the Friday prior to the first Saturday in October

Culpeper County (disease focus zones defined by the Department, antlerless deer only)

First Saturday in September through the Friday prior to the first Saturday in October and the Sunday following the first Saturday in January through the last Sunday in March

Cumberland County

Saturday prior to the third Monday in November through the first Saturday in January

Dickenson County

Saturday prior to the third Monday in November and for 14 consecutive days following

Dinwiddie County

Saturday prior to the third Monday in November through the first Saturday in January

Essex County

Saturday prior to the third Monday in November through the first Saturday in January

Fairfax County

Saturday prior to the third Monday in November through the first Saturday in January

Fairfax County (antlerless deer only)

First Saturday in September through the Friday prior to the first Saturday in October and the Sunday following the first Saturday in January through the last Sunday in March

Fauquier County (except Chester F. Phelps Wildlife Management Area)

Saturday prior to the third Monday in November through the first Saturday in January

Fauquier County (Chester F. Phelps Wildlife Management Area)

Saturday prior to the third Monday in November and for 14 consecutive days following

Fauquier County (private lands and antlerless deer only)

First Saturday in September through the Friday prior to the first Saturday in October

Fauquier County (disease focus zones defined by the Department, antlerless deer only)

First Saturday in September through the Friday prior to the first Saturday in October and the Sunday following the first Saturday in January through the last Sunday in March

Floyd County

Saturday prior to the third Monday in November and for 28 consecutive days following
Floyd County (disease focus zones defined by the Department, antlerless deer only)

First Saturday in September through the Friday prior to the first Saturday in October and the Sunday following the first Saturday in January through the last Sunday in March

Fluvanna County

Saturday prior to the third Monday in November through the first Saturday in January

Franklin County

Saturday prior to the third Monday in November and for 28 consecutive days following

Frederick County (non-national forest lands)

Saturday prior to the third Monday in November through the first Saturday in January

Frederick County (national forest lands)

Saturday prior to the third Monday in November and for 14 consecutive days following
Frederick County (non-national-forest lands antlerless deer only)

First Saturday in September through the Friday prior to the first Saturday in October and the Sunday following the first Saturday in January through the last Sunday in March

Giles County

Saturday prior to the third Monday in November and for 14 consecutive days following

Gloucester County

Saturday prior to the third Monday in November through the first Saturday in January

Goochland County

Saturday prior to the third Monday in November through the first Saturday in January

Grayson County

Saturday prior to the third Monday in November and for 14 consecutive days following

Greene County

Saturday prior to the third Monday in November through the first Saturday in January

Greensville County

Saturday prior to the third Monday in November through the first Saturday in January

Halifax County

Saturday prior to the third Monday in November through the first Saturday in January

Hanover County

Saturday prior to the third Monday in November through the first Saturday in January

Henrico County

Saturday prior to the third Monday in November through the first Saturday in January

Henry County

Saturday prior to the third Monday in November and for 28 consecutive days following

Highland County

Saturday prior to the third Monday in November and for 14 consecutive days following

Isle of Wight County

Saturday prior to the third Monday in November through the first Saturday in January

James City County

Saturday prior to the third Monday in November through the first Saturday in January

King and Queen County

Saturday prior to the third Monday in November through the first Saturday in January

King George County

Saturday prior to the third Monday in November through the first Saturday in January

King William County

Saturday prior to the third Monday in November through the first Saturday in January

Lancaster County

Saturday prior to the third Monday in November through the first Saturday in January

Lee County

Saturday prior to the third Monday in November and for 14 consecutive days following

Loudoun County

Saturday prior to the third Monday in November through the first Saturday in January

Loudoun County (antlerless deer only)

First Saturday in September through the Friday prior to the first Saturday in October and the Sunday following the first Saturday in January through the last Sunday in March

Louisa County

Saturday prior to the third Monday in November through the first Saturday in January

Lunenburg County

Saturday prior to the third Monday in November through the first Saturday in January

Madison County

Saturday prior to the third Monday in November through the first Saturday in January

Madison County (private lands and antlerless deer only)

First Saturday in September through the Friday prior to the first Saturday in October

Madison County (disease focus zones defined by the Department, antlerless deer only)

First Saturday in September through the Friday prior to the first Saturday in October and the Sunday following the first Saturday in January through the last Sunday in March

Mathews County

Saturday prior to the third Monday in November through the first Saturday in January

Mecklenburg County

Saturday prior to the third Monday in November through the first Saturday in January

Middlesex County

Saturday prior to the third Monday in November through the first Saturday in January

Montgomery County (non-national forest lands)

Saturday prior to the third Monday in November and for 14 28 consecutive days following

Montgomery County (national forest lands)

Saturday prior to the third Monday in November and for 14 consecutive days following

Montgomery County (disease focus zones defined by the Department, antlerless deer only)

First Saturday in September through the Friday prior to the first Saturday in October and the Sunday following the first Saturday in January through the last Sunday in March

Nelson County
(west of Route 151, except on national forest lands)

Saturday prior to the third Monday in November and for 28 consecutive days following

Nelson County (national forest lands)

Saturday prior to the third Monday in November and for 14 consecutive days following

Nelson County
(east of Route 151)

Saturday prior to the third Monday in November through the first Saturday in January

New Kent County

Saturday prior to the third Monday in November through the first Saturday in January

Northampton County

Saturday prior to the third Monday in November through the first Saturday in January

Northumberland County

Saturday prior to the third Monday in November through the first Saturday in January

Nottoway County

Saturday prior to the third Monday in November through the first Saturday in January

Orange County

Saturday prior to the third Monday in November through the first Saturday in January

Orange County (private lands and antlerless deer only)

First Saturday in September through the Friday prior to the first Saturday in October

Orange County (disease focus zones defined by the Department, antlerless deer only)

First Saturday in September through the Friday prior to the first Saturday in October and the Sunday following the first Saturday in January through the last Sunday in March

Page County

Saturday prior to the third Monday in November and for 14 consecutive days following
Page County (disease focus zones defined by the Department, antlerless deer only)

First Saturday in September through the Friday prior to the first Saturday in October and the Sunday following the first Saturday in January through the last Sunday in March

Patrick County

Saturday prior to the third Monday in November and for 28 consecutive days following

Pittsylvania County

Saturday prior to the third Monday in November through the first Saturday in January

Powhatan County

Saturday prior to the third Monday in November through the first Saturday in January

Prince Edward County

Saturday prior to the third Monday in November through the first Saturday in January

Prince George County

Saturday prior to the third Monday in November through the first Saturday in January

Prince William County

Saturday prior to the third Monday in November through the first Saturday in January

Prince William County (antlerless deer only)

First Saturday in September through the Friday prior to the first Saturday in October and the Sunday following the first Saturday in January through the last Sunday in March

Pulaski County (except on New River Unit of the Radford Army Ammunition Plant adjacent to the Town of Dublin and national forest lands)

Saturday prior to the third Monday in November and for 14 28 consecutive days following

Pulaski County (New River Unit of the Radford Army Ammunition Plant adjacent to the Town of Dublin)

Saturday prior to the second Monday in November through the first Saturday in January

Pulaski County (national forest lands)

Saturday prior to the third Monday in November and for 14 consecutive days following

Pulaski County (disease focus zones defined by the Department, antlerless deer only)

First Saturday in September through the Friday prior to the first Saturday in October and the Sunday following the first Saturday in January through the last Sunday in March

Rappahannock County

Saturday prior to the third Monday in November through the first Saturday in January

Rappahannock County (private lands and antlerless deer only)

First Saturday in September through the Friday prior to the first Saturday in October

Rappahannock County (disease focus zones defined by the Department, antlerless deer only)

First Saturday in September through the Friday prior to the first Saturday in October and the Sunday following the first Saturday in January through the last Sunday in March

Richmond County

Saturday prior to the third Monday in November through the first Saturday in January

Roanoke County

Saturday prior to the third Monday in November and for 14 consecutive days following

Rockbridge County

Saturday prior to the third Monday in November and for 14 consecutive days following

Rockingham County

Saturday prior to the third Monday in November and for 14 consecutive days following

Russell County

Saturday prior to the third Monday in November and for 14 consecutive days following

Scott County

Saturday prior to the third Monday in November and for 14 consecutive days following

Shenandoah County

Saturday prior to the third Monday in November and for 14 consecutive days following
Shenandoah County (non-national forest lands antlerless deer only)

First Saturday in September through the Friday prior to the first Saturday in October and the Sunday following the first Saturday in January through the last Sunday in March

Smyth County

Saturday prior to the third Monday in November and for 14 consecutive days following

Southampton County

Saturday prior to the third Monday in November through the first Saturday in January

Spotsylvania County

Saturday prior to the third Monday in November through the first Saturday in January

Stafford County

Saturday prior to the third Monday in November through the first Saturday in January

Suffolk (City of)
(east of Dismal Swamp Line)

October 1 through November 30

Suffolk (City of)
(west of Dismal Swamp Line)

Saturday prior to the third Monday in November through the first Saturday in January

Surry County

Saturday prior to the third Monday in November through the first Saturday in January

Sussex County

Saturday prior to the third Monday in November through the first Saturday in January

Tazewell County

Saturday prior to the third Monday in November and for 14 consecutive days following

Virginia Beach (City of)

October 1 through November 30

Warren County

Saturday prior to the third Monday in November and for 14 consecutive days following
Warren (non-national forest lands antlerless deer only)

First Saturday in September through the Friday prior to the first Saturday in October and the Sunday following the first Saturday in January through the last Sunday in March

Washington County

Saturday prior to the third Monday in November and for 14 consecutive days following

Westmoreland County

Saturday prior to the third Monday in November through the first Saturday in January

Wise County

Saturday prior to the third Monday in November and for 14 consecutive days following

Wythe County

Saturday prior to the third Monday in November and for 14 consecutive days following

York County

Saturday prior to the third Monday in November through the first Saturday in January

B. Except as provided in subsection A of this section, east of the Blue Ridge Mountains deer may be hunted from the Saturday prior to the third Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive, within the incorporated limits of any city or town that allows deer hunting.

C. Except as provided in subsection A of this section, west of the Blue Ridge Mountains deer may be hunted from the Saturday prior to the third Monday in November and for 14 consecutive days following within the incorporated limits of any city or town that allows deer hunting.

4VAC15-90-290. Special quality deer management areas. (Repealed.)

A. The board hereby designates the following areas posted by the Department of Wildlife Resources as special quality deer management areas with special antlered buck harvest.

B. Special Fairystone quality deer management area. It shall be unlawful to kill an antlered deer on the special Fairystone quality deer management area unless the deer has at least four antler points, each greater than one inch in length, on either the right or left antler.

VA.R. Doc. No. R21-6836; Filed June 15, 2021