Title 29.1, Title 29.1. Wildlife, Inland Fisheries and Boating

It shall be unlawful to hunt migratory waterfowl on the public waters and shores east of Interstate Route 95 in the Commonwealth from unlicensed stationary or floating blinds. For the purposes of this article, "public waters" means public waters that are navigable in fact. Any pe…

For the purposes of this article, a stationary blind means a structure erected at a fixed location either on the shores of the public waters or in the public waters for the purpose of hunting and shooting waterfowl. A stationary blind shall be (i) of such size and strength that i…

Notwithstanding the provisions of § 29.1-340, clubs holding stationary waterfowl blind licenses in Virginia Beach may continue to renew stationary blinds in the public waters. In areas other than Virginia Beach, individuals who do not own riparian rights shall be permitted to lic…

Floating blinds shall mean floating blinds permitted by law in the public waters. They may be used in any position in public waters at different locations from day to day if the blind is anchored the required distance from any other blind, unless agreed otherwise between the part…

The Department shall not license any stationary waterfowl blind in any area of Hunting Creek, Little Hunting Creek, or Dogue Creek in which the local governing body prohibits by ordinance the hunting of birds with a firearm.

The fees for waterfowl blind licenses shall be as follows or as such fees may be subsequently revised by the Board pursuant to § 29.1-103: 1. For a stationary blind erected in the public waters or on the shores of the riparian owner to shoot over the public waters, seventeen doll…

A. Notwithstanding the provisions of § 29.1-340, each year, the owners of riparian rights, their lessees or permittees shall have the exclusive privilege of licensing and erecting stationary blinds on their shoreline, and the prior right of licensing and erecting stationary blind…

Notwithstanding the provisions of § 29.1-340, the owners of riparian rights or their invitees shall not be required to obtain a stationary blind license when hunting waterfowl from such a blind located on the riparian owner's property. However, a stationary blind license shall be…

A. Riparian owners or their lessees or permittees licensing a stationary blind that was not licensed the previous year by the riparian owner, lessee, or permittee may obtain a stationary blind license beginning February 1 through June 15 of each year pursuant to § 29.1-344. A sta…

A. Unless a license has been obtained pursuant to § 29.1-344, and a stake or a blind has been erected and marked within the time stated as specified in § 29.1-344, in any year, the owners of riparian rights, their lessees or permittees shall forfeit the privilege of licensing bli…

A. A nonriparian license for a stationary blind in the public waters that was licensed the previous year as a nonriparian stationary blind may be obtained by the previous year's licensee beginning July 1 through August 15 pursuant to § 29.1-345. A stake or blind shall be erected …

Any licensee who has a stationary blind located in the City of Virginia Beach that has been abandoned or does not meet the requirements for a blind set forth in § 29.1-341 shall place a PVC pipe marker with reflecting tape or gear six feet above mean low water at the site of the …

Licenses for floating blinds permitted by law, in the public waters, may be obtained on and after July 1. Floating blinds shall have a license plate supplied with the license for that season affixed to the blind. Floating blinds, including any accompanying boat or tender, shall a…

The holders of licenses first issued under this article may renew the same privileges each succeeding year by licensing within the time required and placing the license tag on the stake or blind as required by this article. The exclusive privileges prescribed with respect to owne…

All applications for blind licenses under this article shall be made to the local license agent or clerk of the circuit court of the county or city in which or nearest which the blind site is located or through an electronic or computerized means determined by the Director. The c…

A. No person shall hunt or shoot migratory waterfowl in the public waters of this Commonwealth from a boat, float, raft or other buoyant craft or device within 500 yards of any legally licensed erected stationary blind of another without the consent of the licensee, or within 150…

The provisions of this article shall not apply to the shores and public waters and marshes of Accomack and Northampton Counties. However, in those localities no person shall hunt migratory waterfowl, whether from a blind or otherwise, without having obtained a season license to h…

The Department shall develop a singular license for all riparian stationary blinds issued to the Middle Peninsula Chesapeake Bay Public Access Authority created pursuant to Chapter 66 (§ 15.2-6600 et seq.) of Title 15.2 and the Northern Neck Chesapeake Bay Public Access Authority…

The Board shall have the power to amend or alter the provisions of this article by regulation prescribing a distance less than 500 yards between blinds whenever and wherever such action seems practicable and desirable. The Board may adopt other regulations concerning the use of s…

Unless otherwise specified, any person who violates any of the provisions of this article shall be guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor.

There is hereby established a damage stamp program to provide for an available source of funds to be used to compensate damage to crops, fruit trees, commercially grown Christmas trees, nursery stock, livestock, colonies of bees, bee equipment and appliances, as defined in § 3.2-…

A. Any local governing body may adopt an ordinance consistent with the provisions of this article for the purpose of establishing a damage stamp program. No such ordinance shall be in force between May 1 of any year and the following April 30 whenever the amount of money in this …

It shall be unlawful for any person to hunt bear, deer or elk in any locality adopting a damage stamp ordinance within the Commonwealth without having first obtained the special stamp. A violation of this provision shall be punishable as a Class 3 misdemeanor. The annual fee for …

All moneys received from the sale of the special stamps shall be paid into the local treasury to the credit of a special damage stamp fund and identified by the year in which the moneys were collected. The special fund shall be used for the following purposes: 1. Payment for dama…

Any person suffering damage pursuant to the provisions of this article shall report the damage to a locally designated official whose duty it shall be to have the damage investigated. The claim for damage shall be filed under oath and in a manner and form as may be prescribed by …

In any instance in which compensable damage is alleged to have been caused by an individual hunter whose whereabouts are known and when it is reasonable and practicable to do so, the claimant shall first proceed against such hunter in a civil action before any payment is made pur…

Any locality establishing a damage stamp program pursuant to the provisions of this article, including those localities previously authorized to adopt such an ordinance prior to July 1, 1981, shall ensure that annual reports of all damage claims made and the amount of reimburseme…

It shall be unlawful to buy, sell, barter, exchange, traffic or trade in, bargain for, solicit for purchase, or possess the hides, furs or pelts of wild animals, or otherwise deal in fur as a business, without having first obtained a permit, subject to the exemptions in § 29.1-40…

A. A permit shall not be required of any hunter or trapper to possess or dispose of the hides, furs or pelts of wild animals legally shot or caught by him nor of any person lawfully engaging in the business of fur farming to possess or to dispose of the hides, furs or pelts of wi…

A. The fee for a permit to buy, sell, barter, exchange, traffic or trade in, bargain for, solicit for purchase, or possess the hides, furs or pelts of wild animals shall be as follows: 1. State resident, $50. 2. State nonresident, $125. B. The permit shall be issued in the name o…

All fur permits shall be for the fiscal year, July 1 through June 30, and shall be obtained from the Department by written application.

The qualifications for securing resident county and state hunting and fishing licenses shall apply to obtaining permits under this article.

The Director may require each permit holder to submit, within ten days after the end of each fiscal year, a detailed activities report in a form as the Director may prescribe.

The violation of any of the terms of this article shall constitute a Class 3 misdemeanor. Furthermore, the trial court shall revoke the permit of the fur dealer, and he shall not have a similar permit for that season or for the succeeding season. He may, however, be eligible for …

Any furs found in the possession of any person or firm and acquired in violation of this article shall be forfeited to the Commonwealth. The proceedings for forfeiture shall conform as far as practicable to the provisions of Chapter 22.1 (§ 19.2-386.1 et seq.) of Title 19.2, and …

No person shall hunt, fish, or trap on any lands in the national forests in this Commonwealth without first obtaining, in addition to the regular resident or nonresident license, a special permit to hunt, fish, or trap on such areas in the national forests as the Board and the Fo…

The special national forest permit may be obtained from the clerk or agent of any county or city whose duty it is to sell hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses. The fee for the special permit shall be three dollars.

The funds derived from the sale of the special permits shall be used by the Director for game and fish management purposes within the national forests in this Commonwealth, or, in the discretion of the Board, shall be paid into the United States treasury as a cooperative deposit …

The Board shall enter into a cooperative agreement with the United States Forest Service. The cooperative agreement shall define the means and methods to be taken to improve the fish and game resources of the national forests of this Commonwealth and shall program the expenditure…

It shall be unlawful to exercise any privilege of the permits provided in this article without first having obtained the required permit. Any person who violates any provision of this article shall be guilty of a Class 4 misdemeanor, and the permit shall be revoked.

The issuance of all of the permits provided by this article shall be within the discretion of the Board, under regulations it may prescribe, and contingent on reports as it may require. The Board is authorized to establish a starting and ending date for each type of permit issued…

The fee for a permit to stuff or mount birds, animals, fish or parts thereof, for compensation or for sale shall be forty dollars per year. The Board may promulgate regulations pertaining to the sale of unclaimed or mounted specimens or parts thereof.

A. The fee for a permit to net fish in inland waters, for private table use, or for sale where permitted, shall be as follows: 1. County dip net, three dollars and fifty cents each per year; 2. Gill net, eight dollars each per year; 3. Haul seine, seventeen dollars and fifty cent…

A. The Board may permit a licensee to use eel pots to take American eels in the waters of Back Bay and North Landing River and their tributaries for sale or private use. B. The annual fee for a permit to set eel pots in the waters of Back Bay and North Landing River and their tri…

A. The fee for a permit to capture, hold, propagate, and dispose of wildlife for purposes authorized by the Board shall be an amount sufficient to defray the costs of processing the permit and administering the permitted activity. However, in no instance shall the fees establishe…

The fee for a permit to collect specimens of fish, wild birds, wild animals and amphibians, in limited quantity, for scientific or museum purposes shall be established pursuant to § 29.1-417. Such permits may be issued to collect a certain number of specimens of one or more desig…