CHAPTER 345
An Act to amend and reenact §29.1-516 of the Code of
Virginia, relating to the hunting of foxes with dogs.
[H 1829]
Approved March 14, 2013
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That §29.1-516 of the Code of Virginia is amended and
reenacted as follows:
§29.1-516. Game animals.
The following provisions shall apply to the killing and
hunting of the particular game animals listed:
Black bear. - Black A black bear may be killed
by any person when (i) it is inflicting or attempting to inflict injury to a
person, or (ii) when a person is in pursuit of the bear commenced
immediately after the commission of such offense. Any person killing a bear
under this provision shall immediately report the killing to a state
conservation police officer.
Deer. - It shall be is unlawful for a person to
kill or attempt to kill a deer in the water of any stream, lake, or
pond. It shall be is unlawful to hunt deer with dogs in the
counties west of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Fox. - There shall be is a continuous open
season for hunting with dogs only. The hunting or pursuit of foxes shall mean
the actual following of the dogs while in pursuit of a fox or foxes or the
managing of the dog or dogs, including by the use of a Global
Positioning System (GPS) or other electronic tracking device, while the fox
or foxes are being hunted or pursued. Nothing in this section shall preclude
the managing of dogs by the use of a GPS or other electronic tracking device by
hunters when hunting other game animals. Foxes may be killed at any time by
the owner or tenant of any land when such animals are doing damage to domestic
stock or fowl.
Rabbits and squirrels. - It shall be is unlawful
to kill rabbits and or squirrels during the closed season;
however, the following persons may kill rabbits or squirrels for their own use
during the closed season:
1. A landowner and members of his immediate family;
2. Resident members of hunt clubs who own the land in fee,
either jointly or through a holding company;
3. Tenants residing on the premises, with the written
permission of the landowner.
When such animals are committing substantial damage to fruit
trees, gardens, crops, or other property, the owner of the premises may kill
the animals or have them killed under a permit obtained from the conservation
police officer.
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