Bill Text: VA HB995 | 2018 | Regular Session | Prefiled
Bill Title: Dogs; licensed hunter may track a wounded bear, turkey, or deer with certain weapon.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2018-03-23 - Governor: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0447) [HB995 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2018-HB995-Prefiled.html
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That §29.1-516.1 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted and that the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 29.1-305.3 as follows:
§29.1-305.3. Special license to find a wounded or dead bear or deer with tracking dogs.
There shall be a special license for finding a wounded or dead bear or deer with tracking dogs maintained and controlled on a lead. The fee for the special license shall be the same as any license required by § 29.1-303.
§29.1-516.1. Using tracking dogs to find a wounded or dead bear or deer; humane killing permitted.
Tracking A. A tracker
licensed pursuant to §29.1-305.3 may
use tracking dogs maintained and controlled on a lead may be used to find a wounded
or dead bear or deer statewide during any archery, muzzleloader, or firearm
bear or deer hunting season, or within 24 hours of the end of such season,
provided that he is engaged by a licensed
hunter to track such animal and those who are involved in
the retrieval effort have permission to hunt on or to access the land being
searched and do not have any weapons in their possession unless exempted pursuant to subsection B.
B. A tracker licensed pursuant to §29.1-305.3 may have in his possession a weapon permitted under this title and may use such weapon to humanely kill the wounded bear or deer being tracked. Such weapon shall not be used to hunt, wound, or kill any animal other than the animal that the holder has been engaged to track, except in self-defense.
2. That the Board of Game and Inland Fisheries shall adopt regulations pertaining to the license to find a wounded or dead bear or deer with tracking dogs and regulations for the safe practice of tracking with dogs maintained and controlled on a lead.
