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Virginia Administrative Code
Title 4. Conservation And Natural Resources
Agency 15. Department of Wildlife Resources
Chapter 50. Game: Bear
11/21/2024

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. Muzzleloading guns, for the purpose of this section, include:

1. Single shot muzzleloading rifles.40 caliber or larger, firing a single projectile or sabot (with a.35 caliber or larger projectile) where the projectile is loaded from the muzzle;

2. Muzzleloading shotguns (one or more barrels) not larger than 10 gauge where the projectiles are loaded from the muzzle;

3. Muzzleloading pistols (one or more barrels).45 caliber or larger, firing a single projectile or sabot (with a.35 caliber or larger projectile) per barrel where the propellant and projectile are loaded from the muzzle; and

4. Muzzleloading revolvers.45 caliber or larger, firing a single projectile or sabot (with a.35 caliber or larger projectile) per cylinder where the propellant and projectile are loaded from the forward end of the cylinder.

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.

Statutory Authority

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

Historical Notes

Derived from Virginia Register Volume 19, Issue 19, eff. July 1, 2003; amended, Virginia Register Volume 22, Issue 19, eff. July 1, 2006; Volume 24, Issue 24, eff. July 8, 2008; Volume 25, Issue 25, eff. August 1, 2009; Volume 27, Issue 23, eff. July 1, 2011; Volume 27, Issue 25, eff. August 1, 2011; Volume 30, Issue 24, eff. August 1, 2014; Volume 33, Issue 23, eff. August 1, 2017; Volume 35, Issue 23, eff. August 1, 2019; Volume 37, Issue 22, eff. July 1, 2021.

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