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Virginia Administrative Code
Title 4. Conservation And Natural Resources
Agency 15. Department of Wildlife Resources
Chapter 40. Game: In General
1/7/2026

4VAC15-40-280. Department-owned, controlled, or managed lands; annual permit for hunting on lands managed by the department.

A. The open seasons for hunting and trapping as well as hours, methods of taking, and bag limits for department-owned or department-controlled lands, or lands managed by the department under cooperative agreement shall conform to the regulations of the board, unless excepted by posted rules established by the director or the director's designee. Such posted rules shall be displayed at each recognized entrance to the land where the posted rules are in effect.

B. Department-owned lands shall be open to the public for wildlife observation and for hunting, fishing, trapping, and boating as prescribed by 4VAC15-320-100 under the regulations of the board. Other activities deemed appropriate by the director or the director's designee may be allowed by posted rules, by written authorization from the director or the director's designee, or by special permit.

C. No person shall hunt on lands managed by the department through a lease agreement or other similar memorandum of agreement where the department issues an annual hunting permit without having purchased a valid annual hunting permit.

D. Activities that are not generally or specifically authorized in accordance with subsections A through C of this section are prohibited and shall constitute a violation of this regulation.

Statutory Authority

§ 29.1-501 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from VR325-02-1 § 27, eff. July 1, 1995; amended, Virginia Register Volume 15, Issue 19, eff. July 7, 1999; Volume 17, Issue 19, eff. July 4, 2001; Volume 21, Issue 1, eff. October 20, 2004; Volume 31, Issue 25, eff. August 1, 2015; Volume 42, Issue 8, eff. January 1, 2026.

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