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Virginia Administrative Code
Title 4. Conservation And Natural Resources
Agency 15. Department of Wildlife Resources
Chapter 50. Game: Bear
10/31/2025

4VAC15-50-120. Bear hound training season.

A. It shall be lawful to chase black bear with dogs, without capturing or taking, from August 1 through the last Saturday in September, both dates inclusive, in the Counties of Albemarle, Alleghany, Amherst, Augusta, Bath, Bedford, Bland, Botetourt, Brunswick, Buchanan, Carroll, Charlotte, Craig, Culpeper, Dickenson, Floyd, Franklin, Giles, Grayson (east of Route 16), Greene, Greensville, Highland, Lee, Lunenburg, Madison, Mecklenburg, Montgomery, Nelson, Page, Pulaski, Rappahannock, Roanoke (west of I-81), Rockbridge, Rockingham, Russell, Scott, Shenandoah, Smyth (except for the part southeast of I-81 and west of State Route 16), Tazewell, Warren, Washington (northwest of I-81), Wise, and Wythe and in the Cities of Chesapeake, Suffolk, and Virginia Beach.

B. It shall be lawful to chase black bear with dogs, without capturing or taking, from the Saturday prior to the third Monday in November and for 14 days following, both dates inclusive, in the Counties of Amelia, Brunswick, Campbell (east of the Norfolk Southern Railroad), Charles City, Cumberland, Dinwiddie, Essex, Gloucester, Greensville, Isle of Wight, James City, King and Queen, King George, King William, Lancaster, Lunenburg, Mathews, Middlesex, New Kent, Northumberland, Nottoway, Pittsylvania (east of the Norfolk Southern Railroad), Prince George, Richmond, Southampton, Surry, Sussex, Westmoreland, and York.

C. It shall be lawful to chase black bear with dogs, without capturing or taking, from the Saturday prior to the third Monday in November and for 12 days following, both dates inclusive, in the Counties of Appomattox and Buckingham.

D. It shall be lawful to chase black bear with dogs, without capturing or taking, from the Saturday prior to the third Monday in November and for eight days following, both dates inclusive, in the Counties of Charlotte, Halifax, Mecklenburg, and Prince Edward.

E. It shall be lawful to chase black bear with dogs, without capturing or taking, from the first Monday of December and for 19 days following, excluding Sundays, in the Counties of Albemarle, Alleghany, Amherst, Appomattox, Augusta, Bath, Bedford, Botetourt, Buckingham, Clarke, Culpeper, Fauquier, Frederick, Greene, Highland, Madison, Nelson, Page, Rappahannock, Rockbridge, Rockingham, Shenandoah, and Warren.

F. It shall be unlawful to use any firearm, bow, crossbow, or any weapon legally permissible for taking a black bear for the specific purpose of harvesting or killing a black bear while participating in the bear hound training season.

Statutory Authority

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

Historical Notes

Derived from VR325-02-2 § 12, eff. July 15, 1992; amended, Virginia Register Volume 13, Issue 18, eff. July 1, 1997; Volume 15, Issue 19, eff. July 1, 1999; Volume 19, Issue 19, eff. July 1, 2003; Volume 22, Issue 19, eff. July 1, 2006; Volume 25, Issue 25, eff. August 1, 2009; Volume 29, Issue 25, eff. August 15, 2013; Volume 30, Issue 24, eff. August 1, 2014; Volume 31, Issue 25, eff. August 1, 2015; Volume 32, Issue 2, eff. September 4, 2015; Volume 33, Issue 23, eff. August 1, 2017; Volume 35, Issue 23, eff. August 1, 2019; Volume 37, Issue 22, eff. July 1, 2021; Volume 41, Issue 26, eff. September 1, 2025.

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