Virginia Law

Article 7. Hunting and Trapping in State Forests.

No person shall hunt or trap in this Commonwealth on any lands which are under the jurisdiction and control of the Department by virtue of purchase, gift, lease or otherwise, and are administered as state forests, without first obtaining, in addition to other licenses and permits required by law, special use permits required by the State Forester pursuant to this article.

Code 1950, § 10-68; 1986, c. 567; 1988, c. 891.

A. The State Forester is authorized to require any person who engages in certain activities authorized by regulations promulgated by the Department on any of the lands described in § 10.1-1151 to obtain a special use permit. A special use permit to engage in these activities on any such lands shall be issued for a fee established by regulations promulgated by the Department.

B. The State Forester is also authorized to enter into an agreement with the Department of Wildlife Resources under which the Department of Wildlife Resources will include permits required under subsection A in its program for the sale of permits and licenses by the means and to the extent authorized by § 29.1-327.

Code 1950, § 10-69; 1984, c. 715; 1986, cc. 539, 567; 1988, c. 891; 1993, c. 260; 2006, c. 13; 2007, c. 646; 2009, c. 297; 2012, c. 484; 2014, c. 141; 2020, c. 958.

Each special use permit shall entitle the holder to hunt and trap, or to trap, in and upon such lands of the state forests as shall be determined by the State Forester and designated on the permit, subject to all other applicable provisions of law or regulations of the Department of Wildlife Resources and to such further conditions and restrictions for safeguarding the state forests as may be imposed by the State Forester and indicated on the permit. In addition to the other provisions of law applicable to hunting and trapping on the lands of the Commonwealth, the State Forester is authorized to impose such restrictions and conditions upon hunting and trapping in the state forests as he deems proper. No such restriction or condition shall be effective for the permit holder unless the restriction or condition is written, printed, stamped or otherwise indicated on the permit.

Code 1950, § 10-70; 1986, c. 567; 1988, c. 891; 2020, c. 958.

Repealed by Acts 2007, c. 646, cl. 2.

All funds paid into the state treasury pursuant to § 10.1-1152 shall be credited to the Department and maintained in the Reforestation Operations Fund to be expended annually, in the following order:

1. From the annual gross receipts, there shall be paid the costs of preparing and issuing the permits, including compensation to the Department of Wildlife Resources, which is authorized to sell state forest special use permits;

2. The remainder may be expended by the State Forester for operation and management in such state forests. All funds expended by the State Forester in the development, management, and protection of the game resources in state forests shall be in cooperation with the Department of Wildlife Resources.

Code 1950, § 10-73; 1986, c. 567; 1988, c. 891; 2007, c. 646; 2012, cc. 197, 248; 2020, c. 958.

Any person who hunts or traps in violation of any provision of this article, or in violation of restrictions and conditions imposed by the State Forester pursuant to the provisions of § 10.1-1153 shall be guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor.

Code 1950, § 10-74; 1986, cc. 539, 567; 1988, c. 891; 2010, c. 8.