Hunting, Fishing and Boating Crimes in Virginia

Virginia Hunting and Fishing Laws

What do you do if you have been arrested or summonsed by an officer for a violation of Virginia’s hunting or fishing laws?  Contact an attorney who understands not only the law, but hunting and fishing regulations in Virginia.  Virginia has a long history of hunting and fishing.  The lawyers at Jurach, Tacey & Quitiquit grew up in the Virginia outdoors hunting and fishing.  This helps our attorneys understand the rules and regulations relating to hunting and fishing laws.  There are hundreds of laws that cover the definitions, regulations and penalties for both hunting and fishing laws in Virginia.  The Virginia Dept of Game and Inland Fisheries  regulates hunting, fishing, and boating those laws can be found in Tile 29.1 of the Virginia code.  This does not include other laws regulating other behavior, regulating driving and property rights among others, which can present themselves while you are enjoying the outdoors.  Let one of the experienced lawyers at Jurach, Tacey & Quitiquit help you if you have been charged with a violation of hunting or fishing laws in Virginia.

Common Hunting and Fishing Laws and Regulations

§ 29.1-335 Hunting, trapping or fishing without a license

No person shall hunt, trap, or fish without having obtained a license when such a license is required. For the purposes of this article, the term “license” shall include any temporary license issued by a clerk or agent to a buyer and authorized to be used in a manner prescribed by the Director. Any person who violates this section shall be guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor and shall pay to the clerk a fee equal to the cost of the required license to be paid into the state treasury and credited to the game protection fund.  The purchase of a license subsequent to an arrest or notice of summons to appear in court for hunting, trapping or fishing without a license shall not relieve the person from the penalties specified in this section.

§ 18.2-136: Retrieving hunting dogs from the land of another

Fox hunters and coon hunters, when the chase begins on other lands, may follow their dogs on prohibited lands, and hunters of all other game, when the chase begins on other lands, may go upon prohibited lands to retrieve their dogs, falcons, hawks, or owls but may not carry firearms or bows and arrows on their persons or hunt any game while thereon. The use of vehicles to retrieve dogs, falcons, hawks, or owls on prohibited lands shall be allowed only with the permission of the landowner or his agent. Any person who goes on prohibited lands to retrieve his dogs, falcons, hawks, or owls pursuant to this section and who willfully refuses to identify himself when requested by the landowner or his agent to do so is guilty of a Class 4 misdemeanor.

§ 29.1-338. Revocation of license; penalties

If any person is found guilty of violating (i) any of the provisions of the hunting, trapping, or inland fish laws, any provisions of 15.2-915.2, 15.2-1209.1, 18.2-131 through 18.2-135 and 18.2-285 through 18.2-286.1, or any regulations adopted by the Board pursuant thereto, a second time within three years of a previous conviction of violating any such law or regulation,or (ii) any provisions of law or ordinance governing the dumping of refuse,trash or other litter, while engaged in hunting, trapping or fishing, the license issued to such person shall be revoked by the court trying the case and that person shall not apply for a new license until twelve months succeeding the date of conviction. The court may also prohibit the convicted person from obtaining any license to hunt, fish, or trap in the Commonwealth for a period of one year to five years. If found hunting, trapping or fishing during this prohibited period, the person shall be guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor. Licenses revoked shall be sent to the Director.