Current through Register Vol. 41, No. 3, September 23, 2024
A. It shall
be lawful to hunt deer during the early special muzzleloading season with
muzzleloading guns from the Saturday prior to the first Monday in November
through the Friday prior to the third Monday in November, both dates inclusive,
in all cities, towns, and counties where deer hunting with a rifle or
muzzleloading gun is permitted, except in the Cities of Chesapeake, Suffolk
(east of the Dismal Swamp Line), and Virginia Beach.
B. It shall be lawful to hunt deer during the
late special muzzleloading season with muzzleloading guns starting 21
consecutive days immediately prior to and on the first Saturday in January:
1. In all cities, towns, and counties west of
the Blue Ridge Mountains (except Clarke County and on non-national forest lands
in Frederick County);
2. East of
the Blue Ridge Mountains in the Counties (including the cities and towns
within) of Amherst (west of Business U.S. 29 from the James River to its
intersection with U.S. 29 just south of the Town of Amherst continuing north on
U.S. 29 to the Tye River), Bedford, Franklin, Henry, Nelson (west of Route
151), and Patrick;
3. On national
forest lands in Frederick County; and
4. In the Cities of Chesapeake, Suffolk (east
of the Dismal Swamp Line), and Virginia Beach.
C. Deer of either sex may be taken during the
entire early special muzzleloading season east of the Blue Ridge Mountains
unless otherwise noted in this subsection:
1.
Deer of either sex may be taken on the second Saturday only of the early
special muzzleloading season on state forest lands, state park lands (except
Occoneechee State Park), department-owned lands (except on Merrimac Farm
Wildlife Management Area), and Philpott Reservoir.
2. Antlered bucks only-no either-sex deer
hunting days during the early special muzzleloading season on national forest
lands in Amherst, Bedford, and Nelson Counties.
D. Deer of either sex may be taken on the
second Saturday only during the early special muzzleloading season west of the
Blue Ridge Mountains unless otherwise noted in this subsection.
1. Deer of either sex may be taken during the
entire early special muzzleloading season in Clarke and Floyd Counties and on
private lands in Augusta, Botetourt, Carroll, Frederick, Grayson, Montgomery,
Page, Pulaski, Roanoke, Rockingham (east of Routes 613 and 731), Scott, Smyth,
Shenandoah, Warren, and Wythe Counties.
2. Antlered bucks only-no either-sex deer
hunting days during the early special muzzleloading season in Buchanan County;
on federal lands in Dickenson County; on department-owned land in Russell
County; on national forest lands in Alleghany, Bland, Craig, Frederick, Giles,
Grayson, Lee, Montgomery, Page, Pulaski, Rockingham, Scott, Shenandoah, Warren,
and Wise Counties; on national forest and department-owned lands in Augusta,
Bath, Botetourt, Carroll, Highland (except Highland Wildlife Management Area),
Roanoke, Rockbridge, Smyth, Tazewell, Washington, and Wythe Counties; on
Channels State Forest, Grayson Highlands State Park, Hungry Mother State Park;
and on private lands west of Routes 613 and 731 in Rockingham County.
E. Deer of either sex may be taken
during the last six days of the late special muzzleloading season unless
otherwise listed in this subsection:
1. Deer
of either sex may be taken full season during the entire late special
muzzleloading season in the Counties (including the cities and towns within) of
Amherst (west of Business U.S. 29 from the James River to its intersection with
U.S. 29 just south of the Town of Amherst continuing north on U.S. 29 to the
Tye River, except on national forest lands), Bedford (except on national forest
lands), Floyd, Franklin, Henry, Nelson (west of Route 151, except on national
forest lands), and Patrick and on private lands in Augusta, Botetourt, Carroll,
Craig, Giles, Grayson, Montgomery, Page, Pulaski, Roanoke, Rockingham (east of
Routes 613 and 731), Scott, Smyth, Shenandoah, Warren, and Wythe
Counties.
2. Deer of either sex may
be taken the last day only during the late special muzzleloading season in
Alleghany, Bath, Highland, Lee, Russell, Tazewell, and Wise Counties; on
national forest lands in Amherst, Bedford, Bland, Craig, Frederick, Giles,
Grayson, Montgomery, Nelson, Page, Pulaski, Rockingham, Scott, Shenandoah, and
Warren Counties; on national forest and department-owned lands in Augusta,
Botetourt, Carroll, Roanoke, Rockbridge, Smyth, Washington, and Wythe Counties;
and on private lands west of Routes 613 and 731 in Rockingham County, Channels
State Forest, Grayson Highlands State Park, and Hungry Mother State
Park.
3. Antlered bucks only-no
either-sex deer hunting days during the late special muzzleloading season in
Buchanan County.
F. Deer
of either sex may be taken full season during the special muzzleloading seasons
within the incorporated limits of any city or town in the Commonwealth that
allows deer hunting except in the Cities of Chesapeake, Suffolk, and Virginia
Beach.
G. It shall be unlawful to
hunt deer with dogs during any special season for hunting with muzzleloading
guns, except that tracking dogs as described in § 29.1-516.1 of the Code
of Virginia may be used.
H.
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;
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.
I. 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.
