{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/29.1-525.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/29.1-525.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/29.1-525.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/29.1-525.html"}],"law_id":68411,"edition_id":1,"section_id":68411,"structure_id":13514,"section_number":"29.1-525","catch_line":"Employment of lights under certain circumstances upon places used by deer","history":"1962, c. 520, \u00a7 29-144.4; 1973, c. 369; 1974, c. 101; 1980, cc. 602, 607, \u00a7 29-144.4:1; 1981, c. 60; 1987, c. 488; 1988, c. 450; 1994, c. 113; 2002, c. 157; 2010, c. 183; 2014, c. 126; 2017, c. 530; 2018, cc. 557, 558.","full_text":"A\n\nAny person in any vehicle and then in possession of any firearm, crossbow, slingbow, arrowgun, bow and arrow, or speargun who employs a light attached to the vehicle or a spotlight or flashlight to cast a light beyond the water or surface of the roadway upon any place used by deer shall be guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor. Every person in or on any such vehicle shall be deemed prima facie a principal in the second degree and subject to the same punishment as a principal in the first degree. This subsection shall not apply to a landowner in possession of a weapon when he is on his own land and is making a bona fide effort to protect his property from damage by deer and not for the purpose of killing deer unless the landowner is in possession of a permit to do so pursuant to the provisions of § 29.1-529.B\n\nAny person in any motor vehicle who deliberately employs a light attached to such vehicle or a spotlight or flashlight to cast a light beyond the surface of the roadway upon any place used by deer, except upon his own land or upon land on which he has an easement or permission for such purpose, shall be guilty of a Class 4 misdemeanor. Every person in or on any such vehicle shall be deemed prima facie a principal in the second degree and subject to the same punishment as a principal in the first degree.C\n\nThe provisions of subsections A and B shall not apply to activities conducted by a locality pursuant to a permit or written authorization issued by the Department.D\n\nIn addition to the penalties prescribed in subsection A, the court shall revoke the current hunting license and privileges of the person convicted of a violation of subsection A and prohibit the person from hunting for a period of one to five years. In addition to the penalties prescribed in subsection B, the court may revoke the current hunting license and privileges of the person convicted of a violation of subsection B and prohibit that person from hunting for one to five years. If a person convicted of a violation of subsection A or B is found hunting during the prohibited period, the person shall be guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor. Notification of such revocation or prohibition shall be forwarded to the Department pursuant to subsections C and D of § 18.2-56.1.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":247710,"text":"Any person in any vehicle and then in possession of any firearm, crossbow, slingbow, arrowgun, bow and arrow, or speargun who employs a light attached to the vehicle or a spotlight or flashlight to cast a light beyond the water or surface of the roadway upon any place used by deer shall be guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor. Every person in or on any such vehicle shall be deemed prima facie a principal in the second degree and subject to the same punishment as a principal in the first degree. This subsection shall not apply to a landowner in possession of a weapon when he is on his own land and is making a bona fide effort to protect his property from damage by deer and not for the purpose of killing deer unless the landowner is in possession of a permit to do so pursuant to the provisions of § 29.1-529.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":247711,"text":"Any person in any motor vehicle who deliberately employs a light attached to such vehicle or a spotlight or flashlight to cast a light beyond the surface of the roadway upon any place used by deer, except upon his own land or upon land on which he has an easement or permission for such purpose, shall be guilty of a Class 4 misdemeanor. Every person in or on any such vehicle shall be deemed prima facie a principal in the second degree and subject to the same punishment as a principal in the first degree.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":247712,"text":"The provisions of subsections A and B shall not apply to activities conducted by a locality pursuant to a permit or written authorization issued by the Department.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"3":{"id":247713,"text":"In addition to the penalties prescribed in subsection A, the court shall revoke the current hunting license and privileges of the person convicted of a violation of subsection A and prohibit the person from hunting for a period of one to five years. In addition to the penalties prescribed in subsection B, the court may revoke the current hunting license and privileges of the person convicted of a violation of subsection B and prohibit that person from hunting for one to five years. If a person convicted of a violation of subsection A or B is found hunting during the prohibited period, the person shall be guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor. Notification of such revocation or prohibition shall be forwarded to the Department pursuant to subsections C and D of § 18.2-56.1.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C"}},"ancestry":[{"id":13514,"edition_id":1,"name":"Hunting and Trapping","identifier":"2","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13513,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:45:06","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:45:06","permalink":{"id":193019,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13514,"identifier":"2","token":"29.1\/5\/2","url":"\/29.1\/5\/2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13513,"edition_id":1,"name":"Wildlife and Fish Laws","identifier":"5","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12934,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:45:06","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:45:06","permalink":{"id":192967,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13513,"identifier":"5","token":"29.1\/5","url":"\/29.1\/5\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12934,"edition_id":1,"name":"Wildlife, Inland Fisheries and Boating","identifier":"29.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:03","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:03","permalink":{"id":192277,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12934,"identifier":"29.1","token":"29.1","url":"\/29.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":57566,"structure_id":13514,"section_number":"29.1-510","catch_line":"Big game; small game","url":"\/29.1-510\/","token":"29.1\/5\/2\/29.1-510","metadata":false},{"id":54765,"structure_id":13514,"section_number":"29.1-511","catch_line":"Open season on nuisance species","url":"\/29.1-511\/","token":"29.1\/5\/2\/29.1-511","metadata":false},{"id":57429,"structure_id":13514,"section_number":"29.1-512","catch_line":"Closed season on other species","url":"\/29.1-512\/","token":"29.1\/5\/2\/29.1-512","metadata":false},{"id":72077,"structure_id":13514,"section_number":"29.1-513","catch_line":"Daily and season bag limits as promulgated by Board regulations","url":"\/29.1-513\/","token":"29.1\/5\/2\/29.1-513","metadata":false},{"id":57989,"structure_id":13514,"section_number":"29.1-514","catch_line":"Nonmigratory game birds","url":"\/29.1-514\/","token":"29.1\/5\/2\/29.1-514","metadata":false},{"id":71454,"structure_id":13514,"section_number":"29.1-515","catch_line":"Migratory game birds","url":"\/29.1-515\/","token":"29.1\/5\/2\/29.1-515","metadata":false},{"id":81835,"structure_id":13514,"section_number":"29.1-516","catch_line":"Game animals","url":"\/29.1-516\/","token":"29.1\/5\/2\/29.1-516","metadata":false},{"id":61868,"structure_id":13514,"section_number":"29.1-516.1","catch_line":"Using tracking dogs to retrieve bear, deer, or turkey","url":"\/29.1-516.1\/","token":"29.1\/5\/2\/29.1-516.1","metadata":false},{"id":86513,"structure_id":13514,"section_number":"29.1-516.2","catch_line":"Hunting with dogs; dogs to wear tags","url":"\/29.1-516.2\/","token":"29.1\/5\/2\/29.1-516.2","metadata":false},{"id":83866,"structure_id":13514,"section_number":"29.1-517","catch_line":"Trapping and shooting of fur-bearing animals during closed season","url":"\/29.1-517\/","token":"29.1\/5\/2\/29.1-517","metadata":false},{"id":81824,"structure_id":13514,"section_number":"29.1-518","catch_line":"When killing of beaver permitted","url":"\/29.1-518\/","token":"29.1\/5\/2\/29.1-518","metadata":false},{"id":54547,"structure_id":13514,"section_number":"29.1-519","catch_line":"Guns, pistols, revolvers, etc., which may be used; penalty","url":"\/29.1-519\/","token":"29.1\/5\/2\/29.1-519","metadata":false},{"id":65461,"structure_id":13514,"section_number":"29.1-520","catch_line":"Times for hunting","url":"\/29.1-520\/","token":"29.1\/5\/2\/29.1-520","metadata":false},{"id":61787,"structure_id":13514,"section_number":"29.1-521","catch_line":"Unlawful to hunt, trap, possess, sell, or transport wild birds and wild animals except as permitted; exception; penalty","url":"\/29.1-521\/","token":"29.1\/5\/2\/29.1-521","metadata":false},{"id":59428,"structure_id":13514,"section_number":"29.1-521.1","catch_line":"Willfully impeding hunting or trapping; penalty","url":"\/29.1-521.1\/","token":"29.1\/5\/2\/29.1-521.1","metadata":false},{"id":54761,"structure_id":13514,"section_number":"29.1-521.2","catch_line":"Violation of \u00a7 18.2-286 while hunting; revocation of license and privileges","url":"\/29.1-521.2\/","token":"29.1\/5\/2\/29.1-521.2","metadata":false},{"id":73558,"structure_id":13514,"section_number":"29.1-521.3","catch_line":"Shooting wild birds and wild animals from stationary vehicles by disabled persons","url":"\/29.1-521.3\/","token":"29.1\/5\/2\/29.1-521.3","metadata":false},{"id":71465,"structure_id":13514,"section_number":"29.1-522","catch_line":"Unlawful to kill male deer unless antlers visible above hair","url":"\/29.1-522\/","token":"29.1\/5\/2\/29.1-522","metadata":false},{"id":76993,"structure_id":13514,"section_number":"29.1-523","catch_line":"Killing deer by use of certain lights; acts raising presumption of attempt to kill","url":"\/29.1-523\/","token":"29.1\/5\/2\/29.1-523","metadata":false},{"id":83109,"structure_id":13514,"section_number":"29.1-523.1","catch_line":"Hunting deer with sights after dark; forfeiture of weapon and sighting device","url":"\/29.1-523.1\/","token":"29.1\/5\/2\/29.1-523.1","metadata":false},{"id":82330,"structure_id":13514,"section_number":"29.1-524","catch_line":"Forfeiture of vehicles and weapons used for killing or attempt to kill","url":"\/29.1-524\/","token":"29.1\/5\/2\/29.1-524","metadata":false},{"id":68411,"structure_id":13514,"section_number":"29.1-525","catch_line":"Employment of lights under certain circumstances upon places used by deer","url":"\/29.1-525\/","token":"29.1\/5\/2\/29.1-525","metadata":false},{"id":63880,"structure_id":13514,"section_number":"29.1-525.1","catch_line":"Deer enclosures prohibited; exceptions; penalty","url":"\/29.1-525.1\/","token":"29.1\/5\/2\/29.1-525.1","metadata":false},{"id":73219,"structure_id":13514,"section_number":"29.1-525.2","catch_line":"Fox and coyote enclosures prohibited; penalty","url":"\/29.1-525.2\/","token":"29.1\/5\/2\/29.1-525.2","metadata":false},{"id":71449,"structure_id":13514,"section_number":"29.1-526","catch_line":"Counties and cities may prohibit hunting or trapping near primary and secondary highways","url":"\/29.1-526\/","token":"29.1\/5\/2\/29.1-526","metadata":false},{"id":60237,"structure_id":13514,"section_number":"29.1-527","catch_line":"Counties, cities or towns may prohibit hunting near public schools and county, city, town or regional parks","url":"\/29.1-527\/","token":"29.1\/5\/2\/29.1-527","metadata":false},{"id":76925,"structure_id":13514,"section_number":"29.1-527.1","catch_line":"Localities may prohibit feeding of migratory and nonmigratory waterfowl","url":"\/29.1-527.1\/","token":"29.1\/5\/2\/29.1-527.1","metadata":false},{"id":65690,"structure_id":13514,"section_number":"29.1-527.2","catch_line":"Localities may prohibit feeding of deer","url":"\/29.1-527.2\/","token":"29.1\/5\/2\/29.1-527.2","metadata":false},{"id":70115,"structure_id":13514,"section_number":"29.1-528","catch_line":"Board to develop model ordinances for hunting with firearms; counties or cities may adopt","url":"\/29.1-528\/","token":"29.1\/5\/2\/29.1-528","metadata":false},{"id":75511,"structure_id":13514,"section_number":"29.1-528.1","catch_line":"Board to develop model ordinances for hunting with bow and arrow; counties or cities may adopt","url":"\/29.1-528.1\/","token":"29.1\/5\/2\/29.1-528.1","metadata":false},{"id":65161,"structure_id":13514,"section_number":"29.1-528.2","catch_line":"Local tree stand ordinance; disabled hunter exempt","url":"\/29.1-528.2\/","token":"29.1\/5\/2\/29.1-528.2","metadata":false},{"id":76194,"structure_id":13514,"section_number":"29.1-529","catch_line":"Killing of deer, elk or bear damaging fruit trees, crops, livestock, or personal property; wildlife creating a hazard to aircraft or motor vehicles","url":"\/29.1-529\/","token":"29.1\/5\/2\/29.1-529","metadata":false},{"id":83517,"structure_id":13514,"section_number":"29.1-530","catch_line":"Open and closed season for trapping, bag limits, etc","url":"\/29.1-530\/","token":"29.1\/5\/2\/29.1-530","metadata":false},{"id":59296,"structure_id":13514,"section_number":"29.1-530.1","catch_line":"Solid blaze orange or solid blaze pink clothing required at certain times","url":"\/29.1-530.1\/","token":"29.1\/5\/2\/29.1-530.1","metadata":false},{"id":54480,"structure_id":13514,"section_number":"29.1-530.2","catch_line":"Unlawfully killing bear; penalty","url":"\/29.1-530.2\/","token":"29.1\/5\/2\/29.1-530.2","metadata":false},{"id":55295,"structure_id":13514,"section_number":"29.1-530.3","catch_line":"Remote hunting prohibited; penalty","url":"\/29.1-530.3\/","token":"29.1\/5\/2\/29.1-530.3","metadata":false},{"id":62967,"structure_id":13514,"section_number":"29.1-530.4","catch_line":"Duty of certain entities to report hunting incidents","url":"\/29.1-530.4\/","token":"29.1\/5\/2\/29.1-530.4","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":82330,"structure_id":13514,"section_number":"29.1-524","catch_line":"Forfeiture of vehicles and weapons used for killing or attempt to kill","url":"\/29.1-524\/","token":"29.1\/5\/2\/29.1-524","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":63880,"structure_id":13514,"section_number":"29.1-525.1","catch_line":"Deer enclosures prohibited; exceptions; penalty","url":"\/29.1-525.1\/","token":"29.1\/5\/2\/29.1-525.1","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/29.1-525\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1962. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 520 of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. Unfortunately, the 1962 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 12 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1973, chapter 369; in 1974, chapter 101; in 1980, chapters 602 and 607; in 1981, chapter 60; in 1987, chapter 488; in 1988, chapter 450; in 1994, chapter 113<\/a>; in 2002, chapter 157<\/a>; in 2010, chapter 183<\/a>; in 2014, chapter 126<\/a>; in 2017, chapter 530<\/a>; in 2018, chapters 557<\/a> and 558<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":[{"id":75271,"section_number":"18.2-56.1","catch_line":"Reckless handling of firearms; reckless handling while hunting","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-56.1\/"}],"permalink":{"id":193105,"object_type":"law","relational_id":68411,"identifier":"29.1-525","token":"29.1\/5\/2\/29.1-525","url":"\/29.1-525\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/29.1-525\/","token":"29.1\/5\/2\/29.1-525","dublin_core":{"Title":"Employment of lights under certain circumstances upon places used by deer","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 29.1-525","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> Any person in any vehicle and then in possession<\/span> of any firearm<\/span>, crossbow, slingbow, arrowgun, bow and arrow, or speargun who employs a light attached to the vehicle or a spotlight or flashlight to cast a light beyond the water or surface of the roadway upon any place used by deer shall be guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor<\/span>. Every person in or on any such vehicle shall be deemed prima facie a principal in the second degree and subject to the same punishment as a principal in the first degree. This subsection shall not apply to a landowner in possession<\/span> of a weapon when he is on his own land and is making a bona fide effort to protect his property from damage by deer and not for the purpose of killing deer unless the landowner is in possession<\/span> of a permit to do so pursuant to the provisions of § 29.1-529<\/a>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> Any person in any motor vehicle who deliberately employs a light attached to such vehicle or a spotlight or flashlight to cast a light beyond the surface of the roadway upon any place used by deer, except upon his own land or upon land on which he has an easement or permission for such purpose, shall be guilty of a Class 4 misdemeanor<\/span>. Every person in or on any such vehicle shall be deemed prima facie a principal in the second degree and subject to the same punishment as a principal in the first degree. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> The provisions of subsections A and B shall not apply to activities conducted by a locality pursuant to a permit or written authorization issued by the Department<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> In addition to the penalties prescribed in subsection A, the court<\/span> shall revoke the current hunting license and privileges<\/span> of the person convicted of a violation of subsection A and prohibit the person from hunting for a period of one to five years. In addition to the penalties prescribed in subsection B, the court<\/span> may revoke the current hunting license and privileges<\/span> of the person convicted of a violation of subsection B and prohibit that person from hunting for one to five years. If a person convicted of a violation of subsection A or B is found hunting during the prohibited period, the person shall be guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor<\/span>. Notification of such revocation<\/span> or prohibition shall be forwarded to the Department<\/span> pursuant to subsections C and D of § 18.2-56.1<\/a>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nEMPLOYMENT OF LIGHTS UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES UPON PLACES USED BY DEER (\u00a7\n29.1-525)\n\nA. Any person in any vehicle and then in possession of any firearm, crossbow,\nslingbow, arrowgun, bow and arrow, or speargun who employs a light attached to\nthe vehicle or a spotlight or flashlight to cast a light beyond the water or\nsurface of the roadway upon any place used by deer shall be guilty of a Class 2\nmisdemeanor. Every person in or on any such vehicle shall be deemed prima facie\na principal in the second degree and subject to the same punishment as a\nprincipal in the first degree. This subsection shall not apply to a landowner in\npossession of a weapon when he is on his own land and is making a bona fide\neffort to protect his property from damage by deer and not for the purpose of\nkilling deer unless the landowner is in possession of a permit to do so pursuant\nto the provisions of § 29.1-529.\n\nB. Any person in any motor vehicle who deliberately employs a light attached to\nsuch vehicle or a spotlight or flashlight to cast a light beyond the surface of\nthe roadway upon any place used by deer, except upon his own land or upon land\non which he has an easement or permission for such purpose, shall be guilty of a\nClass 4 misdemeanor. Every person in or on any such vehicle shall be deemed\nprima facie a principal in the second degree and subject to the same punishment\nas a principal in the first degree.\n\nC. The provisions of subsections A and B shall not apply to activities conducted\nby a locality pursuant to a permit or written authorization issued by the\nDepartment.\n\nD. In addition to the penalties prescribed in subsection A, the court shall\nrevoke the current hunting license and privileges of the person convicted of a\nviolation of subsection A and prohibit the person from hunting for a period of\none to five years. In addition to the penalties prescribed in subsection B, the\ncourt may revoke the current hunting license and privileges of the person\nconvicted of a violation of subsection B and prohibit that person from hunting\nfor one to five years. If a person convicted of a violation of subsection A or B\nis found hunting during the prohibited period, the person shall be guilty of a\nClass 2 misdemeanor. Notification of such revocation or prohibition shall be\nforwarded to the Department pursuant to subsections C and D of § 18.2-56.1.\n\nHISTORY: 1962, c. 520, \u00a7 29-144.4; 1973, c. 369; 1974, c. 101; 1980, cc. 602,\n607, \u00a7 29-144.4:1; 1981, c. 60; 1987, c. 488; 1988, c. 450; 1994, c. 113; 2002,\nc. 157; 2010, c. 183; 2014, c. 126; 2017, c. 530; 2018, cc. 557, 558.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}