{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/29.1-553.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/29.1-553.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/29.1-553.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/29.1-553.html"}],"law_id":81525,"edition_id":1,"section_id":81525,"structure_id":14126,"section_number":"29.1-553","catch_line":"Selling or offering for sale; penalty","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 29-164; 1962, c. 469; 1986, c. 182; 1987, c. 488; 1989, c. 203; 1994, c. 848; 1997, c. 172; 2005, c. 170; 2007, c. 87; 2018, cc. 764, 765; 2020, cc. 89, 401.","full_text":"A\n\nAny person who offers for sale, sells, offers to purchase, or purchases any wild bird or wild animal, or any part thereof, or any freshwater fish, except as provided by law, shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. However, when the aggregate of such sales or purchases, or any combination thereof, by any person totals $1,000 or more during any 90-day period, that person shall be guilty of a Class 6 felony.B\n\nWhether or not criminal charges have been placed, when any property is taken possession of by a conservation police officer for the purpose of being used as evidence of a violation of this section or for confiscation, the conservation police officer making such seizure shall immediately report the seizure to the Attorney for the Commonwealth.C\n\nIn any prosecution for a violation of this section, photographs of the wild bird, wild animal, or any freshwater fish, or any part thereof shall be deemed competent evidence of such wild bird, wild animal, or freshwater fish, or part thereof and shall be admissible in any proceeding, hearing, or trial of the case to the same extent as if such wild bird, wild animal, or any freshwater fish, or part thereof had been introduced as evidence. Such photographs shall bear a written description of the wild bird, wild animal, or freshwater fish, or parts thereof, the name of the place where the alleged offense occurred, the date on which the alleged offense occurred, the name of the accused, the name of the arresting officer or investigating officer, the date of the photograph, and the name of the photographer. The photographs shall be identified by the signature of the photographer.D\n\nAny licensed Virginia auctioneer or licensed auction firm that sells, as a legitimate item of an auction sale, wildlife mounts that have undergone the taxidermy process, shall be exempt from the provisions of this section and subdivision A 11 of § 29.1-521.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":292034,"text":"Any person who offers for sale, sells, offers to purchase, or purchases any wild bird or wild animal, or any part thereof, or any freshwater fish, except as provided by law, shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. However, when the aggregate of such sales or purchases, or any combination thereof, by any person totals $1,000 or more during any 90-day period, that person shall be guilty of a Class 6 felony.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":292035,"text":"Whether or not criminal charges have been placed, when any property is taken possession of by a conservation police officer for the purpose of being used as evidence of a violation of this section or for confiscation, the conservation police officer making such seizure shall immediately report the seizure to the Attorney for the Commonwealth.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":292036,"text":"In any prosecution for a violation of this section, photographs of the wild bird, wild animal, or any freshwater fish, or any part thereof shall be deemed competent evidence of such wild bird, wild animal, or freshwater fish, or part thereof and shall be admissible in any proceeding, hearing, or trial of the case to the same extent as if such wild bird, wild animal, or any freshwater fish, or part thereof had been introduced as evidence. Such photographs shall bear a written description of the wild bird, wild animal, or freshwater fish, or parts thereof, the name of the place where the alleged offense occurred, the date on which the alleged offense occurred, the name of the accused, the name of the arresting officer or investigating officer, the date of the photograph, and the name of the photographer. The photographs shall be identified by the signature of the photographer.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"3":{"id":292037,"text":"Any licensed Virginia auctioneer or licensed auction firm that sells, as a legitimate item of an auction sale, wildlife mounts that have undergone the taxidermy process, shall be exempt from the provisions of this section and subdivision A 11 of § 29.1-521.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C"}},"ancestry":[{"id":14126,"edition_id":1,"name":"Penalties in General","identifier":"5","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13513,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:46:56","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:46:56","permalink":{"id":193243,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14126,"identifier":"5","token":"29.1\/5\/5","url":"\/29.1\/5\/5\/","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":77599,"structure_id":14126,"section_number":"29.1-546","catch_line":"General penalty","url":"\/29.1-546\/","token":"29.1\/5\/5\/29.1-546","metadata":false},{"id":69204,"structure_id":14126,"section_number":"29.1-547","catch_line":"Trapping, selling, purchasing, etc., migratory game birds","url":"\/29.1-547\/","token":"29.1\/5\/5\/29.1-547","metadata":false},{"id":56728,"structure_id":14126,"section_number":"29.1-548","catch_line":"Killing deer illegally","url":"\/29.1-548\/","token":"29.1\/5\/5\/29.1-548","metadata":false},{"id":83897,"structure_id":14126,"section_number":"29.1-549","catch_line":"Hunting deer from watercraft","url":"\/29.1-549\/","token":"29.1\/5\/5\/29.1-549","metadata":false},{"id":56875,"structure_id":14126,"section_number":"29.1-550","catch_line":"Taking game or fish during closed season or exceeding bag limit","url":"\/29.1-550\/","token":"29.1\/5\/5\/29.1-550","metadata":false},{"id":71853,"structure_id":14126,"section_number":"29.1-551","catch_line":"Assessment of value of game or fish unlawfully taken","url":"\/29.1-551\/","token":"29.1\/5\/5\/29.1-551","metadata":false},{"id":70078,"structure_id":14126,"section_number":"29.1-552","catch_line":"Killing wild turkey during closed season","url":"\/29.1-552\/","token":"29.1\/5\/5\/29.1-552","metadata":false},{"id":81525,"structure_id":14126,"section_number":"29.1-553","catch_line":"Selling or offering for sale; penalty","url":"\/29.1-553\/","token":"29.1\/5\/5\/29.1-553","metadata":false},{"id":65084,"structure_id":14126,"section_number":"29.1-553.1","catch_line":"Penalty for wanton waste","url":"\/29.1-553.1\/","token":"29.1\/5\/5\/29.1-553.1","metadata":false},{"id":62488,"structure_id":14126,"section_number":"29.1-554","catch_line":"Violation of sanctuaries, refuges, preserves and water used for propagation","url":"\/29.1-554\/","token":"29.1\/5\/5\/29.1-554","metadata":false},{"id":83505,"structure_id":14126,"section_number":"29.1-554.1","catch_line":"Impeding lawful fishing in inland waters; penalty","url":"\/29.1-554.1\/","token":"29.1\/5\/5\/29.1-554.1","metadata":false},{"id":55264,"structure_id":14126,"section_number":"29.1-555","catch_line":"Reserved","url":"\/29.1-555\/","token":"29.1\/5\/5\/29.1-555","metadata":false},{"id":84106,"structure_id":14126,"section_number":"29.1-556","catch_line":"Unlawful devices to be destroyed","url":"\/29.1-556\/","token":"29.1\/5\/5\/29.1-556","metadata":false},{"id":57261,"structure_id":14126,"section_number":"29.1-556.1","catch_line":"Release of certain balloons prohibited; civil penalty; community service","url":"\/29.1-556.1\/","token":"29.1\/5\/5\/29.1-556.1","metadata":false},{"id":70113,"structure_id":14126,"section_number":"29.1-557","catch_line":"Confiscation of wild birds and animals under certain circumstances; disposition","url":"\/29.1-557\/","token":"29.1\/5\/5\/29.1-557","metadata":false},{"id":74019,"structure_id":14126,"section_number":"29.1-558","catch_line":"Reserved","url":"\/29.1-558\/","token":"29.1\/5\/5\/29.1-558","metadata":false},{"id":60769,"structure_id":14126,"section_number":"29.1-561","catch_line":"Self-incrimination","url":"\/29.1-561\/","token":"29.1\/5\/5\/29.1-561","metadata":false},{"id":57759,"structure_id":14126,"section_number":"29.1-562","catch_line":"Reserved","url":"\/29.1-562\/","token":"29.1\/5\/5\/29.1-562","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":70078,"structure_id":14126,"section_number":"29.1-552","catch_line":"Killing wild turkey during closed season","url":"\/29.1-552\/","token":"29.1\/5\/5\/29.1-552","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":65084,"structure_id":14126,"section_number":"29.1-553.1","catch_line":"Penalty for wanton waste","url":"\/29.1-553.1\/","token":"29.1\/5\/5\/29.1-553.1","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/29.1-553\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 10 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 1962, chapter 469; in 1986, chapter 182; in 1987, chapter 488; in 1989, chapter 203; in 1994, chapter 848<\/a>; in 1997, chapter 172<\/a>; in 2005, chapter 170<\/a>; in 2007, chapter 87<\/a>; in 2018, chapters 764<\/a> and 765<\/a>; in 2020, chapters 89<\/a> and 401<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":71434,"section_number":"19.2-8","catch_line":"Limitation of prosecutions","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-8\/"},{"id":61787,"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","order_by":null,"url":"\/29.1-521\/"},{"id":69204,"section_number":"29.1-547","catch_line":"Trapping, selling, purchasing, etc., migratory game birds","order_by":null,"url":"\/29.1-547\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":61787,"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","order_by":null,"url":"\/29.1-521\/"}],"permalink":{"id":193273,"object_type":"law","relational_id":81525,"identifier":"29.1-553","token":"29.1\/5\/5\/29.1-553","url":"\/29.1-553\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/29.1-553\/","token":"29.1\/5\/5\/29.1-553","dublin_core":{"Title":"Selling or offering for sale; penalty","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 29.1-553","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> Any person who offers for sale, sells, offers to purchase, or purchases any wild bird or wild animal, or any part thereof, or any freshwater fish, except as provided by law<\/span>, shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor<\/span>. However, when the aggregate of such sales or purchases, or any combination thereof, by any person totals $1,000 or more during any 90-day period, that person shall be guilty of a Class 6 felony<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> Whether or not criminal charges have been placed, when any property is taken possession<\/span> of by a conservation police officer for the purpose of being used as evidence<\/span> of a violation of this section or for confiscation, the conservation police officer making such seizure shall immediately report the seizure to the Attorney for the Commonwealth. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> In any prosecution<\/span> for a violation of this section, photographs of the wild bird, wild animal, or any freshwater fish, or any part thereof shall be deemed competent evidence<\/span> of such wild bird, wild animal, or freshwater fish, or part thereof and shall be admissible<\/span> in any proceeding, hearing<\/span>, or trial<\/span> of the case to the same extent as if such wild bird, wild animal, or any freshwater fish, or part thereof had been introduced as evidence<\/span>. Such photographs shall bear a written description of the wild bird, wild animal, or freshwater fish, or parts thereof, the name of the place where the alleged offense<\/span> occurred, the date on which the alleged offense<\/span> occurred, the name of the accused<\/span>, the name of the arresting officer or investigating officer, the date of the photograph, and the name of the photographer. The photographs shall be identified by the signature of the photographer. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> Any licensed Virginia auctioneer or licensed auction firm that sells, as a legitimate item of an auction sale, wildlife<\/span> mounts that have undergone the taxidermy process, shall be exempt from the provisions of this section and subdivision A 11 of § 29.1-521<\/a>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nSELLING OR OFFERING FOR SALE; PENALTY (\u00a7 29.1-553)\n\nA. Any person who offers for sale, sells, offers to purchase, or purchases any\nwild bird or wild animal, or any part thereof, or any freshwater fish, except as\nprovided by law, shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. However, when the\naggregate of such sales or purchases, or any combination thereof, by any person\ntotals $1,000 or more during any 90-day period, that person shall be guilty of a\nClass 6 felony.\n\nB. Whether or not criminal charges have been placed, when any property is taken\npossession of by a conservation police officer for the purpose of being used as\nevidence of a violation of this section or for confiscation, the conservation\npolice officer making such seizure shall immediately report the seizure to the\nAttorney for the Commonwealth.\n\nC. In any prosecution for a violation of this section, photographs of the wild\nbird, wild animal, or any freshwater fish, or any part thereof shall be deemed\ncompetent evidence of such wild bird, wild animal, or freshwater fish, or part\nthereof and shall be admissible in any proceeding, hearing, or trial of the case\nto the same extent as if such wild bird, wild animal, or any freshwater fish, or\npart thereof had been introduced as evidence. Such photographs shall bear a\nwritten description of the wild bird, wild animal, or freshwater fish, or parts\nthereof, the name of the place where the alleged offense occurred, the date on\nwhich the alleged offense occurred, the name of the accused, the name of the\narresting officer or investigating officer, the date of the photograph, and the\nname of the photographer. The photographs shall be identified by the signature\nof the photographer.\n\nD. Any licensed Virginia auctioneer or licensed auction firm that sells, as a\nlegitimate item of an auction sale, wildlife mounts that have undergone the\ntaxidermy process, shall be exempt from the provisions of this section and\nsubdivision A 11 of § 29.1-521.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 29-164; 1962, c. 469; 1986, c. 182; 1987, c. 488; 1989,\nc. 203; 1994, c. 848; 1997, c. 172; 2005, c. 170; 2007, c. 87; 2018, cc. 764,\n765; 2020, cc. 89, 401.","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}}