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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>61787</law_id><section_number>29.1-521</section_number><catch_line>Unlawful to hunt, trap, possess, sell, or transport wild birds and wild animals except as permitted; exception; penalty</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>29.1-422</reference><reference>29.1-521.1</reference><reference>29.1-553</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="29.1">Wildlife, Inland Fisheries and Boating</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="5">Wildlife and Fish Laws</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="2">Hunting and Trapping</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> The following is unlawful: <a id="paragraph-225621" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/29.1-521/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> To hunt or kill on Sunday (i) any wild bird or wild animal, including any <span class="dictionary">nuisance species</span>, with a gun, <span class="dictionary">firearm</span>, or other weapon, within 200 yards of a place of worship or any <span class="dictionary">accessory</span> structure thereof or (ii) any deer or bear with a gun, <span class="dictionary">firearm</span>, or other weapon with the aid or assistance of dogs. <a id="paragraph-225622" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/29.1-521/#A1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> To destroy or harass the nest, eggs, dens, or young of any wild bird or wild animal, except <span class="dictionary">nuisance species</span>, at any time without a permit as required by <span class="dictionary">law</span>. <a id="paragraph-225623" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/29.1-521/#A2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> To hunt or attempt to kill or trap any species of wild bird or wild animal after having obtained the daily bag or season limit during such day or season. However, any <span class="dictionary">properly licensed person</span>, or a person exempt from having to obtain a license, who has obtained such daily bag or season limit while hunting may assist others who are hunting <span class="dictionary">game</span> by calling <span class="dictionary">game</span>, retrieving <span class="dictionary">game</span>, handling dogs, or conducting drives if the weapon in his <span class="dictionary">possession</span> is an unloaded <span class="dictionary">firearm</span>, a bow without a nocked arrow, an unloaded slingbow, an unloaded arrowgun, or an unloaded crossbow. Any <span class="dictionary">properly licensed person</span>, or person exempt from having to obtain a license, who has obtained such season limit prior to commencement of the hunt may assist others who are hunting <span class="dictionary">game</span> by calling <span class="dictionary">game</span>, retrieving <span class="dictionary">game</span>, handling dogs, or conducting drives, provided he does not have a <span class="dictionary">firearm</span>, bow, slingbow, arrowgun, or crossbow in his <span class="dictionary">possession</span>. <a id="paragraph-225624" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/29.1-521/#A3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A4" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> To knowingly occupy any baited blind or other baited place for the purpose of taking or attempting to take any wild bird or wild animal or to put out bait or salt for any wild bird or wild animal for the purpose of taking or killing it. There shall be a rebuttable <span class="dictionary">presumption</span> that a person charged with violating this subdivision knows that he is occupying a baited blind or other baited place for the purpose of taking or attempting to take any wild bird or wild animal. However, this shall not apply to baiting <span class="dictionary">nuisance species</span> of animals and birds, or to baiting traps for the purpose of taking <span class="dictionary">fur-bearing animals</span> that may be lawfully trapped. <a id="paragraph-225625" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/29.1-521/#A4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A5" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">5.</span> To kill or capture any wild bird or wild animal adjacent to any area while a field or forest fire is in progress. <a id="paragraph-225626" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/29.1-521/#A5"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A6" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">6.</span> To shoot or attempt to take any wild bird or wild animal from an automobile or other vehicle, except (i) as provided in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Shooting wild birds and wild animals from stationary vehicles by disabled persons" href="/29.1-521.3/">29.1-521.3</a> or (ii) for the killing of <span class="dictionary">nuisance species</span> as defined in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/29.1-100/">29.1-100</a> on private property by the owner of such property or his designee from a stationary automobile or other stationary vehicle. <a id="paragraph-225627" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/29.1-521/#A6"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A7" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">7.</span> To set a trap of any kind on the lands or waters of another without attaching to the trap: (i) the name and address of the trapper; or (ii) an identification number issued by the <span class="dictionary">Department</span>. <a id="paragraph-225628" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/29.1-521/#A7"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A8" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">8.</span> To set a trap where it would be likely to injure persons, dogs, stock, or fowl. <a id="paragraph-225629" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/29.1-521/#A8"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A9" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">9.</span> To fail to visit all traps once each day and remove all animals caught, and immediately report to the landowner as to stock, dogs, or fowl that are caught and the date. However, the <span class="dictionary">Director</span> or his designee may authorize employees of federal, state, and local government agencies, and persons holding a valid Commercial Nuisance Animal Permit issued by the <span class="dictionary">Department</span>, to visit body-gripping traps that are completely submerged at least once every 72 hours, and the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> may adopt <span class="dictionary">regulations</span> permitting trappers to visit traps less frequently under specified conditions. The <span class="dictionary">Board</span> shall adopt <span class="dictionary">regulations</span> permitting trappers to use remote trap-checking technology to check traps under specified conditions. <a id="paragraph-225630" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/29.1-521/#A9"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A10" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">10.</span> To hunt, trap, take, capture, kill, attempt to take, capture, or kill, possess, deliver for <span class="dictionary">transportation</span>, transport, cause to be transported, by any means whatever, receive for <span class="dictionary">transportation</span> or export, or import, at any time or in any manner, any wild bird or wild animal or the carcass or any part thereof, except as specifically permitted by <span class="dictionary">law</span> and only by the manner or means and within the numbers stated. However, the provisions of this section shall not be construed to prohibit the (i) use or <span class="dictionary">transportation</span> of legally taken turkey carcasses, or portions thereof, for the purposes of making or selling turkey callers; (ii) the manufacture or sale of implements, including tools or utensils made from legally harvested deer skeletal parts, including antlers; (iii) the <span class="dictionary">possession</span> of shed antlers; or (iv) the <span class="dictionary">possession</span>, manufacture, or sale of other parts or implements authorized by <span class="dictionary">regulations</span> adopted by the <span class="dictionary">Board</span>. <a id="paragraph-225631" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/29.1-521/#A10"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A11" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">11.</span> To offer for sale, sell, offer to purchase, or purchase, at any time or in any manner, any wild bird or wild animal or the carcass or any part thereof, except as specifically permitted by <span class="dictionary">law</span>, including subsection D of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Selling or offering for sale; penalty" href="/29.1-553/">29.1-553</a>. However, any nonprofit organization exempt from taxation under &#xA7; 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code that is (i) organized to provide wild <span class="dictionary">game</span> as food to the hungry and (ii) authorized by the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> to possess, transport, and distribute donated or unclaimed meat to the hungry may pay a processing fee in <span class="dictionary">order</span> to obtain such meat. Such fee shall not exceed the actual cost for processing the meat. In addition, any nonprofit organization exempt from taxation under &#xA7; 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code that is (a) organized to support <span class="dictionary">wildlife</span> habitat conservation and (b) approved by the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> shall be allowed to offer <span class="dictionary">wildlife</span> mounts that have undergone the taxidermy process for sale in conjunction with fundraising activities. A violation of this subdivision shall be punishable as provided in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Selling or offering for sale; penalty" href="/29.1-553/">29.1-553</a>. <a id="paragraph-225632" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/29.1-521/#A11"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A12" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">12.</span> To offer for sale, sell, offer to purchase, or purchase a hunt guaranteeing the killing of a deer, bear, or wild turkey. Nothing in this subdivision shall prevent a landowner from leasing land for hunting. A violation of this subdivision shall be punishable as provided in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Selling or offering for sale; penalty" href="/29.1-553/">29.1-553</a>. <a id="paragraph-225633" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/29.1-521/#A12"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> Notwithstanding any other provision of this article, any American Indian who produces <span class="dictionary">verification</span> that he is an enrolled member of a tribe recognized by the Commonwealth, another state, or the U.S. government, may possess, offer for sale, or sell to another American Indian, or offer to purchase or purchase from another American Indian, parts of legally obtained <span class="dictionary">fur-bearing animals</span>, <span class="dictionary">nonmigratory game birds</span>, and <span class="dictionary">game animals</span>, except bear. Such legally obtained parts shall include antlers, hooves, feathers, claws, and bones.
			&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Verification</span>&#x201D; as used in this section shall include (i) display of a valid tribal identification card, (ii) confirmation through a central tribal registry, (iii) a letter from a tribal chief or council, or (iv) certification from a tribal office that the person is an enrolled member of the tribe. <a id="paragraph-225634" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/29.1-521/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> may authorize the use of snake exclusion devices by public utilities at their transmission or distribution facilities and the incidental taking of snakes resulting from the use of such devices. <a id="paragraph-225635" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/29.1-521/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> A violation of subdivisions A 1 through 10 shall be punishable as a Class 3 <span class="dictionary">misdemeanor</span>. <a id="paragraph-225636" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/29.1-521/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7; 29-143; 1962, c. 469; 1974, c. 302; 1979, c. 264; 1987, c. 488; 1988, c. 175; 1989, c. 421; 1990, c. 237; 1994, cc. 244, 436; 1997, c. 249; 1998, c. 415; 2000, c. 13; 2001, cc. 26, 60; 2004, c. 862; 2005, cc. 170, 533, 534; 2006, cc. 20, 215; 2008, cc. 160, 161; 2010, c. 10; 2014, cc. 152, 482; 2015, c. 47; 2016, cc. 10, 62, 121, 372; 2017, c. 530; 2018, cc. 113, 557, 558, 620; 2019, c. 151; 2020, cc. 315, 631; 2022, c. 98.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
