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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>83109</law_id><section_number>29.1-523.1</section_number><catch_line>Hunting deer with sights after dark; forfeiture of weapon and sighting device</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><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> Any person who kills or attempts to kill any deer between one hour after sunset and one hour before sunrise using a <span class="dictionary">firearm</span> equipped with any sighting device other than iron or open sights shall be guilty of a Class 2 <span class="dictionary">misdemeanor</span>. In addition to this <span class="dictionary">penalty</span>, the <span class="dictionary">court</span> shall revoke the current hunting license and <span class="dictionary">privileges</span> of the person convicted of violating this section and prohibit that person from hunting for a period of one to five years. Notification of such <span class="dictionary">revocation</span> or prohibition shall be forwarded to the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> pursuant to subsections C and D of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Reckless handling of firearms; reckless handling while hunting" href="/18.2-56.1/">18.2-56.1</a>. <a id="paragraph-297861" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/29.1-523.1/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> Every <span class="dictionary">firearm</span> equipped with any sighting device other than iron or open sights used with the knowledge or consent of the owner in violation of this section shall be forfeited to the Commonwealth. Upon being condemned as forfeited in proceedings under Chapter 22.1 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Commencing an action of forfeiture" href="/19.2-386.1/">19.2-386.1</a> et seq.) of Title 19.2, the proceeds of the sale shall be disposed of according to <span class="dictionary">law</span>.
			This section shall not apply to persons duly authorized to kill deer according to the provisions of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Killing of deer, elk or bear damaging fruit trees, crops, livestock, or personal property; wildlife creating a hazard to aircraft or motor vehicles" href="/29.1-529/">29.1-529</a>. <a id="paragraph-297862" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/29.1-523.1/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>2001, c. 112; 2010, c. 183; 2012, cc. 283, 756.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
