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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>83517</law_id><section_number>29.1-530</section_number><catch_line>Open and closed season for trapping, bag limits, etc</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> There shall be a continuous <span class="dictionary">open season</span> for trapping <span class="dictionary">nuisance species</span> and a continuous closed trapping season on all other species of wild birds and wild animals, except as provided by <span class="dictionary">Board</span> <span class="dictionary">regulations</span>. However, a landowner or his agent may trap and dispose of, except by sale, squirrels creating a nuisance on his property at any time in any area where the use of <span class="dictionary">firearms</span> for such purpose is prohibited by <span class="dictionary">law</span> or local <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span>. <a id="paragraph-299276" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/29.1-530/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> In addition, the following general rules shall be applicable to any person trapping in the Commonwealth: <a id="paragraph-299277" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/29.1-530/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> The trapper shall be responsible for all damage done by an illegally set trap, and any person <span class="dictionary">finding</span> a trap set contrary to <span class="dictionary">law</span> may report it to the landowner upon whose land the trap is located or to any conservation police officer who may destroy or otherwise make the trap inoperable. <a id="paragraph-299278" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/29.1-530/#B1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Licensed trappers may shoot wild animals caught in traps on any day of the week during the seasons prescribed in subsection A in <span class="dictionary">order</span> to dispatch such animal. No additional licenses are required other than a valid Virginia trapping license. <a id="paragraph-299279" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/29.1-530/#B2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> It is lawful to trap wild animals within the daily bag and season limits, if any, during the <span class="dictionary">open season</span> provided by <span class="dictionary">Board</span> <span class="dictionary">regulations</span>. <a id="paragraph-299280" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/29.1-530/#B3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7; 29-146; 1958, c. 495; 1974, c. 302; 1982, c. 335; 1987, c. 488; 2006, c. 20; 2007, c. 87; 2013, c. 349.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
