                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE BOARD (§ 29.1-103)

The Board is responsible for carrying out the purposes and provisions of this
title and is authorized to:

1. Appoint the Director of the Department.

2. Acquire by purchase, lease, exchange, gift or otherwise, lands and waters in
the Commonwealth and to establish buildings, structures, dams, lakes and ponds
on such lands and waters. However, it is the policy of the Commonwealth that
there shall be no net loss of those public lands managed by the Department that
are available for hunting in Virginia.

3. Conduct operations for the preservation and propagation of game birds, game
animals, fish and other wildlife in order to increase, replenish and restock the
lands and inland waters of the Commonwealth.

4. Purchase, lease, or otherwise acquire lands and waters for game and fish
refuges, preserves or public shooting and fishing, and establish such lands and
waters under appropriate regulations.

5. Acquire by purchase, lease, or otherwise, lands and structures for use as
public landings, wharves, or docks; to improve such lands and structures; and to
control the use of all such public landings, wharves, or docks by regulation.

6. Acquire and introduce any new species of game birds, game animals, or fish on
the lands and within the waters of the Commonwealth, with the authorization and
cooperation of the local government for the locality where the introduction
occurs.

7. Restock, replenish and increase any depleted native species of game birds,
game animals, or fish.

8. Have educational matter pertaining to wildlife published and distributed.

9. Hold exhibits throughout the Commonwealth for the purpose of educating school
children, agriculturists and other persons in the preservation and propagation
of wildlife in the Commonwealth.

10. Control land owned by and under control of the Commonwealth in Back Bay, its
tributaries and the North Landing River from the North Carolina line to North
Landing Bridge. The Board shall regulate or prohibit by regulation any drilling,
dredging or other operation designed to recover or obtain shells, minerals, or
other substances in order to prevent practices and operations which would harm
the area for fish and wildlife.

11. Exercise powers it may deem advisable for conserving, protecting,
replenishing, propagating and increasing the supply of game birds, game animals,
fish and other wildlife of the Commonwealth.

12. Adopt resolutions or regulations conferring upon the Director all such
powers, authorities and duties as the Board possesses and deems necessary or
proper to carry out the purposes of this title.

13. Administer and manage the Virginia Fish Passage Grant and Revolving Loan
Fund pursuant to Article 1.1 (&#xA7; 29.1-101.2 et seq.) of Chapter 1.

14. Establish and collect admittance, parking, or other use fees at certain
Department-owned facilities as determined by the Board. Any daily fee
established by the Board shall not exceed $3. Any annual fee established by the
Board shall not exceed the cost of an annual state resident fishing license
pursuant to subdivision A 2 of &#xA7; 29.1-310, or an annual state resident
hunting license pursuant to subdivision 2 of &#xA7; 29.1-303.

15. Establish and collect a use fee through the issuance of an annual hunting
stamp required to be obtained to hunt on private lands managed by the Department
through a lease agreement or other similar memorandum of agreement. The annual
hunting stamp shall be in addition to the required licenses to hunt, and the
cost of such stamp shall be the same as the cost of the annual state resident
hunting license in &#xA7; 29.1-303.

16. Revise, as it deems appropriate, through the promulgation of regulations as
prescribed in Article 1 (&#xA7; 29.1-500 et seq.), the fees charged for all
hunting, fishing and trapping licenses authorized under Articles 1 (&#xA7;
29.1-300 et seq.) and 2 (&#xA7; 29.1-340 et seq.) of Chapter 3, notwithstanding
any other provision of this title. Beginning July 1, 2004, and no more
frequently than once every three years thereafter, such license fees for
residents may be increased or decreased no more than $5. Beginning July 1, 2007,
and no more frequently than once every three years thereafter, the Board may
increase or decrease license fees for nonresidents, authorized under Article 1
(&#xA7; 29.1-300 et seq.) of Chapter 3, no more than $50.

17. Take such regulatory or other action as it may determine to be necessary to
enable the Commonwealth to become a party to the Interstate Wildlife Violator
Compact, as authorized in Article 2.1 (&#xA7; 29.1-530.5), and to implement the
Compact in the Commonwealth. The promulgation of any regulations pursuant to
this subdivision shall be as prescribed in Article 1 (&#xA7; 29.1-500 et seq.).

18. Adopt regulations that allow any person who holds a valid license to hunt or
trap to manufacture and sell products made from wildlife that he has lawfully
taken, except where the Board determines that such manufacture or sale is
detrimental to public health or sound wildlife management.

HISTORY: Code 1950, §§ 29-6, 29-11; 1970, c. 254; 1979, c. 264; 1980, c. 301;
1987, c. 488; 1992, c. 887; 2003, c. 562; 2004, cc. 280, 1027; 2007, cc. 35,
906; 2009, c. 648; 2011, cc. 805, 841; 2016, c. 121.