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2013 SESSION

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CHAPTER 349 An Act to amend and reenact §§ 29.1-517 and 29.1-530 of the Code of Virginia, relating to trapping and shooting of fur-bearing animals during closed season. [H 2099] Approved March 14, 2013

 

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That §§ 29.1-517 and 29.1-530 of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 29.1-517. Trapping and shooting of fur-bearing animals during closed season.

A landowner may trap or shoot fur-bearing animals except muskrats or raccoons, upon his own land during closed season. When muskrats or raccoons are damaging crops or dams, the owner of the premises may kill them or have them killed under a permit obtained from the conservation police officer when these animals are causing damage to crops or property, or are posing a threat to human health or safety, or are otherwise causing a nuisance.

§ 29.1-530. Open and closed season for trapping, bag limits, etc.

A. There shall be a continuous open season for trapping nuisance species and a continuous closed trapping season on all other species of wild birds and wild animals, except as provided by Board regulations. 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 firearms for such purpose is prohibited by law or local ordinance.

B. In addition, the following general rules shall be applicable to any person trapping in the Commonwealth:

1. The trapper shall be responsible for all damage done by an illegally set trap, and any person finding a trap set contrary to law 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.

2. A landowner may trap furbearing animals, except beaver, muskrat and raccoons, upon his own land during closed season.

3. Licensed trappers may shoot wild animals caught in traps on any day of the week during the seasons prescribed in subsection A in order to dispatch such animal. No additional licenses are required other than a valid Virginia trapping license.

4. 3. It shall be is lawful to trap wild animals within the daily bag and season limits, if any, during the open season provided by Board regulations.