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2017 SESSION
17101864DBe it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That §§ 29.1-344, 29.1-346, and 29.1-349 of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted as follows:
§ 29.1-344. Stationary blinds on shore and in the public waters for owners of riparian rights.
Each year, the owners of riparian rights, their lessees or
permittees shall have the exclusive privilege of licensing and erecting
stationary blinds on their shoreline, and the prior right of licensing and
erecting stationary blinds in the public waters in front of their shoreline, to
shoot waterfowl over the public waters. Such blinds shall not be located in
water having a depth greater than eight feet at mean high tide, nor shall they
be located farther than halfway across the body of water from the riparian owner's
shoreline, except on the shores and waters of Back Bay in the City of Virginia
Beach where such blinds are limited to (i) the riparian owner's shoreline at
the mean low water mark or (ii) blinds erected and licensed by the riparian
owner in 2011. When licensing a stationary blind, the location of each blind
licensed shall be provided as latitude and longitude coordinates. When such a
license has been obtained and a stake or a stationary blind has been erected on
the site with the license for that season properly affixed, no other stationary or floating blind shall be
located in the public waters within 500 yards of the licensed site, and no floating blind shall be located in the
public waters within 250 yards of the licensed site,
without the consent of the riparian owner, lessee or permittee.
§ 29.1-346. When license for floating blinds issued; distance from stationary blinds.
Licenses for floating blinds permitted by law, in the public
waters, may be obtained on and after July 1. Floating blinds shall have a
license plate supplied with the license for that season affixed to the blind.
Floating blinds, including any accompanying boat or tender, shall anchor or tie
out at least 500 250 yards from any licensed
stationary blind for shooting, whether on the shore or in the water, unless
agreed otherwise between the parties.
§ 29.1-349. Hunting, erecting blind within certain distance of licensed blind.
A. No person shall hunt or shoot migratory waterfowl in the
public waters of this Commonwealth from a boat, float, raft or other buoyant
craft or device within 500 250 yards of any legally
licensed erected stationary blind of another without the consent of the
licensee, except when in active pursuit of a visible crippled waterfowl which
was legally shot by the person.
B. No person shall erect a stationary blind in the public waters within 500 yards of any other licensed stationary blind without the consent of the licensee. Any person who violates this subsection shall be guilty of a trespass, and the affected blind licensee may maintain an action for damages. Furthermore, the trial court shall immediately revoke the blind owner's license for the stationary blind where the offense was committed. The blind owner may be eligible for a license in the following open season upon the same conditions that would apply to a new applicant. When a license for a stationary blind has been revoked, the blind shall be destroyed by the former licensee.