Agency 15 - DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE RESOURCES

  1. Chapter 10 - PUBLIC PARTICIPATION GUIDELINES (§ 4VAC15-10-10 to 4VAC15-10-40)
  2. Chapter 20 - DEFINITIONS AND MISCELLANEOUS: IN GENERAL (§ 4VAC15-20-10)
  3. Chapter 30 - DEFINITIONS AND MISCELLANEOUS: IMPORTATION, POSSESSION, SALE, ETC., OF ANIMALS (§ 4VAC15-30-5 to 4VAC15-30-60)
  4. Chapter 35 - BIRDS: INCIDENTAL TAKE OF BIRD SPECIES (§ 4VAC15-35-10 to 4VAC15-35-100)
  5. Chapter 40 - GAME: IN GENERAL (§ 4VAC15-40-10 to 4VAC15-40-300)
  6. Chapter 50 - GAME: BEAR (§ 4VAC15-50-10 to 4VAC15-50-120)
  7. Chapter 60 - GAME: BEAVER (§ 4VAC15-60-10 to 4VAC15-60-20)
  8. Chapter 70 - GAME: BOBCAT (§ 4VAC15-70-10 to 4VAC15-70-70)
  9. Chapter 80 - GAME: CROW (§ 4VAC15-80-10)
  10. Chapter 90 - GAME: DEER (§ 4VAC15-90-10 to 4VAC15-90-550)
  11. Chapter 100 - GAME: DOVE (§ 4VAC15-100-10)
  12. Chapter 105 - GAME: FISHER (§ 4VAC15-105-10)
  13. Chapter 110 - GAME: FOX (Part I to IV)
  14. Chapter 120 - GAME: GROUSE (§ 4VAC15-120-10 to 4VAC15-120-30)
  15. Chapter 130 - GAME: MINK (§ 4VAC15-130-10 to 4VAC15-130-30)
  16. Chapter 140 - GAME: MUSKRAT (§ 4VAC15-140-10 to 4VAC15-140-40)
  17. Chapter 150 - GAME: NUTRIA [REPEALED] (§ 4VAC15-150-10 to 4VAC15-150-20)
  18. Chapter 160 - GAME: OPOSSUM (§ 4VAC15-160-10 to 4VAC15-160-30)
  19. Chapter 170 - GAME: OTTER (§ 4VAC15-170-10 to 4VAC15-170-30)
  20. Chapter 180 - GAME: PHEASANT (§ 4VAC15-180-10 to 4VAC15-180-20 to 4VAC15-180-30)
  21. Chapter 190 - GAME: QUAIL (§ 4VAC15-190-10 to 4VAC15-190-60)
  22. Chapter 200 - GAME: RABBIT AND HARES (§ 4VAC15-200-10 to 4VAC15-200-60)
  23. Chapter 210 - GAME: RACCOON (Part I to II)
  24. Chapter 220 - GAME: SKUNK (§ 4VAC15-220-10 to 4VAC15-220-20)
  25. Chapter 230 - GAME: SQUIRREL (Part I to III)
  26. Chapter 240 - GAME: TURKEY (§ 4VAC15-240-10 to 4VAC15-240-91)
  27. Chapter 250 - GAME: FALCONRY (§ 4VAC15-250-10 to 4VAC15-250-110)
  28. Chapter 260 - GAME: WATERFOWL AND WATERFOWL BLINDS (§ 4VAC15-260-10 to 4VAC15-260-180)
  29. Chapter 270 - GAME : FIREARMS (§ 4VAC15-270-10 to 4VAC15-270-96)
  30. Chapter 275 - GAME : HUNTER EDUCATION (§ 4VAC15-275-10)
  31. Chapter 280 - GAME: PELTS AND FURS (§ 4VAC15-280-10 to 4VAC15-280-50)
  32. Chapter 290 - GAME: PERMITS (§ 4VAC15-290-10 to 4VAC15-290-160)
  33. Chapter 300 - GAME: WEASEL (§ 4VAC15-300-10 to 4VAC15-300-20 to 4VAC15-300-30)
  34. Chapter 310 - GAME: WOODCHUCK [REPEALED] (§ 4VAC15-310-10)
  35. Chapter 320 - FISH: FISHING GENERALLY (§ 4VAC15-320-10 to 4VAC15-320-170)
  36. Chapter 330 - FISH: TROUT FISHING (§ 4VAC15-330-10 to 4VAC15-330-210)
  37. Chapter 340 - FISH: SEINES AND NETS (§ 4VAC15-340-10 to 4VAC15-340-80)
  38. Chapter 350 - FISH: GIGS, GRAB HOOKS, TROTLINES, SNARES, ETC (§ 4VAC15-350-10 to 4VAC15-350-80)
  39. Chapter 360 - FISH: AQUATIC INVERTEBRATES, AMPHIBIANS, REPTILES, AND NONGAME FISH (§ 4VAC15-360-10 to 4VAC15-360-70)
  40. Chapter 370 - WATERCRAFT: IN GENERAL (§ 4VAC15-370-10 to 4VAC15-370-80)
  41. Chapter 380 - WATERCRAFT: MOTORBOAT NUMBERING (§ 4VAC15-380-10 to 4VAC15-380-20 to 4VAC15-380-130)
  42. Chapter 390 - WATERCRAFT: SAFE AND REASONABLE OPERATION OF VESSELS (§ 4VAC15-390-10 to 4VAC15-390-160)
  43. Chapter 400 - WATERCRAFT: ACCIDENT AND CASUALTY REPORTING (§ 4VAC15-400-10 to 4VAC15-400-50)
  44. Chapter 410 - WATERCRAFT : BOATING SAFETY EDUCATION (§ 4VAC15-410-10)
  45. Chapter 420 - WATERCRAFT: NAVIGATION LIGHTS AND SHAPES (§ 4VAC15-420-10 to 4VAC15-420-120)
  46. Chapter 430 - WATERCRAFT: SAFETY EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS (§ 4VAC15-430-10 to 4VAC15-430-220)
  47. Chapter 440 - WATERCRAFT: COMMERCIAL VESSEL SAFETY EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS (§ 4VAC15-440-10 to 4VAC15-440-60)
  48. Chapter 450 - WATERCRAFT: COMMERCIAL PARASAIL OPERATIONS (§ 4VAC15-450-10 to 4VAC15-450-40)

AGENCY SUMMARY

The Board of Game and Inland Fisheries is the policy-making entity responsible for conserving, protecting, replenishing, propagating and increasing the supply of game birds, game animals, fish and other wildlife of the Commonwealth. The board is authorized to adopt resolutions or regulations conferring upon the Director of the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries all such powers, authorities and duties as the board possesses and deems necessary or proper. The Department of Game and Inland Fisheries provides public, informational and educational services and serves as the agency responsible for the administration and enforcement of all rules and regulations of the board and of Title 29.1: Game, Inland Fisheries and Boating. Code of Virginia, Title 29.1, Chapter 1, Article 2.

The department is authorized to make regulations governing the taking, possession, and sale of wild animals and birds and freshwater fish, and of endangered species of any form of wildlife. It may prescribe seasons and limits and otherwise vary some of the statutory provisions respecting conservation of wildlife resources. Code of Virginia, Title 29.1, Chapter 1, Article 2. It may designate, by regulation, those species that are determined to be nuisance species. Code of Virginia, Title 29.1, Chapter 1, Article 1. It may also license and make regulations governing drilling and dredging in the Back Bay area. Title 29.1, Chapter 1, Article 2.

Regular conservation police officers of the department have authority to enforce all of the criminal laws of the Commonwealth; special conservation police officers have general police power while performing duties on properties owned or controlled by the board. Code of Virginia, Title 29.1, Chapter 2.

The department is directed to provide for a course of instruction in hunter safety, principles of conservation and sportsmanship, and is directed to promulgate regulations to administer the program. Code of Virginia, Title 29.1, Chapter 3, Article 1. It is required to establish a procedure for selling bonus deer permits which entitle the permit holder to take additional deer under certain conditions. Code of Virginia, Title 29.1, Chapter 3, Article 1, and Chapter 5.

Through the clerks of the circuit courts and local agents, the department is authorized to license sport fishing, hunting, and trapping. It may license or permit shooting preserves, fur farming, fur dealing, hunting dog trials, commercial trout rearing, fishing, seine hauling, the breeding and raising of game birds and animals, the holding of certain animals and birds and of endangered species, the stuffing and mounting of birds and animals, game bird and animal exhibits, and a variety of special or unique activities relating to or affecting wildlife. Code of Virginia, Title 29.1, Chapter 3, Article 1, and Chapter 4.

The department is authorized to make safety regulations for operation and equipment of vessels and seaplanes on the waters of the Commonwealth, to title and to register motorboats, and to permit regattas and races; and it is the state agency to which boating accidents are required to be reported. It is also authorized to make or approve local ordinances regulating the operation of vessels. Code of Virginia, Title 29.1, Chapter 7. The department is authorized to license watercraft dealers and may promulgate regulations to enforce the Virginia Watercraft Dealer Licensing Act. Code of Virginia, Title 29.1, Chapter 8.

The department operates under the supervision of the Secretary of Natural Resources. Regulations are available at the department's office at 4010 West Broad Street, P.O. Box 11104, Richmond, VA 23230. The full texts or informative summaries of proposed regulations are also published in newspapers: statewide regulations in a sufficient number of newspapers having a general circulation throughout the Commonwealth and local regulations in or within reasonable proximity to the affected locality. The department publishes hunting, fishing, trapping, and boating regulations in summary form for free distribution to the purchasers of appropriate licenses. Internet address: http://www.dgif.virginia.gov.

Rev. 11/2012

State regulations are updated quarterly; we currently have two versions available. Below is a comparison between our most recent version and the prior quarterly release. More comparison features will be added as we have more versions to compare.