Two bills supported by SCI cleared the final legislative hurdle last week and are now headed to the Governor’s desk for signature.
These legislative victories follow closely on the heels of last week’s victory for Virginia sportsmen and sportswomen as the proposed gun ban was tabled!
House Bill 388, introduced by Delegate James E. Edmunds, II will authorize the Board of the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries to create a special license for hunting elk in the elk management zone that is required in addition to a general hunting license.
Specifically, the bill authorizes the Board to establish:
-quotas and procedures for selection to purchase a special elk license
-a nonrefundable application fee of $15 for residents and $20 for nonresidents and a special elk license fee at no more than $40 for residents and $400 for nonresidents
-guidelines permitting the transfer of special elk licenses to individuals, cooperators who assist in meeting agency hunting objectives, or wildlife conservation organizations whose mission is to ensure the conservation of Virginia's wildlife resources.
The bill clarifies that a separate special license to hunt elk is not required to hunt elk outside of the designated elk management zone.
For more information on Virginia’s elk population and hunting opportunities, click on https://www.dgif.virginia.gov/wildlife/elk/
House Bill 449, introduced by Hyland “Buddy” Fowler, Jr. provides that any person convicted of violating a hunting, fishing, or trapping law may also be prohibited by the court from hunting, fishing, or trapping for a period of one to five years.
HB 449 provides that anyone found hunting, trapping or fishing during the prohibited period will be guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor and may be prohibited from those activities for an additional one to five years.
The legislation also deems any person who kills or attempts to kill a bear in violation of any adopted regulation is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor and may be prohibited from hunting, trapping or fishing for a period of one to five years.
To monitor the progress of other legislation important to hunters across the nation, sign up for SCI’s Hunters Advocacy Action Center today!
