SB13: Hunting dogs, etc.; permission from landowner to retrieve from property.

SENATE BILL NO. 13

Offered January 8, 2014
Prefiled December 4, 2013
A BILL to amend and reenact § 18.2-136 of the Code of Virginia, relating to permission to retrieve dogs and other animals from private lands.
Patron-- Garrett

Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That § 18.2-136 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 18.2-136. Right of certain hunters to go on lands of another; carrying firearms or bows and arrows prohibited.

Fox hunters and coon hunters, when the chase begins on other lands, may follow their dogs on prohibited lands, and hunters of all other game, when the chase begins on other lands, may go upon prohibited lands to retrieve their dogs, falcons, hawks, or owls but may not. However, no  hunter shall retrieve his dogs, falcons, hawks, or owls without first making a good faith effort to obtain permission from the landowner or a person occupying a residence on the property. No such hunter shall carry firearms or bows and arrows on their persons person or hunt any game while thereon. The use of vehicles to retrieve dogs, falcons, hawks, or owls on prohibited lands shall be allowed only with the permission of the landowner or his agent. Any person who goes on prohibited lands to retrieve his dogs, falcons, hawks, or owls pursuant to this section and who willfully refuses to identify himself when requested by the landowner or his agent to do so violates any provision of this section is guilty of a Class 4 misdemeanor.