4VAC15-90-80: Muzzleloading gun hunting

A. It shall be lawful to hunt deer during the early special muzzleloading season with muzzleloading guns from the Saturday prior to the first Monday in November through the Friday prior to the third Monday in November, both dates inclusive, in all cities, towns, and counties where deer hunting with a rifle or muzzleloading gun is permitted, except in the Cities of Chesapeake, Suffolk (east of the Dismal Swamp Line), and Virginia Beach.

B. It shall be lawful to hunt deer during the late special muzzleloading season with muzzleloading guns starting 21 consecutive days immediately prior to and on the first Saturday in January in all cities, towns, and counties, or portions thereof, where the general firearms deer season closes before the first Saturday in January.

C. Deer of either sex may be taken during the entire early special muzzleloading season east of the Blue Ridge Mountains unless otherwise noted in this subsection:

1. Deer of either sex may be taken on the second Saturday only of the early special muzzleloading season on state forest lands, state park lands (except Occoneechee State Park), department-owned lands (except on Merrimac Farm Wildlife Management Area), and Philpott Reservoir.

2. Antlered bucks only—no either-sex deer hunting days during the early special muzzleloading season on national forest lands in Amherst, Bedford, and Nelson Counties.

D. Deer of either sex may be taken on the second Saturday only during the early special muzzleloading season west of the Blue Ridge Mountains unless otherwise noted in this subsection.

1. Deer of either sex may be taken during the entire early special muzzleloading season in Clarke and Floyd Counties and on private lands in Augusta, Botetourt, Carroll, Craig, Frederick, Giles, Grayson, Montgomery, Page, Pulaski, Roanoke, Rockingham (east of Routes 613 and 731), Scott, Smyth, Shenandoah, Warren, and Wythe Counties.

2. Antlered bucks only—no either-sex deer hunting days during the early special muzzleloading season on federal lands in Dickenson County; on department-owned land in Russell County; on national forest lands in Alleghany, Bland, Craig, Frederick, Giles, Grayson, Lee, Montgomery, Page, Pulaski, Rockingham, Scott, Shenandoah, Warren, and Wise Counties; on national forest and department-owned lands in Augusta, Bath, Botetourt, Carroll, Highland (except Highland Wildlife Management Area), Roanoke, Rockbridge, Smyth, Tazewell, Washington, and Wythe Counties; on Channels State Forest, Grayson Highlands State Park, Hungry Mother State Park; and on private lands west of Routes 613 and 731 in Rockingham County.

E. Deer of either sex may be taken during the last six days of the late special muzzleloading season unless otherwise listed in this subsection:

1. Deer of either sex may be taken full season during the entire late special muzzleloading season in the Counties (including the cities and towns within) of Henry and Patrick; on private lands in Augusta, Botetourt, Craig, Giles, Grayson, Scott, and Smyth Counties; and on federal and department-owned lands in Franklin County.

2. Deer of either sex may be taken the last day only during the late special muzzleloading season in Alleghany, Bath, Buchanan, Highland, Lee, Russell, Tazewell, and Wise Counties; on national forest lands in Amherst, Bedford, Bland, Craig, Frederick, Giles, Grayson, Montgomery, Nelson, Page, Pulaski, Rockingham, Scott, Shenandoah, and Warren Counties; on national forest and department-owned lands in Augusta, Botetourt, Carroll, Roanoke, Rockbridge, Smyth, Washington, and Wythe Counties; on federal lands in Dickenson County; and on private lands west of Routes 613 and 731 in Rockingham County, Channels State Forest, Grayson Highlands State Park, and Hungry Mother State Park.

F. Deer of either sex may be taken full season during the special muzzleloading seasons within the incorporated limits of any city or town in the Commonwealth that allows deer hunting except in the Cities of Chesapeake, Suffolk, and Virginia Beach.

G. It shall be unlawful to hunt deer with dogs during any special season for hunting with muzzleloading guns, except that tracking dogs as described in § 29.1-516.1 of the Code of Virginia may be used.

H. Muzzleloading guns, for the purpose of this section, include:

1. Muzzleloading rifles (one or more barrels).40 caliber or larger, firing a single projectile or sabot (with a.35 caliber or larger projectile) where the projectile is loaded from the muzzle;

2. Muzzleloading shotguns (one or more barrels) not larger than 10 gauge where the projectiles are loaded from the muzzle;

3. Muzzleloading pistols (one or more barrels).45 caliber or larger, firing a single projectile or sabot (with a.35 caliber or larger projectile) per barrel where the propellant and projectile are loaded from the muzzle;

4. Muzzleloading revolvers.44 caliber or larger, firing a single projectile or sabot (with a.35 caliber or larger projectile) per cylinder where the propellant and projectile are loaded from the forward end of the cylinder.

I. It shall be unlawful to hunt deer with any firearm other than a muzzleloading gun during the special muzzleloading deer season.