29.1-528 - Board to develop model ordinances for hunting with firearms; counties or cities may adopt.
§ 29.1-528. Board to develop model ordinances for hunting with firearms;counties or cities may adopt.
A. The Board shall promulgate regulations establishing model ordinances forhunting with firearms that may be adopted by counties or cities. Such modelordinances developed by the Board shall address such items as, but are notlimited to, firearm caliber, type of firearm (e.g., rifle, shotgun,muzzleloader), and type of ammunition. The governing body of any county orcity may, by ordinance, prohibit hunting in such county or city with ashotgun loaded with slugs, or with a rifle of a caliber larger than .22rimfire. However, such ordinance may permit the hunting of groundhogs with arifle of a caliber larger than .22 rimfire between March 1 and August 31.Such ordinance may also permit the use of muzzle-loading rifles during theprescribed open seasons for the hunting of game species. Any such ordinancemay also specify permissible type of ammunition to be used for such hunting.
B. No such ordinance shall be enforceable unless the governing body notifiesthe Director by registered mail prior to May 1 of the year in which theordinance is to take effect.
C. In adopting an ordinance pursuant to the provisions of this section thegoverning body of any county or city may provide that any person who violatesthe provisions of the ordinance shall be guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor.
(1976, c. 443, § 29-144.6; 1977, cc. 20, 377; 1978, c. 303; 1986, c. 342;1987, c. 488; 1989, c. 421; 2007, c. 642.)