All Virginia Hunters

Maybe not buying a license would be a good bet. Of course it would take a lot of people to make an impact, and word would have to get out and be pushed. Hunters in Virginia are a large group and can carry a lot of clout if everyone were to hang together. Sullivt has a point that money talks. It's something to consider, at least. Raising cane with elected officials can also have an impact.
 
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As far as folks not buying licenses, it ain't gonna happen! The waterfowl hunters, eastern deer hunters,etc. won't have a dog in the fight. They could care less if the rest of us couldn't hunt with a rifle! This is the trouble with VA hunters( and just plain hunters in general, everywhere) unless something impacts them directly, they won't band together for the common good of all hunters! We're an independent lot, and way too fragmented for our own good, sometimes.
The lack of inclusion of nuisance species and predators in the larger caliber exception(for groundhogs) was ill thought out at best!! Sonny hit that one on the head.
The key to all this is whether the individual counties adopt the models. I fear some would, and that would bite us squarely in the behind. Heretofore we've had loopholes in county ordinances that didn't specifically use the word "rimfire" when designating ".22 caliber, or smaller." That language allowed the centerfire .17 and .20 calibers.

Sonny,
A class III misdemeanor is punishable by fine only. not to exceed 500.00.
 
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Sonny,
A class III misdemeanor is punishable by fine only. not to exceed 500.00.



Thanks Flyrod, I hope I don't have to, but I guess I could afford that at least once /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

vahunter, he is right. It is a nice place to visit, but makes Green Top look like a Bargain store price wise. They've got a lot to learn at Gander Mt. They loaded the place up with rifles and rifle ammunition, with a few shotguns and a couple different types of shotgun ammo, very little buckshot. I guess, they are headquartered in Wisconsin or somewhere that they hunt deer with rifles /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif. Wish that was us though. Demographics and Geopraphics play a major role on sales /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smiliesmack.gif

NO sullivt, that won't work, we can't- not hunt- they win if we do that. It's all a covert/clandestined operation by a bunch goggled eyed liberals.
 
Flyrod,

You are probably right about the division between hunters. It does exist. Too bad it's that way. United we all could accomplish a lot.

Those regulations may not affect me here in the mountains where I live, but still it doesn't keep me for fighting for everyone else. Wrong is wrong and sooner or later it will get around to affecting me and everyone else. That's why I'm in the fight - if there is one, for all those reasons.

Just curious, what's the penality for hunting without a license?
 
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6mm06,
I don't know what the penalty would be, I'll have to check the statutes. I would not personally, not buy a license. I'd be much more likely to purchase my license, and hunt with my weapon of choice, just like I've always done.
You are right, this will eventually be everyone's fight, and the best time to start is now, for all of our sakes!
F1
 
You guys are right about hunters needing to unify. I was raised not hunting deer with dogs, so my opinion of that is, simply I don't do it. But I have grown to support those whole-heartedly that do, because hunting is hunting, it is a tradition in some places like here in VA to run deer with hounds.

Ask Jim Zumbo about "segragating" things to do with hunting. Firearms is firearms and hunting is hunting. Don't give up anything.

Give em an inch and they got a toe-hold!
 
Here is my take on the Model Ordinances.

I honestly believe it is an honest attempt to address the 74 (that's right 74) Local Firearms Ordinances down to a manageable eight (8). I know I hunt a handful of different counties, and you really have to be on your toes, as to which restrictions apply. In my opinion, it would be less confusing from an Conservation Police Officer's enforcement perspective (I am not a CPO). It would also be less confusing from the perspective of me, the very "average Joe hunter"! Remember, if your county is not listed, state firearms restrictions apply.

This whole area of the law was established some time ago to allow local government to set their firearms restrictions. Our local Board of Supervisors (Cumberland) have actually brought back allowing the use of rifles for private land, outside Cartersville historic district, from an elevated tree stand at least 10 ft. We can use muzzeloading rifles from the ground or any heght. We have the groundhog provision from 3/1 - 8/31 rifles larger than .22 rim fire.

If you look at the hunting & trapping regs. in Virginia, you dang near have to be an attorney to interpretate them. Anytime you ask the VDGIF for an explanation, you will almost always get this..."Ask you local CPO". Which implies that it is left up to that individual's own interpretation for enforcement. You really catch heck if your area (like most) experiences high turnover rate in it's CPOs, and the interpretation differs.

I will most heartedly agree with you on this issue, Tim Kaine is anti-gun. Look for his booth at the Virginia Outdoors Sportsman Show, in August. It will be washed in "hunter orange" and boldly pronounce Sportsmen for Kaine. This is just smoke and mirrors , in my opinion. His recent vetos have spoken volumes on his true anti-gun agenda!

Redhound80

Edited: I really was in remedial spelling until the sixth grade. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
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Next step...

Contact your local representative on your BOS and find out which meeting this is set on the agenda, then sign up for the public comment period and give your well thought out, three(3)minute comment. Tell your neighbors to do the same. This is where the fight is at , now! Do your best, you are representing the whole hunting fraternity.

I know I will! Our county just enacted a one year coyote bounty. This will need to be addressed.

Redhound80
 
Guys I am making this a sticky... if there is anything else we can do? Please let us know! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif God Speed and put it to em! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ooo.gif
 
DON'T EVEN CONSIDER not buying hunting licenses... they will come right back to the politicians, and say, "See, hunting is way down because people don't do it any more and the public doesn't support hunting anymore, so lets ban (fill in the blank).

Take it from someone that lives in a state that "used to be" a firearm owners heaven, and it is now one of the worst.

Don't give them an inch, you will loose your pants.


.
 
I don't quite understand the legal jargon, but from what I gather this is trying to segregate our state even more with caliber restrictions during certain seasons in certain areas. Although it doesn't look like the areas I hunt in the mountains will be affected, I'm with 6mm06, I'll stand up and speak out to hold on to what we have for our fellow hunters. I think our current governor is about as worthless as Wilder was. I'd like to see those 2 worthless bags of skin thrown into the bay, but that would be pollution and they would just wash up in N.C. and cause trouble there. If that S.O.B. gets re-elected we're all doomed. If anybody knows when any of these "secret" public meetings is to be held and where, I'd consider taking a day off work to throw my opinion out there, pending I understand more of what they are trying to take. I tell you, I have about had it with politicians, no offense to you greg223.
 
Redhound, I agree that they need to simplfy the laws and regs so a LEO could enforce them without legal advice from a Lawyer. But the first three options are Rimfire only, except during groundhog season( /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smiliesmack.gif Aug), who ever heard of a groundhog season. It leaves zero room for me to call a fox/coyote and shoot him with anything other than a rimfire, no Hornets, no 222, 223. You got a coyote setting at 175 yds and you are holding a 22 rimfire, what are you gonna do now? Yeah!okay, call him closer. Once again I ask why is it that those calibers are safe during June and July and not Jan-Feb?

It is suggested ordiances that have been developed by the unknowing, uninformed, uncaring, uneducated politicians who have "their own agenda" that they are willing to sacrifice all to achieve.
 
You guys should take a look over on our Varmint Forum and check out how fast they mobilized over a pending CO ban on shooting PD's. They've done a lot fast. Lots of us from other states are helping b/c we are all in this together.

I'd suggest that the lead guy here call the NRA-ILA Grassroots Division and talk to them about this. They are VA based and I'm sure they're on top of this issue. Call them or email and get the scoop. (800) 392-8683.
 
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But the first three options are Rimfire only, except during groundhog season( Aug), who ever heard of a groundhog season. It leaves zero room for me to call a fox/coyote and shoot him with anything other than a rimfire, no Hornets, no 222, 223. You got a coyote setting at 175 yds and you are holding a 22 rimfire, what are you gonna do now? Yeah!okay, call him closer. Once again I ask why is it that those calibers are safe during June and July and not Jan-Feb?



Pruson, I am with you 100%! Go to page 23 in the 2007-2008 game regs., look under Cumberland County. The only time I can use a rifle(centerfire .23 cal or larger) to kill a predator is during deer season from an elevated (10ft) stand. I have had two CPOs(Wardens) tell me two different things. One said that I could take predators using a rifle (restrictions apply) during deer season as long as I am from an elevated (10 ft) tree stand. A different one told me that the ordinances (for Cumberland) restricts rifles to just deer and groundhogs. Just a few years ago, you could not use rifles at all for deer. I bring these items for the readers to reflect upon that these are not proposed, in Cumberland this already is the law!

Pruson, like you I am not a native Virginian. In my home state of Kentucky, you are the scum of the earth to even think about using buckshot to kill a deer. In the eyes of most Kentuckians it is truly unethical to even think bucksot is a wise choice. Now I am sure you have taken quite a few deer to buckshot, I know I have put my share in the dirt with 00buck and even 20 guage #3 buck! In Kentucky it is illegal to use any buckshot. This is totally opposite in Virginia, in the "East of the Blue Ridge", deer dog hunting is king. Buckshot is the ammunition of choice, hence, the people here believe it is safer to use a shotgun than a rifle( I am not here to debate any of that). It does not help that the warnings of the lowly .22LR state "dangerous to over 1 mile".

What we are battling are peoples perceptions, both the politicians and other citizens, hunters and non-hunters. Local governments want as much control over their county as possible. I tend to agree with this line of thinking, in most areas. But, the Virginia game regs. can show how local control can become a pandora's box for regulating the act of hunting. Cumberland just enacted the coyote bounty one year study. Local cattlemen are concerned for their herds during calving season. Firearms hunting of the coyotes was presented as an option. I am sure the existing firearms restrictions were not even touched upon during the discussion. I have contacted my local representative on our BOS. At this time, he was uninformed about the Model Firearms Ordinances and has promised to get me answers to my questions soon. I will certainly be present at the public comment period, if there is one. I encourage you and all Virginians to contact their BOS representative, ask questions, attend the comment period and tactfully present your well thought out veiws on this issue.

To answer your question about groundhog season, in Cumberland County, if you choose to use a centerfire rifle, the season is March 1 - August 31. As asinine as that may be! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smiliesmack.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/angry-smiley-055.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smiliesmack.gif

Redhound80
 
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I spoke with a CPO supervisor buddy this afternoon and he assured me that the enabling statute that the Legislature passed was to allow the counties to simplify their ordinances to reduce confusion to the public, and to the enforcement officers. The fact that the models were ill conceived and poorly thought out is of no surprise to anyone. He assured me that there was no malicious forethought behind the models.
This guy is a straight shooter, hunter, predator hunter, and firearm advocate to rival the most rabid among us /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif
The key to this whole thing is that the statute says the counties MAY adopt the models, NOT SHALL adopt the models, which makes the whole exercise somewhat useless! If what the counties have now is working for them, the likelihood of the county to adopt one of these models is slim. On the other hand, if a bunch of loony lefties(PETA types, for example) get a foothold in a county's Board of Supervisors, the availability of one of the poorer models could bite us hard!
It was suggested to me to use the VADGIF Website, and use the contact the Commissioners function, and let them know our concerns. In addition, call and write to the commissioners, and keep it respectful.
The idea that we should stop groundhog hunting the end of August is ludicrous. Some of my most productive hog hunting is after the soybeans are harvested! It's also ridiculous that we should not be allowed to hunt coyotes and feral hogs with a suitable firearm from September until March!
We need to talk this up and rattle some cages!
F1
 
Flyrod did he say if a county didn't accept one of the model ordinances then the old one still stood or does that county revert back to just the state regs?
 
Flyrod

I've been called lots of things, but "rabid" wasn't one of them, so far. I like that, it is applicable in my case I suppose. I am sending you a copy via e-mail of what I am sending in to the state. Cooper saw it today. I kept it civil, I think.
 
Cooper,
The counties do not have to adopt any of the models! If they do not adopt one of the models, then whatever ordinances were in effect, will stay in effect.
Look in the hunting guide on the firearms regulations page. Not all the counties used to be listed! The reason is, that the ones not listed, have no ordinances any more restrictive than what the State Code has already in force.
F1
 
Dayum!! I had just typed a long update to this thread, and was trying to post a link when AOL ended the program and all was lost!!! I don't have the energy to try this again tonight!!!!!!!! Tomorrow......
F1
 
Just got my reply from my Board of Supervisors representative. He states that Cumberland County will keep the local ordinances as they have them now, in affect. Cumberland will not adopt the Model Firearms Ordinaces. I am waiting for the answer to my new question. I asked if there was made a provision for using a rifle larger than .22 rim fire for the "new" coyote bounty one year study. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif He should get back with me pretty soon.

Redhound80
 
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