VA Local Ordinance Interpretation Help

seacowboy

seacowboy

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VA Local Gun Ordinance Interpretation Help
I hunt in Northumberland County, which has #42 Local Ordinance in effect. Which states the following.

It shall be unlawful to use a rifle of a
caliber larger than .22 rimfire except
that groundhogs may be hunted with a
rifle of a caliber larger than .22 rimfire
between March 1 and August 31.

Fairly clear as to when you can use a "larger caliber" for ground hogs only. However my interest is in coyote hunting. We all know it would be an unethical decision to attempt and use a .22 rimfire for the harvest of a coyote size animal. So the question I have is can I legally use a .204 Ruger or .17 Fireball? Yes these are centerfire, but smaller in caliber than the .22 rimfire. Sounds legal to me.

The regional office couldn't answer this, and just quoted the black and white. There are a few other counties in VA that are close by that have the same Ordinance in place.
 
They got ya with the word "rimfire"...It doesnt matter about the size of the bullet...No centerfires at all...Its ridiculous I know..Use a .22 mag and with a well placed shot and you will be fine...
wink.gif


Chad
 
I'd first recommend talking to your local game warden instead of the regional office. He's the one that (might) write the ticket and regardless of whether you could "beat it" in court, if he interprets the law such that he does write one, it would cost you plenty even if you win.

If he does include .17 and .20 calibers as being against the law, I'd strongly recommend a shotgun as opposed to a rimfire. Same effective range on a coyote and much more effective.
 
Originally Posted By: nmleonI'd first recommend talking to your local game warden instead of the regional office. He's the one that (might) write the ticket and regardless of whether you could "beat it" in court, if he interprets the law such that he does write one, it would cost you plenty even if you win.

Sound advice.

Virginia has had some crazy laws over the years, and this is an example of yet another one. The law specifically states groundhogs. Seems that needs to be changed to include coyotes. That may be something you guys up there want to take up with your game commissioner.
 
These idiotic laws in regards to calibers and such are not a subject that any "State Official" wants to discuss. It is something that they dislike almost as much as we(hunters) do.

These local/County laws regarding firearms are determined and instituted by County Boards of Supervisors. Game Wardens do not know them for the most part and when confronted with a situation, have to look it up just like you and I. Game Wardens would love consistency statewide.

Charles City County recently changed their firearms laws to include and allow deer hunting with centerfire rifles. The following year a new election changed out the entire make up of the Board of Supervisors. One lady supervisor came into office with an upfront agenda to immediately change this law back to shotgun only. She got her way at their first meeting and the law was reversed. Yep, just that simple.
 
Sure - call central dispatch at 804-367-1258. Let me know if you get a
different answer. Not sure what you're looking for, as this is pretty
clear. Northumberland does not allow rifles of larger than .22 for
hunting anything other than groundhogs and then only between March 1 and
August 31. The .204 Ruger and various .17 calibers are smaller than .22
and therfore are allowed for hunting at any time. Given, of course,
that sub. 23 calibers are illegal for hunting big game in Virginia.


That was the response I received this morning. Still leaves me scratching my head. He sounds like an expert and like its blatantly clear. If I was confident in his knowledge I'd leave it at that. Yes, I called central dispatch, but they could not give out names or phone numbers, but happily took mine to have an officer call me back.
 
Settled. Hear is what the warden explained to me on the phone just now.

Just got off the phone with the game warden in Northumberland County. It is as it states 22 Rimfire Max. NO 204 Ruger, NO 17 Fireball. Yes they are smaller in caliber but they are centerfire and not allowed. What is allowable is 17HMR, 17M2, 17M4, 22LR, 22 WMR. Except during those times of March 1 to August 31 you CAN use larger caliber centerfire rifles for GROUND HOGS ONLY. He stated that there are other counties with a similar ordinance that allow .22 no bigger. But it doesn't have the 'RIMFIRE' specifying word. Which allows .223,22-250 etc.
 
Too bad the 5mm Rimfire Magnum isn't more widely available in production rifles. It would give you the added kick for taking down the coyotes and still meet the rimfire requirement.
 
what about handguns?
in ny in shotgun only zones for deer , during deer season i CAN use a pistol with rifle cartridge to hunt deer and yotes
if its the same there get a TC encore and a 223 or similar
 
LOL

Oh Lord-crowpopper-don't complicate things for these Virginia Wildlife Law Enforcements guys, they need a representative from the State's Attorney General's Office with them on every stop now, just to interpret these dang ordinances.

We have counties that allow rifle hunting for deer, then the deer runs across the creek(10 feet wide)and you can't legally pursue it, cause that county over there is not only shotgun only, but no slugs allowed(buckshot only).

It is totally pathetic!!!!!!!!!
 
I wonder how many game wardens in that state have ever wondered "I am a state employee so why am I enforceing a county ordinence?"
On course following that line of logic he would quit enforceeing county ordinances.
 
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