The following local ordinances apply in Halifax County:
- Sec. 5-136. - Use of firearms for hunting on or near certain highways. (reference)
(a) It shall be unlawful to hunt or attempt to hunt with a firearm, archery tackle or crossbow any game bird or game animal while the person so hunting or attempting to hunt is on any primary or secondary state-maintained highway, and within the side ditches of such highway.
(b) For the purposes of this section, the term "hunt" or "attempt to hunt" shall not include the necessary crossing of such highways for the bona fide purpose of going into or leaving a lawful hunting area.
(c) Any person violating this provision shall be guilty of a class 3 misdemeanor.
(Code 2000, § 4.39; Ord. No. 2012-5, § 1, 4-2-2012)
Editor's note— Ord. No. 2012-5 shall be effective July 1, 2012.
State Law reference— Authority to adopt prohibition on hunting, Code of Virginia, § 29.1-526.
- Sec. 5-137. - Rifles used for hunting. (reference)
(a) No person shall hunt using a rifle larger than .22 caliber rimfire within 100 yards of any residence or occupied building without the written approval of the owner or lessee of the property.
(b) It shall be unlawful:
(1) To discharge a rifle larger than .22 caliber rim fire from an elevate stand within 100 yards of an adjoining
property line without first obtaining the written permission of the owner or, if different than the owner, the
occupant of the adjoining property; or
(2) To discharge a rifle larger than .22 caliber rim fire from an elevated stand within 100 yards of any public
street or any primary or secondary state-maintained highway.(c) It shall be unlawful to knowingly discharge a firearm over or across any adjoining property owned by another person without first obtaining the written permission of the owner or, if different than the owner, the occupant of the adjoining property.
(d) Any person violating this provision shall be guilty of a class 3 misdemeanor.
(Code 2000, § 4.40; Ord. No. 2009-1, § 1, 3-9-2009; Ord. No. 2012-5, § 1, 4-2-2012)
Editor's note— Ord. No. 2012-5 shall be effective July 1, 2012.
State Law reference— Code of Virginia, § 29.1-528.
- 2025-11 Ordinance Rifle Restrictions for Turkey Spring Hunting Season - Adopted (reference)
Section 1. Purpose and Authority.
This ordinance is adopted pursuant to the authority granted by Virginia Code§ 29.1-528, which permits localities to restrict or prohibit hunting with certain types of firearms within their jurisdiction.Section 2. Definitions.
For purposes of this ordinance:
(a) "Rifle" means a weapon designed or redesigned, made or remade, and intended to be fired from thes houlder, and designed or redesigned and made or remade to use the energy of the explosive in afixed metallic cartridge to fire only a single projectile through a rifled bore for each single pull of the trigger.
(b) "Spring turkey season" means the season established by the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources for the taking of wild turkeys during the spring portion of the statewide turkey hunting season.Section 3. Prohibition.
During the spring turkey season, it shall be unlawful for any person to hunt or attempt to hunt turkey using a rifle within the geographic boundaries of Halifax County.Section 4. Permissible Methods of Take.
Hunters may hunt spring turkey using the following lawful methods as permitted by the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources:
(a) Shotguns;
(b) Archery equipment;
(c) Muzzleloading shotguns or other lawful equipment except rifles.Section 5. Exceptions.
This ordinance shall not apply to:
(a) Law enforcement officers or other government officials acting in their official capacity;
(b} Landowners or their agents engaging in lawful nuisance wildlife control activities expressly authorized under a permit issued by the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources or other applicable agency;
(c) The use of rifles outside of spring turkey season or for game not subject to this ordinance.Section 6. Enforcement and Penalties.
Violation of this ordinance shall constitute a Class 3 misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not more than $500. Each unlawful act shall constitute a separate offense.Section 7. Severability.
If any provision of this ordinance is found to be invalid or unconstitutional by a court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of the ordinance as a whole or any remaining provision.Section 8. Effective Date.
This ordinance shall take effect immediately upon adoption and shall be applicable to the spring turkey season beginning in the year 2026 and all subsequent years unless amended or repealed .