The following local ordinances apply in Prince George County:
- Sec. 6-6. - Hunting with rifle of .23 caliber or larger; hunting of groundhogs with rifle of .22 caliber or larger; use of muzzle-loading rifles; legally handicapped hunting license. (reference)
(a) Deer and bear hunting with a rifle of a .23 caliber or larger during the prescribed open seasons is allowed in the county as follows:
(1) The person shall hunt only from an elevated stand located at least ten feet above the ground.
(2) The rifle may have a round in its chamber only when it is on the elevated stand.
(3) The person complies with all safety and other regulations of this Code and the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources.(b) Hunting of groundhogs with a rifle of a .22 caliber or larger between March 1 and August 31 of each year is permitted, and a rifle of a .22 caliber or larger may be used for hunting all other game, bird and varmint species as allowed by state law and regulations.
(c) Deer hunting with a shotgun loaded with slugs is permitted during the prescribed open seasons so long as such hunting is conducted from a stand located at least ten feet in elevation above the ground, and the person must comply with all safety and other regulations of this Code and the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources.
(d) The use of muzzle-loading rifles during the prescribed open seasons for hunting of game species is permitted in the county. However, the use of such muzzle-loading rifle shall be only from a stand located at least ten feet in elevation above the ground, and the person must comply with all safety and other regulations of this Code and the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources.
(e) The provisions of Code of Virginia § 29.1-528.2 shall exempt a permanently disabled hunter, as defined in Virginia Code § 58.1-3217, from the requirements of this section regarding hunting from an elevated stand located at least ten feet above the ground.
(f) Nothing in this section shall prohibit a landowner or lessee from killing a deer or bear that is damaging fruit trees, crops, livestock or personal property utilized for commercial agricultural production in accordance with Virginia Code § 29.1-529 and other applicable laws.(g)Any person who violates the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a class 3 misdemeanor.
(Code 1988, § 3-6; Ord. No. O-00-002, 2-22-2000; Ord. No. O-11-04, § 1, 3-22-2011; Ord. No. O-21-08, § 1, 4-27-2021)
Editor's note— Ord. No. O-21-08, § 1, adopted April 27, 2021 amended § 6-6 and in doing so changed the title of said section from "Hunting with rifle of caliber larger than .22 rimfire; hunting of groundhogs with rifle larger than .22 rimfire; use of muzzle-loading rifles; legally handicapped hunting license" to "Hunting with rifle of .23 caliber or larger; hunting of groundhogs with rifle of .22 caliber or larger; use of muzzle-loading rifles; legally handicapped hunting license," as set out herein.
State Law reference— Hunting and trapping, Code of Virginia, § 29.1-510 et seq.
- Sec. 6-9. - Restrictions on hunting and discharge of firearms. (reference)
(a) For the purpose of this section, the terms "hunt" and "attempt to hunt" shall not include the necessary crossing of primary or secondary highways in the county for the bona fide purpose of going into or leaving a lawful hunting area.
(b) It shall be unlawful for any person to discharge or shoot any firearm or other weapon for the purpose of hunting or attempting to hunt in, along, toward, or within 50 feet of any primary or secondary highway in the county.
(c) It shall be unlawful for any person to discharge or shoot any firearm or other weapon for the purpose of hunting or attempting to hunt within 100 yards of any building occupied or used as a dwelling or place where the public gathers, to include school property. This section shall not apply to a person's own dwelling or residence or location where they have received written approval from the property owner.
(d) Provided, however, that nothing herein shall prohibit the discharge of black powder firearms using blanks as part of historical re-enactments, historical living history programs and historical demonstrations.(e)Any person violating the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a class 3 misdemeanor.
(Code 1988, § 3-7; Ord. No. O-09-08, 10-13-2009; Ord. No. O-11-31, § 1, 12-13-2011)
State Law reference— Hunting near highway, Code of Virginia, § 29.1-526.