A. Except as provided in subsection B and §§ 29.1-300.4 and 29.1-305.2, no hunting license shall be issued to (i) a person who has never obtained a license to hunt in any state or country, or (ii) a person who is under the age of 16, unless such a person presents to the Board or one of its authorized license vendors, a certificate of completion in hunter education issued or authorized by the Board under the hunter education program, or proof that he holds the equivalent certificate obtained from an authorized agency or association of another state or country.
B. Although a resident under the age of 12 is not required to obtain a license to hunt, any person under the age of 12, or an individual on his behalf, may purchase a Virginia hunting license or a junior lifetime hunting license pursuant to § 29.1-302.1, without completing a hunter education program as required in subsection A, provided that no person under the age of 12 shall hunt unless accompanied and directly supervised by an adult who has, on his person, a valid Virginia hunting license. The junior lifetime hunting license issued to an individual under the age of 12 shall become invalid on the individual's twelfth birthday and remain invalid until certification of competence in hunter education is shown as provided in this section. A lifetime license, indicating the completion of hunter education or an equivalent certificate, shall be reissued at no cost when such proof is provided.
The adult shall be responsible for such supervision. For the purposes of this section, "adult" means the parent or legal guardian of the person under age 12, or such person over the age of 18 designated by the parent or legal guardian.
"Accompanied and directly supervised" means that the adult is within sight of the person under the age of 12.
C. This section shall not apply to persons while on horseback hunting foxes with hounds but without firearms.
D. The Board may adopt regulations that provide incentives for successful completion of a hunter education course to hunters who are not required by law to complete such a course. The regulations may include such incentives as the Board deems appropriate.
1987, c. 83, § 29-51.1; 1988, cc. 179, 384, 474; 1989, c. 204; 1996, cc. 118, 151; 1997, c. 247; 2008, cc. 18, 416; 2014, c. 798; 2016, c. 123; 2020, c. 958.
Structure Code of Virginia
Title 29.1 - Wildlife, Inland Fisheries and Boating
§ 29.1-300. Unlawful to hunt, trap or fish without license
§ 29.1-300.1. Certification of competence in hunter education; incentives
§ 29.1-300.2. Hunter education program
§ 29.1-300.4. Apprentice hunting license; deferral of hunter education
§ 29.1-301. Exemptions from license requirements
§ 29.1-302. Special license for certain resident disabled veterans
§ 29.1-302.01. Special fishing license for disabled active duty military personnel
§ 29.1-302.03. Special licenses for certain nonresident disabled veterans
§ 29.1-302.1. Special lifetime hunting and fishing licenses for residents and nonresidents
§ 29.1-302.2. Special lifetime fishing license; permanently disabled persons
§ 29.1-302.3. Special guest fishing licenses
§ 29.1-302.4. Special lifetime trout fishing licenses for residents and nonresidents
§ 29.1-303.1. Trip hunting licenses
§ 29.1-303.2. State junior resident hunting license fee
§ 29.1-303.2:1. State junior resident bear hunting license; fee
§ 29.1-303.3. Youth resident and nonresident combination hunting license established; fee
§ 29.1-304. Nonresident license to hunt within shooting preserves and foxhound training preserves
§ 29.1-305.1. Bonus deer permits
§ 29.1-305.01. Special license to hunt elk; authority of Board to create elk license and quota hunts
§ 29.1-305.2. Special fox hunting licenses
§ 29.1-306. Special archery license, slingbow license, and crossbow license
§ 29.1-307. Special muzzleloading license
§ 29.1-309.1. Special lifetime trapping license; permanently disabled persons and disabled veterans
§ 29.1-309.2. Special lifetime trapping license for senior citizens
§ 29.1-309.3. State junior resident trapping license established; fee
§ 29.1-310.1. Sportsman's hunting and fishing license established
§ 29.1-310.2. Special combined individual sportfishing licenses
§ 29.1-311. Trip fishing license for residents and nonresidents; trout stocked waters
§ 29.1-312. Special fishing or hunting permits for certain veterans
§ 29.1-313. Issuance of licenses for use of individuals in certain state facilities
§ 29.1-314. Special fishing permits for certain handicapped persons
§ 29.1-315. Special fishing permits for certain school classes
§ 29.1-315.1. Special permit to hunt and fish by youth during fish and wildlife education events
§ 29.1-316. Special fishing permits for certain youth camps
§ 29.1-317. Special fishing permits for certain juveniles
§ 29.1-318. Board may charge use fees for fishing in certain waters
§ 29.1-319. Persons entitled to county, city, or state resident licenses
§ 29.1-321. Nonresident required to buy nonresident license
§ 29.1-322. Residents of counties bordering on streams
§ 29.1-323. By whom licenses issued
§ 29.1-325. Evidence that applicant entitled to license
§ 29.1-327. Agents for sale of licenses and permits; sales by telephone and electronic media
§ 29.1-328. Term of licenses and permits; multiple-year license
§ 29.1-331. Licenses to be dated, numbered and authenticated
§ 29.1-333. Reports to Director as to sale of licenses
§ 29.1-334. Certificate when license lost or destroyed
§ 29.1-335. Hunting, trapping or fishing without a license
§ 29.1-336. Carrying licenses and certificates; penalty
§ 29.1-337. Displaying license upon request
§ 29.1-337.1. Penalty for false statements; altering, borrowing or lending license
§ 29.1-338. Revocation of license and privileges; penalties
§ 29.1-339. Complimentary licenses
§ 29.1-339.2. Establishment of Virginia Migratory Waterfowl Conservation Stamp; required
§ 29.1-340. Hunting waterfowl from unlicensed blinds and without season license
§ 29.1-341. Stationary blinds defined
§ 29.1-341.1. Number of stationary blinds permitted; when erected
§ 29.1-342.1. Waterfowl blinds in locality where bird hunting with firearms prohibited
§ 29.1-343. Fees for waterfowl blind licenses
§ 29.1-344. Stationary blinds on shore and in the public waters for owners of riparian rights
§ 29.1-344.1. Stationary duck blind license; riparian landowners exempted
§ 29.1-344.2. Time period for obtaining riparian stationary blind licenses
§ 29.1-345. Stationary blinds in the public waters for nonriparian owners
§ 29.1-345.1. Time period for obtaining nonriparian stationary blind licenses
§ 29.1-345.2. Damaged stationary blinds in Virginia Beach; civil penalty
§ 29.1-346. When license for floating blinds issued; distance from stationary blinds
§ 29.1-348. Obtaining licenses
§ 29.1-349. Hunting, erecting blind within 500 yards of licensed blind
§ 29.1-350. Exemption from application of article
§ 29.1-351. Regulations to be issued; present regulations continued in force
§ 29.1-351.1. Penalty for violations
§ 29.1-352. Damage stamp program established; purpose; intent
§ 29.1-353. Local governing body to adopt ordinance
§ 29.1-354. Stamps required; issuance; fee; affixing stamps; cancellation
§ 29.1-355. Disposition of funds
§ 29.1-356. Reporting damages; filing and adjudicating claims