Tracking dogs maintained and controlled on a lead may be used to find a wounded or dead bear, turkey, or deer statewide during any archery, muzzleloader, or firearm bear, turkey, or deer hunting season, or within 24 hours of the end of such season, provided that those who are involved in the retrieval effort have permission to hunt on or to access the land being searched. A licensed hunter who is engaged in such tracking may have in his possession a weapon permitted under this title and may use such weapon to humanely kill the wounded bear, deer, or turkey being tracked, including after legal shooting hours. Such weapon shall not be used to hunt, wound, or kill any animal other than the animal that the hunter is tracking, except in self-defense.
2011, c. 459; 2018, c. 447.
Structure Code of Virginia
Title 29.1 - Wildlife, Inland Fisheries and Boating
Chapter 5 - Wildlife and Fish Laws
§ 29.1-502. Adoption of regulations
§ 29.1-504. Annual publication of laws and regulations
§ 29.1-505. Penalty for violation of regulations
§ 29.1-505.1. Conspiracy; penalty
§ 29.1-506. Prescribing seasons and bag limits for taking fish and game
§ 29.1-507. Closing or shortening open season
§ 29.1-508.1. Use of drugs on vertebrate wildlife
§ 29.1-510. Big game; small game
§ 29.1-511. Open season on nuisance species
§ 29.1-512. Closed season on other species
§ 29.1-513. Daily and season bag limits as promulgated by Board regulations
§ 29.1-514. Nonmigratory game birds
§ 29.1-515. Migratory game birds
§ 29.1-516.1. Using tracking dogs to retrieve bear, deer, or turkey
§ 29.1-516.2. Hunting with dogs; dogs to wear tags
§ 29.1-517. Trapping and shooting of fur-bearing animals during closed season
§ 29.1-518. When killing of beaver permitted
§ 29.1-519. Guns, pistols, revolvers, etc., which may be used; penalty
§ 29.1-521.1. Willfully impeding hunting or trapping; penalty
§ 29.1-521.2. Violation of § 18.2-286 while hunting; revocation of license and privileges
§ 29.1-521.3. Shooting wild birds and wild animals from stationary vehicles by disabled persons
§ 29.1-522. Unlawful to kill male deer unless antlers visible above hair
§ 29.1-523. Killing deer by use of certain lights; acts raising presumption of attempt to kill
§ 29.1-523.1. Hunting deer with sights after dark; forfeiture of weapon and sighting device
§ 29.1-524. Forfeiture of vehicles and weapons used for killing or attempt to kill
§ 29.1-525. Employment of lights under certain circumstances upon places used by deer
§ 29.1-525.1. Deer enclosures prohibited; exceptions; penalty
§ 29.1-525.2. Fox and coyote enclosures prohibited; penalty
§ 29.1-526. Counties and cities may prohibit hunting or trapping near primary and secondary highways
§ 29.1-527.1. Localities may prohibit feeding of migratory and nonmigratory waterfowl
§ 29.1-527.2. Localities may prohibit feeding of deer
§ 29.1-528.2. Local tree stand ordinance; disabled hunter exempt
§ 29.1-530. Open and closed season for trapping, bag limits, etc.
§ 29.1-530.1. Solid blaze orange or solid blaze pink clothing required at certain times
§ 29.1-530.2. Unlawfully killing bear; penalty
§ 29.1-530.3. Remote hunting prohibited; penalty
§ 29.1-530.4. Duty of certain entities to report hunting incidents
§ 29.1-530.5. Wildlife Violator Compact
§ 29.1-531. Unlawful to take or attempt to take, possess, sell or transport fish except as permitted
§ 29.1-533. Prohibition against use of substances injurious to fish
§ 29.1-534. Right to fish in interjurisdictional inland waters
§ 29.1-535. Reciprocal agreement as to fishing in such waters
§ 29.1-539. Keeping deer or bear struck by motor vehicle; procedure to be followed by driver
§ 29.1-540. Carriage and shipment
§ 29.1-543. Game and fish taken and packaged outside the Commonwealth
§ 29.1-543.1. Introduction, stocking, and release of blue catfish; penalty
§ 29.1-544. Dressing, packing and selling bobwhite quail
§ 29.1-545. Possession, sale, offering for sale or liberation of live nutria
§ 29.1-547. Trapping, selling, purchasing, etc., migratory game birds
§ 29.1-548. Killing deer illegally
§ 29.1-549. Hunting deer from watercraft
§ 29.1-550. Taking game or fish during closed season or exceeding bag limit
§ 29.1-551. Assessment of value of game or fish unlawfully taken
§ 29.1-552. Killing wild turkey during closed season
§ 29.1-553. Selling or offering for sale; penalty
§ 29.1-553.1. Penalty for wanton waste
§ 29.1-554. Violation of sanctuaries, refuges, preserves and water used for propagation
§ 29.1-554.1. Impeding lawful fishing in inland waters; penalty
§ 29.1-556. Unlawful devices to be destroyed
§ 29.1-556.1. Release of certain balloons prohibited; civil penalty; community service
§ 29.1-557. Confiscation of wild birds and animals under certain circumstances; disposition
§ 29.1-561. Self-incrimination
§ 29.1-564. Taking, transportation, sale, etc., of endangered species prohibited
§ 29.1-569. Keeping of reptiles generally; penalty
§ 29.1-570. Cooperation of state agencies
§ 29.1-572. Authority of Board; regulations
§ 29.1-573. Department; powers
§ 29.1-576. Authority for inspection; warrants