State: VA

Contact: John Culclasure, Southeastern States Assistant Director  Virginia’s 2020 legislative session concluded with pro-sportsmen’s bills signed into law.  Management of Menhaden Fishery  On March 8, legislation was signed into law that transfers authority to manage Atlantic menhaden from the legislature to the Virginia Marine Resources Commission. Menhaden are important forage food for many recreationally important species, and…

Contact: John Culclasure, Southeastern States Assistant Director On February 27, legislation that would transfer authority from the legislature to the Virginia Marine Resources Commission to manage Atlantic menhaden, cleared its final hurdle in the House of Delegates before advancing to Governor Northam’s desk. Governor Northam is expected to sign the legislation which will enable the…

Contact: John Culclasure, Southeastern States Assistant Director On January 16, Virginia Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus Co-Chair Delegate James Edmunds introduced legislation that would allow Sunday hunting on public lands.  Specifically, HB 1632 would expand the exception to public lands on  the prohibition against hunting or killing any wild bird or wild animal, including nuisance species, with a gun, firearm or other weapon…

Contact: John Culclasure, Southeastern States Assistant Director On January 8, Virginia Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus Member Delegate Hyland “Buddy” Fowler introduced legislation that would increase the penalties for various hunting, fishing and trapping violations. Specifically, HB 449 would provide that any person convicted of violating laws prohibiting hunting or fishing out of season, exceeding bag or…

Contact: John Culclasure, Southeastern States Assistant Director On November 11, the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries’ (DGIF) Agency Advisory Group (AAG) convened in Richmond to discuss wildlife conservation issues in the Commonwealth. Attended by representatives from national and in-state sportsmen’s groups, the AAG meeting provided a forum for Virginia’s hunting and fishing community…

Contact: John Culclasure, Central Appalachian States Manager On May 30, the Virginia Board of Game and Inland Fisheries appointed Ryan Brown as the Executive Director of the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (DGIF). Brown is a committed hunter and angler and has an extensive background in natural resources policy. Brown worked for the…

Contact: John Culclasure, Central Appalachian States Manager On April 27, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) participated in the 5th Annual Old Dominion One Shot Turkey Hunt. A partnership between the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries and the Wildlife Foundation of Virginia, the One Shot raises funds to support Virginia’s hunting heritage through land…

By John Culclasure, Central Appalachian States Manager Legislation intended to curb poaching by prohibiting wanton waste advanced during the 2019 legislative sessions in both Virginia and West Virginia. In the Old Dominion, HB 1613 was signed into law on February 27. Sponsored by Virginia Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus Co-Chair Delegate James Edmunds, the legislation increases the…

By John Culclasure, Central Appalachian States Manager On February 21, the Virginia Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus partnered with the Virginia Sportsmen’s Foundation to host the 28th Annual Wild Game Chili Cook-Off in Richmond. Approximately 150 people, including more than 30 legislators, attended the non-partisan event held in the Old City Hall where attendees sampled a variety…

By John Culclasure, Central Appalachian States Manager Two bills, SB 1725 and HB 2658 that would have severely restricted hunter access to public waters in Virginia have been defeated. Both bills would have prohibited stationary blinds within 150 yards of a riparian owner’s shoreline at the mean lower water mark unless written permission is obtained…

By John Culclasure, Central Appalachian States Manager The bipartisan and bicameral Virginia Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus continues to hold weekly meetings to discuss issues that impact sportsmen and women in the Commonwealth. Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) Central Appalachian States Manager John Culclasure has been working closely with Virginia Sportsmen’s Caucus members and in-state partners on priorities…

By John Culclasure, Central Appalachian States Manager On January 17, the Virginia Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus held its first meeting of the 2019 legislative session in Richmond, Virginia. The meeting was attended by Caucus members, representatives from state agencies, and in-state sportsmen’s groups. Cale Godfrey, Assistant Chief of Wildlife Resources for the Virginia Department of Game…