State: VA

By John Culclasure, Central Appalachian States Manager On July 12, the Virginia Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus visited St. Paul, Virginia on a multi-day trip to experience Southwest Virginia’s rich outdoor resources and reflect on the Caucus’s successful 2018 legislative session.  The Caucus held weekly policy meetings during session under the leadership of Caucus Co-Chairs Senator Emmett…

By John Culclasure, Central Appalachian States Manger On June 21, the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors declined to move forward with an amendment to the county ordinance code that would have increased the minimum firearm discharge distance from an occupied structure from 100 yards to 880 yards (one-half mile) unless permission from the owner or…

By John Culclasure, Central Appalachian States Manager The Virginia Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus ended a successful legislative session under the leadership of Caucus Co-Chairs Senator Emmett Hanger and Delegate James Edmunds. Over the course of the session, the Caucus heard presentations from the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, the Virginia Marine Resources Commission, and…

On January 18, the Virginia Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus held the first of its weekly policy meetings in Richmond, Virginia. Caucus Chairs Senator Emmett Hanger and Delegate James E. Edmunds, II welcomed Caucus members, representatives from state agencies, and sportsmen’s conservation groups and led a discussion on plans for the 2018 legislative session which runs from…

On January 19, the Virginia Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus met to examine the management of feral hogs and other problem wildlife species in Virginia. Exotic invasive species negatively impact native wildlife species and cause billions of dollars in damage annually in the United States. Speakers from the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries and USDA…

The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) is pleased to announce that Virginia Lieutenant Governor Ralph Northam has joined the Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus (GSC). In a bipartisan effort to protect and advance hunting, angling, recreational shooting and trapping, the GSC now consists of 29 members, which represent large outdoor constituencies that include many of America’s nearly 40…

With Virginia’s 2014 legislative session coming to a close, the Virginia Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus held its final Caucus Meeting on Thursday, February 27. While in session, the Virginia Caucus meets once a week to be briefed on critical sportsmen’s issues and to discuss current legislation. At this final meeting, Brent Miller, the Northeastern States Director…

Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe has signed Sunday hunting into law, allowing Virginia to join the 40 other states that allow hunting on privately owned lands on Sundays. Sponsored by Delegate Todd Gilbert, and cosponsored by many members of the Virginia Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus, HB 1237 passed the Senate on February 18 (28-11) after clearing the…

HB 1237, sponsored by Delegate Todd Gilbert and cosponsored by many members of the Virginia Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus, passed the Senate yesterday (28-11) after clearing the House of Delegates (71-27) on January 28. The pro-sportsmen’s legislation now heads to Governor Terry McAuliffe for his signature. HB 1237 would open up Sunday hunting on private lands…

SB 154, sponsored by Senator Phillip Puckett, and cosponsored by 16 other senators, including members of the Virginia Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus, is awaiting a vote on the Senate floor after being reported out of the Senate Agriculture Conservation and Natural Resources Committee on January 30 by a vote of 9-4.  SB 154 would open up…

Sunday Hunting legislation (H.B. 1237) was reported out of the Virginia House Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources Committee on Wednesday, January 22, by a vote of 12-10. Introduced by Delegate C. Todd Gilbert, this provision would allow for hunting on private property on Sundays, provided the hunter has written permission of the landowner. Hunting within…

On February 22, Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus member Governor Bob McDonnell signed two pro-sportsmen angling bills into law. SB 1106, sponsored by Virginia Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus Co-Chair, Senator Emmett Hanger, Jr., authorizes the Virginia Marine Resources Commission to revoke a person’s fishing privileges (for up to 2 years) within the tidal waters if he or she…