Virginia Board of Game and Inland Fisheries:
Official Position Regarding Hunting on Sunday in Virginia
RICHMOND – The Board of the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (the “Board”) declares its
support for the repeal of the statutory prohibition on Sunday Hunting in Virginia.
Board Supports Lifting Statutory Prohibition on Sunday Hunting
WHEREAS, the right of the people to “hunt, fish, and harvest game” is protected by Article XI, Section 4 of the
Constitution of Virginia, subject only to regulations and restrictions prescribed by the General Assembly; and
WHEREAS, Virginia’s Sunday laws can be traced back to the early British colonies in Virginia; then continued in
the early 20th century ostensibly as a means of protecting Virginia wildlife populations from over hunting, and
WHEREAS, modern science confirms the Virginia ban on Sunday hunting serves no biological purpose and is
counterproductive to matters of game management; and
WHEREAS, those states that have removed prohibitions on Sunday hunting have not experienced any
discernible impact on the desirable health or vibrancy of game populations; and
WHEREAS, Sunday hunting will provide the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (the “Department”) and
its biologists with a new tool to manage wildlife populations by encouraging increased and concentrated hunting
in areas of overpopulation; and
WHEREAS, the Commonwealth has experienced a substantial decline in hunting participation by both in-state
and out-of-state hunters over the past several decades, with license sales falling in both absolute and relative
numbers; and
WHEREAS, youth participation is necessary to maintain a hunting tradition in Virginia, we can effectively
double the number of hunting days for youth during the school year by opening Sunday, and
WHEREAS, Sunday hunting is an effective means of recruiting new hunters and increasing the value of the
licenses for existing hunters of all ages by providing additional opportunity for adults and youth to spend time in
the field; and
WHEREAS, Sunday hunting is expected to generate a substantial increase in out-of-state licenses sales and
resultant revenues for the Department due to an additional weekend hunting day; and

WHEREAS, Sunday hunting will provide a substantial economic benefit to the Commonwealth's tourism
industry, particularly in rural areas and businesses, by increasing the money spent locally by resident and nonresident hunters alike on hunting equipment, gas, food, lodging and other incidental items; and
WHEREAS, the Department is funded almost entirely by the constituents it serves, a large number of whom
are hunters; and
WHEREAS, hunting license sales and their associated federal matching funds are the largest single revenue
source available to the Department for carrying out its mission, including acquisition of public lands and private
easements for wildlife management, hunting access and conservation; and
WHEREAS, Sunday hunting will help ensure that future generations have the opportunity to participate in a
sport that is an important part of the Commonwealth’s heritage; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Game and Inland Fisheries recognizes that this facet of game management is entirely
within the purview of the General Assembly; and
WHEREAS, if the General Assembly lifts the ban on Sunday Hunting, it is recognized that this action will affect
a much broader stakeholder group than just hunters, and the Board will engage these groups in dialogue before
passing any new regulations.
NOW, THEREFORE, we, the Board of the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, do hereby urge
the General Assembly to REPEAL the PROHIBITION ON SUNDAY HUNTING IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF
VIRGINIA.