Virginia law
 

Today i went to walmart looking around at the hunting stuff and saw they had the book with all the Virginia hunting laws ect. in it for 2010-2011 in so i picked one up. One of the first things in the book are the new laws for 2010-2011 and i notice a law i have never heard of, it says "It is now legal for a person to possess shed antlers from deer." meaning it was once illegal to have sheds. I never knew there was a law agianst having shed antlers, i cant even think of the reasoning for that being illegal. This is in Virginia just incase you forgot the title. Did anyone know this law existed? Any Opinions on this?

I am in Virginia and have never heard of that law either. I guess they figure if you have sheds you must have illegally killed the deer they came from as you couldn't possibly have found them in the woods. Sounds like one of the many stupid laws on the books.

There are plenty of antiquated laws on the books, as Sportsmen it's our job to know and abide by them...

Is this the first time you have read the Regulation Digest in your state???

i heard the samething over the weekend and at first it didnt make any sense at all to me and when i asked someone else they looked at me like i was dumb. but im glad this was brought up so i can understand why you couldnt have sheds. i know many people that go shed hunting in VA

My favorite Virginia law is the one that forbids hunting on Sundays.

no this is not the first time i have read the Regulation Digest for VA but i dont ever recall seeing that but if it was i law i guess it was there somewhere.

the reason is unconstitutional but for some reason the dnr's are above that. The reason is people poach and because they do they pass laws forbidding everyone from possessing any part of a deer without a tag.

Just another case of the law abiding being punished for a crime they never committed. Great they changed it, they do seem to be coming around on those issues.

I've been hunting all my life and don't remember seeing it either. Virginia is one of the most heavly regulated states in the U.S. Not just game laws but in everything. But what are ya gonna do? I agree I hate the no Sunday hunting also and VDFG says surveys tell them we don't want Sunday hunting! Bull! I don't recall EVER talking to one hunter that wanted the law. I have written letters and signed petitions personally but don't think it will be changed any time soon. For years I worked 6 days a week and didn't get home until after 4 PM. Makes it tough to hunt when it's dark by 5:30. For some reason I got the flu several times a year during the rut and had to call in sick! LOL!

Shed antlers differ just a little bit in comparison to antlers from a poached buck. Most notably, poached antlers generally have a skull attached. Either that, or they are cut from the skull with a saw.

I have found a few dead bucks during hunting season. I have taken a couple sets of antlers to use for rattling. It may not have been legal in my state, whatever. I can take a CO right to the carcass if anyone ever asks.

Won't matter if you don't have a tag unless the law is changed and should be. "Who's to say if you didn't kill the deer for the rack" is what you'll most likely here and then there will be a charge and a court date and and and... In the end the state will have done nothing more than been at work for a day and you will have had a painful learning experience.

Not getting down on you, just explaining reason has little to do with it.

All because somebody might poach. That is so unamerican. Prove your innocent when it is prove me guilty. Because the law reads you cannot have any part without a tag they are covered in their "your guilty". Cheap shot on hunters IMO.

Va's Sunday law stinks. Even with the huge over population problems some area's have they still refuse to help the hunter/land out.

You guys need to make a lot of noise about any dead deer/ground damage and push the law makers on not giving a crap about it.

The law was passed last year when one of the General Assmbly members was found with antlers in his possesion. Someone told him he could be charged with illegal possesion of deer parts because of some of the existing laws. He then submitted the current regulation for passage to clarify the law on poosesion of shed antlers as not being covered under the original law. so that is why it is now in the regulation.

Typical, but whatever it takes.

I know exactly what you're saying nodog.

My point is, a shed antler has no skull attached and is not saw-cut. Only an idiot would could think possession of a shed antler could be related to poaching or any other unethical behavior. Laws that prevent a guy from picking up a shed, because it could possibly help reduce poaching, are idiotic but also typical of many laws these days. Where I hunt, a guy can't take his bow and his gun to hunt with at the same time, even if both are legal to use at the time. Why? So someone won't be tempted to shoot a deer with a gun and then tag it with an archery tag. Another law made to keep someon from breaking another law.

And your point is? :) We are talking about a government agency. LOL

We all get it except for the idiot with the authority.

It's done, idiot educated. As someone pointed out though it wasn't from common sense, it was from covering their hind quarters, They felt a draft.

Got a similar situation going on around here with a police officer helping out a fawn, illegal to keep one, the mother was killed, he took it to give it a chance. The dnr heard about it and pressed charges. People in an uproar, officer making excuses (same as the guy in Va we are not allowed to use) he was ignorant. I haven't heard more since then but the word idiot did come to my mind more than once. :) LOL

Hows things get done by the brain trust, God help us. :)

If you read the laws for the State Of Virginia, you will see that their hunting regulations are very liberal compared to Pennsylvania.

They offer you the chance to shoot multiple deer in a single season.

The only thing that they as is that you take the deer someplace that is a approved deer check station and have the deer checked out and registered before you eat it. That's not such a hard rule for anyone to follow.

Shed hunting only works in an area that has a high population of deer and deer that has lived beyond the hunting season.

With most of the bucks in Pennsylvania being shot in archery season and rifle season and late muzzle loader season - there is not many trophy bucks that makes it to February or March - when the remainder of the deer sheds their antlers.

We have had years in Pennsylvania where the deer were loosing their antlers the first day of rifle season. I believe that it has something to do with the weather, the food sources, the amount of water present in the area and the amount of snow and cold days messing up their metabolism.

Yep! The same law applies to turkey feathers. If you find one and walk out of the woods with it or are in posession of it in Va. a warden can and most likely will cite you for having it. Crazy law for sure and as far as I know the feather thing still applies.

[quote=Mr. Deer Hunter;3685294]If you read the laws for the State Of Virginia, you will see that their hunting regulations are very liberal compared to Pennsylvania.

They offer you the chance to shoot multiple deer in a single season.

The only thing that they as is that you take the deer someplace that is a approved deer check station and have the deer checked out and registered before you eat it. That's not such a hard rule for anyone to follow.
quote]

Actually, Va. allows on-line check ins of both deer and turkeys. Quick and easy--VGDIF.

I like Va and hunt there. Pa. I avoid driving through to get there.

I just read where the state of Pa. turned over personal info of hunters to the oil and gas drilling interests who opposed them. They'd called for some meetings to get hunters input on whether or not drilling should be allowed in certain areas. Those voicing disapproval had the info turned over. That state is whacked.

Their turnpike sucks along with the robber barons who run it.