Virginians will have the right to hunt on Sunday beginning July 1, 2014, according to a bill signed into law last week by Gov. Terry McAuliffe.
House Bill 1237, introduced by Del. Todd Gilbert (R-Woodstock), gives private landowners and their family members lawful authority to hunt and kill wild birds and nuisance species on their property, provided the land is not within 200 yards of a “place of worship.”
An exemption in the law gives landowners and their family members the right to hunt outside of 200 yards of a place of worship “any wild bird or wild animal, including any nuisance species, on the landowner’s property.” That exemption means deer and bear may be hunted on Sunday in addition to wild birds and nuisance species.
However, HB 1237 specifically prohibits hunting deer or bear “with the assistance or aid of dogs, on Sunday.”
Non-landowners also may hunt on Sundays, with the written permission of the landowner.
Lee Walker, a spokesman ...