VIRGINIA – The Virginia Board of Wildlife Resources approved a series of hunting, fishing, trapping and boating fee increases during its August meeting, along with new wildlife and boating regulations.
Most resident hunting, fishing and trapping licenses, as well as boat registration and titling fees, will increase by $5 starting Oct. 1. Youth, apprentice, disabled veteran and disabled participant licenses will not increase.
The board also approved a new $10 fee for primitive camping on Department of Wildlife Resources-owned wildlife management areas. Boating-related fees have not increased since 2019, while hunting, trapping and fishing license fees have remained unchanged since 2012.
The board also endorsed a five-year Stocked Trout Management Plan that includes a 35% reduction in trout stocking statewide. The plan was revised from the 10-year proposal initially presented by DWR in May following a public comment period and additional staff review.
DWR received 1,835 comments during the 30-day public comment period on the proposed regulations, fee increases and trout management plan. Of those, 972 specifically addressed the proposed fee increases.
Other approved wildlife changes include updates to Virginia's lists of federally threatened and endangered species and native and naturalized fauna, changes to the state endangered and threatened species list, clarification of the start of bear hound training season, changes to the release of rehabilitated deer fawns and adjustments to the elk special conservation license program.
Fisheries regulations will prohibit the stocking of flathead catfish and rock bass, limit the waters where certain gear can be used to collect bait and update the definition of fish bait. Some local trout regulations will also change.
Boating regulations will clarify requirements related to vessel operation and waterway markers. The board also adopted federal requirements requiring children younger than 13 to wear a life jacket while underway and requiring the use of engine cut-off switches.
Some of the wildlife and fee changes take effect Oct. 1, while fisheries and boating changes take effect Jan. 1, 2027.
