AGENDA Board of Game and Inland Fisheries Wildlife, Boat, and Law Enforcement Committee 7870 Villa Park Drive – Board Room Henrico, VA 23228 February 21, 2017 10:00 am Committee Members: Watkins Abbitt, Chairman, Nicole Butterworth, Leon Boyd, H. S. Caudill, and Douglas Dear DGIF Staff Liaison: Mr. David Whitehurst 1. Call to Order and Welcome Mr. Abbitt 2. Approval of January 10, 2017 Committee Meeting Minutes Action Mr. Abbitt 3. Public Comments – Non-Agenda Items Mr. Abbitt 4. Staff Recommendations for the 2017-2018 Terrestrial Wildlife Regulations Dr. Gray Anderson 5. Staff Recommendations for 2017-2018 Migratory Waterfowl Regulations Dr. Gary Costanzo Final Action 6. Law Update Major Scott Naff and Major Bryan Young 7. Bureau Update Mr. David Whitehurst 8. Director’s Report Mr. Bob Duncan 9. Chairman’s Report Mr. Abbitt 10. Next Meeting Date: Tuesday, May 23, 2017 at 10:00 am Mr. Abbitt 11. Additional Business/Comments Mr. Abbitt 12. Adjournment Mr. Abbitt Draft Meeting Minutes Wildlife, Boat, and Law Enforcement Committee 7870 Villa Park Drive – Board Room Henrico, VA 23228 January 10, 2017 10:00 am Present: Mr. Watkins Abbitt, Chairman, Mr. Leon Boyd, Mr. L. S. Caudill, Ms. Nicole Butterworth, Mr. Douglas Dear; Director: Mr. Robert W. “Bob” Duncan; Senior Leadership Team: Mr. David Whitehurst, Major Bryan Young, Major Scott Naff, Mr. Darin Moore, Dr. Mike Bednarski, Dr. Gray Anderson. The Chairman called the meeting to order at 10:00 am and noted for the record that a quorum was present. The Chairman welcomed Mr. Douglas Dear as the new member to the Wildlife, Boat and Law Enforcement Committee. Approval of the October 19, 2016 Committee Meeting Minutes: The Chairman called for a motion to approve the minutes of the October 19, 2016 minutes of the Wildlife, Boat, & Law Enforcement Committee. Mr. Boyd made a motion to approve the October 19, 2016 Committee Meeting Minutes and Ms. Butterworth seconded the motion. Ayes: Abbitt, Butterworth, Boyd, Caudill, Dear Introduction of New Staff: The Chairman called on Mr. Bob Duncan to introduce new staff. Mr. Duncan introduced and welcomed Major Bryan Young and Major Scott Naff. Mr. Duncan called on Mr. David Whitehurst who introduced and welcomed Dr. Gray Anderson. Public Comments – Non Agenda Items: Mr. Abbitt called for Public Comments - Non-Agenda Items • Maureen Daniels of Mineral, Virginia spoke regarding wake surfing issues statewide Overview of public scoping for the 2017-2018 Terrestrial Wildlife Regulation Review and Amendment Process: Dr. Gray Anderson gave a presentation on the Overview of public scoping for the 2017-2018 Terrestrial Wildlife Regulation Review and Amendment Process. After discussion and questions, the Chairman thanked Dr. Anderson for his presentation. The Chairman called Major Scott Naff to the podium to explain “ waders/wetsuit” in Duck Hunting. After discussion and questions, the Chairman thanked Major Naff for his information. Staff Recommendations for 2017-2018 Migratory Waterfowl Regulations: Dr. Gary Costanzo presented Staff Recommendations for the 2017-2018 Migratory Waterfowl Regulations. After discussion and questions, the Chairman thanked Dr. Costanzo for his presentation. 1 The Chairman called for a motion. Ms. Butterworth made a motion. Mr. Chairman, I move that the Wildlife, Boat and Law Enforcement Committee approved to the full Board the 2017-18 Migratory Game Bird Season and Bag Limit recommendations, and the Falconry season and bag limit recommendations as presented by staff, and further authorize staff to modify seasons and bag limits, if necessary, to comply with the final Federal Frameworks. It was seconded by Mr. Caudill. Ayes: Abbitt, Caudill, Butterworth, Boyd, Dear. Law Update: Major Naff and Major Young reported on the following: • Academy update • Compensation Plan • 11,470 calls to dispatch from Oct 1 – Jan 7 • Promotions Bureau Update: Mr. David Whitehurst reported on the following: • Compensation and employee update • Land Purchase update • Boat Ramp update Director’s Report: Mr. Duncan reported on the following: • Wildlife Foundation Reception from 5-7 pm this evening • The new 2017 Fishing Regulations • Waterfowl Symposium at Rice Center in the works • Law Enforcement Promotions • Called on Mr. Glen Askins for an update on the Wildlife Crime Help Line Chairman’s Report: The Chairman thanked everyone for attending the meeting and for their updates. He mentioned the VA Game Warden Association 2nd Annual Dinner in Farmville on February 25, 2017. He announced that the next Wildlife, Boat, and Law Enforcement meeting will be Tuesday, February 21, 2017 at 10:00 am. Hearing no further comments the Chairman adjourned the meeting at 12:20 pm. Respectfully submitted, Frances Boswell /s/ 2 DEPARTMENT OF GAME AND INLAND FISHERIES REGULATION RECOMMENDATIONS BUREAU OF WILDLIFE RESOURCES February 2017 FURBEARERS AND TRAPPING........................................................................................... 1 4 VAC 15-40-30. Recorded wild animal or wild bird calls or sounds prohibited in taking game; bobcats, coyotes, crows, and foxes excepted. ...................2 4 VAC 15-40-275. Sale of furbearer pelts. ..................................................................2 4 VAC 15-20-50. Definitions; “wild animal,” “native animal,” “naturalized animal,” “nonnative (exotic) animal” and “domestic animal.” ....................................3 4 VAC 15-30-50. Possession, transportation, and release of wildlife by authorized persons. .......................................................................................................8 4 VAC 15-40-225. (NEW) Killing of animals captured in live traps; drowning of animals captured in cage traps prohibited. .............................................................10 SMALL GAME ...................................................................................................................... 11 4 VAC 15-190-10. Open season; generally. [quail] ...................................................12 BEAR ...................................................................................................................................... 13 4 VAC 15-40-282. Unauthorized feeding of bear. .....................................................14 4 VAC 15-50-11. Open season; generally. [bear] ......................................................16 4 VAC 15-50-71. Muzzleloading gun hunting.[bear] ................................................28 4 VAC 15-50-120. Bear hound training season. ........................................................34 TURKEY ................................................................................................................................ 36 4 VAC 15-240-50. Continuous closed season in certain counties, cities and areas. [turkey] .............................................................................................................37 4 VAC 15-240-40. Open season; spring season for bearded turkeys. ........................38 4 VAC 15-240-60. Archery hunting. [turkey] ............................................................40 WATERFOWL ....................................................................................................................... 41 4 VAC 15-290-140. Possession and display of a harvest information program registration number to hunt. .......................................................................................42 4 VAC 15-80-10. Open season. [crow] ......................................................................43 4 VAC 15-260-160. Great Hunting Creek and Dyke Marsh; floating blind area. ............................................................................................................................44 4 VAC 15-260-15. (NEW) Reflective markers on stationary blinds. ........................45 4 VAC 15-260-35. Distance from a licensed stationary blind and off-shore blind stake. ..................................................................................................................46 4 VAC 15-260-45. (NEW) Float Blind Hunting Areas Established. .........................47 4 VAC 15-260-115. (NEW) Disturbing waterfowl on Kittewan Creek Refuge in Charles City County. ..............................................................................................48 4 VAC 15-260-116. (NEW) Blinds adjacent to Werowocomoco and York River State Park. .........................................................................................................49 DEER ...................................................................................................................................... 50 ii 4 VAC 15-40-287. (NEW) Model ordinances related to feeding of deer in cities and towns. .........................................................................................................51 4 VAC 15-90-70. Archery Hunting. [deer] ................................................................52 4 VAC 15-90-80. Muzzleloading Gun Hunting. [deer] .............................................54 4 VAC 15-90-89. Earn a buck (EAB). .......................................................................58 4 VAC 15-90-91. General Firearms Season Either-Sex Deer Hunting Days. ...........61 4 VAC 15-90-280. Sale of Hides. [deer] ....................................................................70 4 VAC 15-90-291. Enclosed or fenced areas that prevent or impede the free egress of deer. .............................................................................................................71