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HB 767

Wildlife Resources, Board of; prescribing seasons/bag limits for taking wild birds, animals, & fish.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Eric Zehr

HB 767 empowers Virginia's Wildlife Resources Board to independently set hunting and fishing seasons and bag limits without individual legislative approval for each regulation.

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Bill Summary · HB 767

Legislative bill overview

HB 767 grants the Virginia Board of Wildlife Resources regulatory authority to set seasons and bag limits for hunting and fishing without requiring legislative approval for each change. This streamlines the management of wild birds, animals, and fish by allowing the board to adjust regulations based on population data and ecological conditions rather than passing new legislation annually.

Why is this important

Wildlife management requires responsive adjustments to hunting and fishing regulations based on real-time population surveys and environmental conditions. Current legislative processes can be slow and cumbersome for making these technical adjustments, potentially leading to outdated regulations that don't reflect actual wildlife populations or ecosystem health.

Potential points of contention

  • Delegation of legislative authority: Critics may argue this delegates too much power to an unelected board, reducing direct legislative oversight of hunting/fishing policies that affect constituents' recreational rights and traditions.
  • Transparency and public input: Questions about whether board decision-making processes provide adequate public notice and comment opportunities compared to formal legislative procedures.
  • Economic impacts on hunting/fishing industries: Changes to bag limits and seasons directly affect outfitters, guides, and related businesses; accelerated regulatory changes could create uncertainty.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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