Section 20. Definitions

The following words and terms when used in this chapter shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly requires a different meaning:

"Accompanied and directly supervised" means, in the case of an apprentice hunter, that a licensed person over 18 years of age maintains a close visual and verbal contact with, provides adequate direction to, and can immediately assume control of the firearm from the apprentice hunter. In the case of a hunter age 12 years or under, the term means that the licensed adult is within sight of the person under the age of 12 years.

"Adult" means the parent or legal guardian of the person under age 12 years, or such person over the age of 18 years designated by the parent or legal guardian.

"Approved course provider" is any individual, business, or organization that makes available to the hunting public a hunter education course that is approved by the International Hunter Education Association – United States (IHEA-USA) and is accepted by the department. An approved course provider shall have executed and have on file a valid cooperative agreement with the department. The department will make information regarding such approved courses and providers readily available for public access.

"Board" means the Board of Game and Inland Fisheries.

"Department" means the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.

"Hunter education course" means a course offered in the classroom, through the Internet, or through an electronic format that provides course content and test questions that at a minimum meet the International Hunter Education Association-USA Education Standards, May 2, 2014, set forth by the International Hunter Education Association-USA (IHEA-USA) and are accepted by the department. A hunter education course shall include no less than 50 test questions, which shall include at least eight test questions specific to Virginia hunting laws.

"IHEA-USA" means the International Hunter Education Association-USA.

"Virginia Hunter Education Card" means a card authorized for issuance by the department to a person who has met the minimum standard of hunter education course competency. This card may be issued as an original or a replacement hunter education course card.

Historical Notes

Derived from Volume 31, Issue 25, eff. August 1, 2015.

Statutory Authority

§§ 29.1-300.2 and 29.1-501 of the Code of Virginia.