Section 20. Archery hunting requirements

A. "Bow and arrow" means a weapon made of a strip of flexible material, which, when bent by drawing a string or cable connecting the two ends, uses the energy stored in the flexible material to propel an arrow.

B. "Crossbow" means a bow and arrow mounted horizontally on a stock having a trigger mechanism to release the string.

C. "Archery equipment" means a bow and arrow or a crossbow.

D. Arrows used for hunting bear, deer, elk, and turkey must have a minimum head width of 7/8 inch in a fixed or expanded position.

E. Except as otherwise provided by law or regulation, it shall be unlawful to use arrows to which any drug, chemical or toxic substance has been added or arrows with explosive heads at any time for the purpose of hunting wild birds or wild animals.

Historical Notes

Derived from VR325-02-1 § 2, eff. March 15, 1990; amended, Volume 10, Issue 23, eff. September 8, 1994; Volume 11, Issue 09, eff. February 22, 1995; Volume 12, Issue 24, eff. September 18, 1996; Volume 17, Issue 19, eff. July 4, 2001; Volume 21, Issue 23, eff. August 24, 2005; Volume 31, Issue 25, eff. August 1, 2015.

Statutory Authority

§ 29.1-501 of the Code of Virginia.