Section 91. Checking bear by persons exempt from license requirements or holding a license authorization number

A. Upon killing a bear, any person exempt from license requirements as prescribed in § 29.1-301 of the Code of Virginia, or issued a complimentary license as prescribed in § 29.1-339, or the holder of a permanent license issued pursuant to § 29.1-301 E, or the holder of a Virginia license authorization number issued by a telephone or electronic media agent pursuant to § 29.1-327 B of the Code of Virginia shall, upon vehicle transport of the carcass or at the conclusion of legal hunting hours, whichever occurs first, and without unnecessary delay, present the carcass to an authorized bear checking station or to any appropriate representative of the department in the county or adjoining county in which the bear was killed. Upon presentation of the carcass to the bear checking station, the person checking the carcass shall surrender or allow to be removed one premolar tooth from the carcass. At such time, the person checking or reporting the carcass shall be given a game check card furnished by the department. The game check card must be kept in possession with the carcass until the carcass is processed. If the carcass is left unattended, the game check card must be securely attached to the carcass.

B. It shall be unlawful for any person to destroy the identity of the sex of any bear killed until the bear is checked as required by this section. Successful bear hunters are allowed to dismember the carcass to pack it out from the place of kill as long as they do not destroy the identity of the sex and all the parts of the carcass are present when the bear is checked at a big game check station.

Historical Notes

Derived from Volume 19, Issue 19, eff. July 1, 2004; amended, Virginia Register Volume 20, Issue 23, eff. August 25, 2004; Volume 24, Issue 23, eff. July 1, 2008.

Statutory Authority

§§ 29.1-103, 29.1-501 and 29.1-502 of the Code of Virginia.