Know your rights
Laws & Legislation
The bills we’re following at the General Assembly, and the Virginia laws and Department of Wildlife Resources regulations that matter most when you hunt with dogs.
Active legislation
Bills we’re tracking — 2027 General Assembly
The 2027 session convenes in January. We follow every bill that touches hunting with dogs, kennels and animal law, and alert members when it’s time to contact their legislators.
| Bill | What it does | Our position | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| [HB ####] | [Short bill title] [One-line plain-language summary of what the bill does] | Support | [Status, e.g. In committee] |
| [SB ####] | [Short bill title] [One-line plain-language summary of what the bill does] | Oppose | [Status, e.g. In committee] |
| [HB ####] | [Short bill title] [One-line plain-language summary of what the bill does] | Watching | [Status, e.g. In committee] |
| [SB ####] | [Short bill title] [One-line plain-language summary of what the bill does] | Support | [Status, e.g. In committee] |
Get legislative alerts. Members hear from us by email and text when a bill needs action.
Right to Retrieve
You have the right to retrieve your dogs.
Under Va. Code § 18.2-136, hunters may go onto another person’s land, including posted land, to retrieve their dogs, as long as they don’t carry a firearm or bow or hunt while there.
Know the law
Virginia laws for hunting with dogs
Plain-language summaries of the Code of Virginia and DWR regulations hound hunters ask about most. Pick a topic to jump to it.
These summaries are for general information and are not legal advice. Laws and seasons change: always check the official text and the current DWR hunting regulations. Last reviewed October 2026.
Our track record
Laws VAHDA helped pass
Since the 2008 session, VAHDA has followed all hunting and dog-related legislation at the General Assembly. These laws were requested or supported by VAHDA. Look for the green VAHDA-backed law label below.
Retrieving your dogs
Your right to go onto another person’s land to get your dogs back.
Va. Code § 18.2-136 Code of Virginia
Right to retrieve dogs from land of another
Hunters may go onto another person’s land, including posted land, to retrieve their dogs. They may not carry a firearm or bow or hunt while there.
Va. Code § 18.2-132.1 Code of Virginia ✓ VAHDA-backed law
Trespass by hunters using dogs
Intentionally releasing hunting dogs onto posted land without the landowner’s permission is a Class 3 misdemeanor. A second offense within three years is a Class 1 misdemeanor, and the court must revoke the violator’s hunting or trapping license for one year. A dog’s presence on the land alone does not prove intent.
Requested by VAHDA: HB 1329 (2016).
4VAC15-40-284 DWR regulation
Radio tracking equipment; treed or bayed animals
Radio tracking equipment may be used on dogs and to locate or recover dogs, but not to take wildlife. Once an animal is treed or bayed, it must be lawfully taken or the dogs pulled off and the animal left for the rest of the day.
Collars, tags and theft
Protecting your dogs and the equipment that helps you find them.
Va. Code § 18.2-97.1 Code of Virginia
Removing a tracking device from a dog
Removing a dog’s tracking collar without permission, to keep the owner from finding the dog, is a Class 1 misdemeanor. The court must order restitution if the dog is lost or killed.
Va. Code § 18.2-97 Code of Virginia
Larceny of dogs
Stealing a dog is a Class 5 felony.
Va. Code § 3.2-6585.1 Code of Virginia ✓ VAHDA-backed law
Scanning for microchips
Veterinarians, animal shelters and releasing agencies must make a reasonable attempt to scan a stray animal for a microchip and contact the owner if one is found.
Requested and supported by VAHDA: HB 1330 (2022).
Va. Code § 3.2-6585 Code of Virginia
Dogs are personal property
Dogs are personal property under Virginia law, and owners may bring legal action when a dog is stolen, killed, injured or wrongfully held.
Interference with lawful hunting
Hunters have the right to hunt without being deliberately blocked.
Va. Code § 29.1-521.1 Code of Virginia
Willfully impeding hunting or trapping
Intentionally interfering with lawful hunting or trapping is a Class 3 misdemeanor.
Seasons and where dogs may be used
Where and when you may hunt with hounds — rules vary by species, county and land.
Va. Code § 29.1-516 Code of Virginia ✓ VAHDA-backed law
Game animals: deer, fox, and tracking devices
Deer may not be hunted with dogs in counties west of the Blue Ridge. It sets a continuous open season for hunting fox with dogs only. GPS and electronic tracking devices may be used to manage dogs.
Requested by VAHDA: HB 1829 (2013) added the right to use GPS and electronic tracking devices to manage hunting dogs.
4VAC15-90-260 DWR regulation
Deer: hunting with dogs prohibited in certain areas
Lists the counties and wildlife management areas east of the Blue Ridge where deer may not be hunted with dogs, and bars dogs during antlerless-only seasons. Leashed tracking dogs are exempt.
4VAC15-50-110 DWR regulation
Bear: use of dogs
Lists the localities, national forest lands and wildlife management areas where bear may not be hunted with dogs for all or part of the season. Leashed tracking dogs are exempt.
4VAC15-110-10 DWR regulation
Fox: closed season in certain areas
On the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests and certain wildlife management areas, fox may be hunted with dogs only during the firearms fox season.
4VAC15-110-90 DWR regulation
Fox: dogs during deer season
No fox hunting with dogs during deer season on the national forest and the Gathright, Goshen, Highland and Little North Mountain wildlife management areas.
4VAC15-210-10 DWR regulation
Raccoon: chase season
Raccoon may be chased with dogs year-round without taking them. On public land west of the Blue Ridge and in national forests, chase is limited to bear hound training dates.
Va. Code § 29.1-521 Code of Virginia
Sunday hunting
Deer and bear may not be hunted with dogs on Sunday, and no hunting with a weapon within 200 yards of a place of worship on Sunday. A hunter who has filled a bag limit may keep helping others, including handling dogs.
Training your dogs
Training seasons and field trials.
4VAC15-40-70 DWR regulation
Open dog training season
Rules for training dogs on squirrels, rabbits and game birds on private land and certain public areas. Only starter pistols may be used, and no game may be taken.
4VAC15-50-120 DWR regulation
Bear hound training season
Sets the dates and counties where bear may be chased with dogs without being taken. Carrying a weapon to kill a bear during training is prohibited.
4VAC15-290-115 DWR regulation
Field trials
DWR may permit dog field trials from August 1 to May 31; trials in foxhound training preserves and raccoon hound trials may be permitted year-round.
4VAC15-40-283 DWR regulation
No chasing, hunting or training from a baited site
Dogs may not be used to chase, hunt or train from a baited site. A site stays baited for 30 days after bait is removed.
Tracking wounded game
Using a leashed tracking dog to recover deer, bear or turkey.
Va. Code § 29.1-516.1 Code of Virginia
Using tracking dogs to retrieve bear, deer or turkey
Leashed tracking dogs may be used to find wounded or dead bear, deer or turkey during the season or within 24 hours after it closes, with permission to be on the land.
Foxhound training preserves
Rules for existing fox pens.
Va. Code § 29.1-525.2 Code of Virginia
Fox and coyote enclosures
Preserves permitted as of January 1, 2014 may continue operating until July 1, 2054, with a statewide cap of 900 foxes a year. New enclosures are prohibited.
4VAC15-290-160 DWR regulation
Foxhound training preserve permits
Permit standards: at least 100 fenced acres, fencing requirements, hound density, rabies vaccination, record-keeping and annual reports.
Care, licensing and kennels
Animal-care and licensing laws apply to hunting dogs like any other dog.
Va. Code § 3.2-6503 Code of Virginia
Care of companion animals
Owners must provide adequate feed, water, shelter, space, exercise and veterinary care.
Va. Code § 3.2-6504 Code of Virginia
Abandonment of animals
Abandoning any animal is a Class 1 misdemeanor. VAHDA offers a $1,000 reward for information leading to the conviction of anyone who abandons a hunting dog.
Va. Code § 3.2-6524 Code of Virginia
Dog licenses
Every dog four months or older must be licensed.
Va. Code § 3.2-6528 Code of Virginia
License and kennel license fees
Caps individual dog license fees and allows localities to offer kennel licenses in blocks of 10 to 50 dogs.
Va. Code § 3.2-6570 Code of Virginia
Cruelty to animals; hunting exemption
The cruelty statute does not prohibit lawful hunting, fishing, trapping or wildlife management.
Va. Code § 3.2-6540 Code of Virginia
Dangerous dogs; hunting exemption
A dog may not be declared dangerous for injuring or killing another dog or cat while lawfully hunting with its owner or at an organized dog event.
Va. Code § 3.2-6552 Code of Virginia
Dogs and livestock
Officers, a person who finds a dog killing or injuring livestock or poultry, and livestock owners in some cases may kill the dog. There is no hunting-dog exception.
Local government
Your county and city
Many rules that affect hound hunters are set locally: dog ordinances, kennel licenses and zoning, and leash laws.
Va. Code § 3.2-6538 Code of Virginia ✓ VAHDA-backed law
Dogs running at large
Localities may prohibit dogs from running at large, except dogs used for hunting.
Supported by VAHDA: SB 1367 (2019) requires localities that ban dogs running at large to exempt hunting dogs.
Va. Code § 3.2-6539 Code of Virginia
Leash ordinances
Localities may require dogs to be kept on a leash or restrained. This section has no hunting-dog exception, so check your local ordinance.
Resolution on Heritage of Hunting with Dogs
Twenty-four counties stand with hunting with dogs.
The “Brunswick Resolution” is a defense of the rural culture of Virginia. It has been passed by:
Charlotte · Brunswick · Mecklenburg · Lunenburg · Caroline · Spotsylvania · Charles City · New Kent · King and Queen · King William · Page · Isle of Wight · Northumberland · Essex · Nottoway · Prince George · Goochland · Southampton · Greensville · Cumberland · Buckingham · Sussex · Pittsylvania · [24th county]
Consider asking your Board of Supervisors to pass a similar resolution today!
At a glance
Hunting dog violations at a glance
Violation calls fell by half from 2023 to 2025.
Working together
Hunter-Landowner County Meetings
Next: Lancaster County, October 19. 14 counties have met so far.