Rule 1501:31-7-05 | Seasons and limits on rails, Wilson's snipe, woodcock, gallinules, mourning doves, and Eurasian collared-doves.
(A) Throughout the state, it is unlawful for any person to hunt, kill, wound, take, or attempt to take, or to possess any of the migratory game birds specified in this rule except as provided in this rule or other rules of the Administrative Code. Provided further, it shall be unlawful for any person to:
(1) Hunt, take, or possess any rails except sora and Virginia, which may be hunted and taken from September 1, 2024, through November 9, 2024;
(2) Take or possess more than twenty-five rails singly or in the aggregate in one day, or to possess more than seventy-five rails singly or in the aggregate at anytime after the second day;
(3) Hunt, take, or possess Wilson's snipe at any time, except from September 1, 2024, through November 20, 2024, and December 7, 2024, through January 1, 2025;
(4) Hunt, take, or possess woodcock at any time, except from October 12, 2024, through November 25, 2024;
(5) Hunt or take rails, Wilson's snipe, woodcock, or gallinules at any time, except from sunrise to sunset daily during the open season;
(6) Take more than three woodcock in one day or possess more than nine woodcock after the second day;
(7) Take more than eight Wilson's snipe in one day or possess more than twenty-four Wilson's snipe at any time after the second day;
(8) Hunt, take, or possess gallinules at any time except from September 1, 2024, through November 9, 2024;
(9) Take more than fifteen gallinules in one day or possess more than forty-five gallinules at any time after the second day.
(B) Mourning doves and Eurasian collared-doves.
It shall be unlawful for any person to:
(1) Hunt, take, or possess mourning doves or Eurasian collared-doves at any time except from September 1, 2024, through November 3, 2024, and December 7, 2024, through January 1, 2025;
(2) Hunt or take mourning doves or Eurasian collared-doves at any time except from sunrise to sunset daily during the open season;
(3) Take or possess more than fifteen mourning doves or Eurasian collared-doves singly or in the aggregate in one day, or possess more than forty-five mourning doves or Eurasian collared-doves singly or in the aggregate after the second day;
(4) Hunt or possess mourning doves or Eurasian collared-doves on any public hunting area designated as a controlled access opportunity area without a permit from the chief of the division of wildlife;
(5) Hunt or possess mourning doves or Eurasian collared-doves except during the posted hours on any public hunting area posted with signs stating the restricted hunting hours;
(6) Take a mourning dove or Eurasian collared-dove that is on any type of building, utility wire or utility pole.
(C) All definitions set forth in rule 1501:31-1-02 of the Administrative Code apply to this rule.
Last updated July 2, 2024 at 9:40 AM
Supplemental Information
Amplifies: 1531.06, 1531.08, 1533.02
Five Year Review Date: 6/30/2029
Prior Effective Dates: 8/25/1976 (Temp.), 8/15/1977 (Temp.), 8/30/1978 (Temp.), 8/31/1979 (Temp.), 8/31/1980 (Temp.), 8/31/1981 (Temp.), 8/31/1982 (Temp.), 8/30/1983 (Temp.), 8/10/1984 (Temp.), 8/9/1985 (Temp.), 8/9/1986, 8/9/1987 (Temp.), 8/9/1988 (Temp.), 8/9/1989 (Temp.), 8/9/1990 (Temp.), 8/11/1991 (Temp.), 8/17/1992 (Temp.), 8/15/1993 (Temp.), 8/19/1994 (Temp.), 8/17/1995 (Temp.), 8/16/1996 (Temp.), 8/10/1997 (Temp.), 8/11/1998 (Temp.), 8/13/1999 (Temp.), 8/13/2000 (Temp.), 8/13/2001 (Temp.), 8/15/2001 (Emer.), 11/30/2001, 11/13/2002, 11/27/2003, 9/1/2004 (Emer.), 11/22/2004, 8/31/2005 (Emer.), 11/18/2005, 11/27/2006, 7/1/2007, 9/1/2007 (Emer.), 11/8/2007, 9/1/2008 (Emer.), 11/24/2008, 9/1/2009 (Emer.), 9/1/2010 (Emer.), 11/4/2010, 9/1/2011 (Emer.), 11/10/2011, 8/30/2012 (Emer.), 11/12/2012, 9/1/2013 (Emer.), 11/24/2013, 8/28/2014 (Emer.), 11/7/2014, 8/31/2015 (Emer.), 11/9/2015, 7/1/2016, 1/1/2017, 7/1/2017, 7/7/2018, 7/1/2019, 7/1/2020, 7/1/2021, 7/1/2022, 6/30/2023