RICHMOND, Va. — The Virginia Board of Wildlife Resources has approved higher hunting, fishing, trapping and boating fees, along with new wildlife, fisheries and boating regulations and a plan that will reduce stocked trout releases statewide.
Most resident hunting, fishing and trapping licenses will increase by $5 beginning Oct. 1, 2026. Boat registration and titling fees will also increase by $5.
Licenses for youths, apprentices, disabled veterans and disabled participants will not increase.
The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources said hunting, fishing and trapping license fees have not increased since 2012, while boating-related fees have remained unchanged since 2019.
The board also approved a new $10 fee for primitive camping on department-owned wildlife management areas, effective Oct. 1.
The decisions followed a 30-day public comment period in which DWR received 1,835 comments on the proposed regulations, fee increases and Stocked Trout Management Plan. Of those, 972 addressed the proposed fee increases.
The board endorsed a revised five-year Stocked Trout Management Plan that calls for a 35% reduction in trout stocking statewide. DWR originally proposed a 10-year plan in May but shortened it following public comments and additional staff review.
Wildlife regulation changes include updates to Virginia’s lists of threatened and endangered species, changes involving native and naturalized species, clarification of the start of bear hound training season, changes to the release date for rehabilitated deer fawns and adjustments to the elk special conservation license program.
Those changes will take effect either Oct. 1, 2026, or Jan. 1, 2027, depending on the regulation.
Fisheries changes taking effect Jan. 1 include a prohibition on stocking flathead catfish and rock bass, restrictions on waters where certain gear may be used to collect bait, an updated definition of fish bait and changes to some local trout regulations.
The board also approved several boating regulation changes, including adoption of the federal requirement that children younger than 13 wear a life jacket while a vessel is underway and the federal requirement governing the use of engine cut-off switches.
Other boating changes clarify rules involving vessel operation and waterway markers. Those regulations will take effect Jan. 1, 2027.
Information from a release. Edited by Dan McDermott.
