RICHMOND, VA (Rocktown Now) — The Virginia Board of Wildlife Resources approved a series of changes to wildlife, fisheries and boating regulations during its regularly scheduled August meeting, including increases to several hunting, fishing, trapping and boating fees and a new charge for primitive camping on Department-owned wildlife management areas.

The board also endorsed the Department of Wildlife Resources’ five-year Stocked Trout Management Plan, which calls for a 35% reduction in trout stocking statewide.

The plan was initially proposed in May as a 10-year strategy. Following a 30-day public comment period and additional review by DWR staff, the agency presented a revised five-year plan to the board.

DWR received 1,835 public comments during the comment period regarding the proposed regulations, fee increases and trout management plan. Of those comments, 972 specifically addressed the proposed fee increases.

Fee increases begin Oct. 1

Beginning Oct. 1, 2026, most resident hunting, fishing and trapping licenses, along with boat registration and titling fees, will increase by $5.

Fees for youth, apprentice, disabled veterans and disabled participants will not increase.

According to DWR, boating fees have not been increased since 2019, while hunting, fishing and trapping license fees have remained unchanged since 2012.

A new $10 fee for primitive camping on Department-owned wildlife management areas also will take effect Oct. 1.

Detailed information on the license fee changes is available through the DWR proposed regulations. Information on boat registration and titling fees is available here, while details on the primitive camping fee are available here.

Wildlife regulations

The board approved several wildlife-related changes, including updates to Virginia’s lists of federally threatened and endangered species and native and naturalized fauna.

Other changes add and remove species from the state’s endangered and threatened species list, clarify the start of bear hound training season, change the release date for rehabilitated deer fawns released by permittees, and make adjustments to the elk special conservation license program.

Some of the wildlife changes take effect Oct. 1, 2026, while others will become effective Jan. 1, 2027.

Fisheries changes

Fisheries regulations approved by the board include a prohibition on stocking flathead catfish and rock bass.

The changes also limit the waters where certain gear may be used to collect bait, update the definition of “fish bait” and make adjustments to several local trout regulations.

The fisheries changes are scheduled to take effect Jan. 1, 2027.

Boating regulations

The board also approved several boating regulation changes that will take effect Jan. 1, 2027.

The changes clarify language related to vessel operation and waterway markers and adopt federal requirements requiring children under 13 to wear a life jacket while underway.

The board also adopted the federal requirement for the use of engine cut-off switches on vessels.

The approved changes follow a public review process that allowed Virginians to comment on the proposed regulations, fees and trout management plan before the board took final action.