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The '''Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources''' is a department of the government of the [[U.S. state]] of [[Virginia]] that regulates [[wildlife conservation]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Va Code 29.1-109|url=https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title29.1/chapter1/section29.1-109/}}</ref>
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:Dgif.gif|frame|right]] -->The '''Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries''', or '''VDGIF''', regulates fish and wildlife in Virginia. It is managed by the Director of Game and Inland Fisheries and overseen by the [[Virginia Board of Game and Inland Fisheries]].


==Mission==
==History==
The '''Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries''' was created on June 17, 1916, under the [[Virginia Marine Resources Commission|Commission of Fisheries]] with M.D. "Mac" Hart appointed as Secretary of the Department. A Virginia hunting license was established as one of the primary sources of funding as the agency is fully self-sufficient and receiving no financial support from the state treasury. From 1903 until this point the Game Wardens had been administered by each locality. In 1920, the first Virginia State Game Farm of 1200 acres was established at Windsor Shades in [[New Kent County, Virginia|New Kent County]]. In 1923, Mrs B. M. Miller and Mrs. C. E. Sykes are recognized among Virginia's first women game wardens. In 1926, the Department was separated from the Commission of Fisheries and reorganized into the '''Commission of Game and Inland Fisheries''' chaired by A. Willis Robertson. In 1928 the Commission of Game and Inland Fisheries was given sole authority to shorten hunting seasons, removing the privilege from the localities to adjust their own season. In 1982, Virginia Game Wardens were given full law enforcement authority. In 1987, the commission's name returns to become the '''Department of Game and Inland Fisheries'''.


On July 1, 2020, the Department's name was changed to '''Department of Wildlife Resources'''.<ref name="Dunovant">Jason Dunovant, [https://newsadvance.com/news/local/department-of-game-and-inland-fisheries-to-get-a-new-name/article_8a120248-94b0-5e64-abf0-78551f323919.html Department of Game and Inland Fisheries to get a new name], ''The News & Advance'' (June 22, 2020).</ref><ref>Bryan McKenzie, [https://www.dailyprogress.com/news/local/local-legislators-see-gun-mental-health-insurance-voting-bills-become-law/article_9e77534c-721c-5527-9302-96421a185210.html Local legislators see gun, mental health, insurance, voting bills become law], ''Daily Progress'' (July 3, 2020).</ref>
VDGIF's goals<ref>[http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/about/ About the Virginia Department of Game & Inland Fisheries (VDGIF)<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> are to:
* Manage Virginia's wildlife and inland fish;
* Maintain optimum populations of all species to serve the needs of the Commonwealth;
* Provide opportunity for all to enjoy wildlife, inland fish, boating and related outdoor recreation;
* Work diligently to safeguard the rights of the people to hunt, fish and harvest game as provided for in the Constitution of Virginia;
* Promote safety for persons and property in connection with boating, hunting and fishing; and
* Provide educational outreach programs and materials that foster an awareness of and appreciation for Virginia's fish and wildlife resources, their habitats, and hunting, fishing, and boating opportunities.


==Conservation police officers ==
==Powers==
⚫
[[Image:VA - Conservation Police.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Conservation Police patch]]
The Director of Game and Inland Fisheries has the power to:
*Enforce all laws for the protection, propagation and preservation of game birds, game animals, and inland fish of the Commonwealth,
*Initiate prosecution of all persons who violate such laws,
*Seize and confiscate wild birds, wild animals and fish that have been illegally killed, caught, transported or shipped,
*Employ persons necessary for the administrative requirements of the Board and to designate the official position and duties of each,
*Collaborate with the federal government on fish and wildlife projects,
*Make and enter into all contracts and agreements necessary or incidental to the performance of his duties and the execution of his powers.


The [[law enforcement officer]]s of the department have the title [[Conservation officer|conservation police officer]].<ref name=ConservationPolice>[https://dwr.virginia.gov/conservation-police Conservation Police], Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources.</ref> Conservation police officers enforce Virginia laws relating to hunting, fishing, and boating; conduct patrols in cars, aircraft, [[all-terrain vehicle]]s, and [[boat]]s, and on foot; and investigate tips from the public. Virginia conservation police officers are also appointed as deputy [[U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service]] [[special agent]]s, which allows them to investigate (and cross state lines to investigate) suspected violations of federal wildlife laws.<ref name=ConservationPolice/> Virginia game wardens were first appointed in 1903. The title was changed to "conservation police officer" in 2007.<ref name=ConservationPolice/>
== Law Enforcement Division ==


⚫
Since the establishment of the department, eleven officers have died while on duty. In the 1920s and 1930s, five game wardens died from gunfire, and two game wardens died from drowning/pneumonia. Two additional officers were fatally shot in 1952 and 1960. On December 19, 1972, two game wardens died in an aircraft accident.<ref>[http://odmp.org/agency/4052-virginia-department-of-game-and-inland-fisheries-virginia Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, Virginia, Fallen Officers<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
⚫
[[Image:VA - Conservation Police.jpg|thumb|right|200px|<center>Conservation Police patch</center>]]

The law enforcement officers of VDGIF carry the official title of ''Conservation Police Officer''. The official title was ''Game Warden'' prior to July 1, 2007. [[Game warden|Conservation police officer]]s from the Law Enforcement Division of VDGIF have full police powers but focus on enforcing Virginia's wildlife and boating laws in the state's numerous fields, forests, and waterways. Usually a single officer is assigned to work in a county or city. There are some exceptions, depending on the needs of the community. Conservation officers assist each other in adjacent counties within their work areas. They also work with local law enforcement agencies when performing manhunts, search and rescue, and other endeavors.

With the addition of 19 new Conservation Police Officers the force now numbers 166 Officers.<ref>[http://www.roanoke.com/outdoors/wb/169023 The Roanoke Times, Friday, July 11, 2008]</ref>

===Fallen officers===

⚫
Since the establishment of the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, eight officers have died while on duty.<ref>[http://odmp.org/agency/4052-virginia-department-of-game-and-inland-fisheries-virginia Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, Virginia, Fallen Officers<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>


==See also==
==See also==
{{Portal|Virginia|Law enforcement/Law enforcement topics}}
{{Portal|Virginia}}
* [[List of law enforcement agencies in Virginia]]
* [[List of law enforcement agencies in Virginia]]
* [[Virginia Wildlife Management Areas]]
* [[Game Warden|Conservation Police Officer]]
* [[List of state and territorial fish and wildlife management agencies in the United States]]
{{-}}


==References==
==References==
Line 42: Line 23:


==External links==
==External links==
*[http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/index.asp Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries].
*[https://dwr.virginia.gov/ Official website]
*[http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+29.1-109 29.1-109. Department of Game and Inland Fisheries; Director]. [[Code of Virginia]].
*[https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title29.1/chapter1/ Relevant part] of the [[Code of Virginia]]


{{State agencies of Virginia}}
{{State agencies of Virginia}}
{{authority control}}


[[Category:State law enforcement agencies of Virginia]]
[[Category:State agencies of Virginia|Wildlife Resources, Department of]]
⚫
[[Category:State agencies of Virginia|Game and Inland Fisheries, Department]]
[[Category:State environmental protection agencies of the United States]]
[[Category:State environmental protection agencies of the United States]]
⚫
[[Category:State law enforcement agencies of Virginia|Wildlife Resources, Department of]]
[[Category:1916 establishments in Virginia]]

Latest revision as of 10:12, 27 September 2023

The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources is a department of the government of the U.S. state of Virginia that regulates wildlife conservation.[1]

History

[edit]

The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries was created on June 17, 1916, under the Commission of Fisheries with M.D. "Mac" Hart appointed as Secretary of the Department. A Virginia hunting license was established as one of the primary sources of funding as the agency is fully self-sufficient and receiving no financial support from the state treasury. From 1903 until this point the Game Wardens had been administered by each locality. In 1920, the first Virginia State Game Farm of 1200 acres was established at Windsor Shades in New Kent County. In 1923, Mrs B. M. Miller and Mrs. C. E. Sykes are recognized among Virginia's first women game wardens. In 1926, the Department was separated from the Commission of Fisheries and reorganized into the Commission of Game and Inland Fisheries chaired by A. Willis Robertson. In 1928 the Commission of Game and Inland Fisheries was given sole authority to shorten hunting seasons, removing the privilege from the localities to adjust their own season. In 1982, Virginia Game Wardens were given full law enforcement authority. In 1987, the commission's name returns to become the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.

On July 1, 2020, the Department's name was changed to Department of Wildlife Resources.[2][3]

Conservation police officers

[edit]
Conservation Police patch

The law enforcement officers of the department have the title conservation police officer.[4] Conservation police officers enforce Virginia laws relating to hunting, fishing, and boating; conduct patrols in cars, aircraft, all-terrain vehicles, and boats, and on foot; and investigate tips from the public. Virginia conservation police officers are also appointed as deputy U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service special agents, which allows them to investigate (and cross state lines to investigate) suspected violations of federal wildlife laws.[4] Virginia game wardens were first appointed in 1903. The title was changed to "conservation police officer" in 2007.[4]

Since the establishment of the department, eleven officers have died while on duty. In the 1920s and 1930s, five game wardens died from gunfire, and two game wardens died from drowning/pneumonia. Two additional officers were fatally shot in 1952 and 1960. On December 19, 1972, two game wardens died in an aircraft accident.[5]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Va Code 29.1-109".
  2. ^ Jason Dunovant, Department of Game and Inland Fisheries to get a new name, The News & Advance (June 22, 2020).
  3. ^ Bryan McKenzie, Local legislators see gun, mental health, insurance, voting bills become law, Daily Progress (July 3, 2020).
  4. ^ a b c Conservation Police, Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources.
  5. ^ Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, Virginia, Fallen Officers
[edit]
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