The State game, fish and dog laws have been amended many times since the adoption of the Game, Inland Fish and Dog Code in 1930 and the Commission of Game and Inland Fisheries has adopted and amended numerous regulations pursuant to authority conferred upon it. The need for revising the laws concerning hunting and fishing has been evident for some time.

The General Assembly of 1960 recognized this and adopted House Joint Resolution No. 43, directing the Virginia Advisory Legislative Council to make a study and report upon the game, inland fish and dog laws.

The Council appointed Arthur H. Richardson, member of the House of Delegates representing Dinwiddie county and the city of Petersburg, as Chairman of a Committee to make the preliminary investigation and report. The Council appointed the following to serve upon the Committee with Mr. Richardson: D. W. Bird, member of the State Senate, and member of the Senate Committee on Fish and Game, Bland, Virginia; John B. Boatwright, attorney, and former member of the House of Delegates, Buckingham; Paul Crockett, attorney, and former member of the House of Delegates, Yorktown; Charles Hamilton, Managing Editor, Richmond News Leader, Richmond; W. H. Irvine, businessman and former member of the House of Delegates, Richmond; Baldwin G. Locher, member of House of Delegates and Chairman of the House Committee on Game and Inland Fisheries, Lexington; Webb Midyette, Chief, Law Enforcement Division, Commission of Game and Inland Fisheries; R. F. Burke Steele, banker, Petersburg; and Alexander Long Wilson, attorney, Arlington. All members of the Committee are hunters and fishermen. Thus, they not only brought to their work a much accumulated knowledge and familiarity with the wishes and desires of the sportsmen, but also the determination to do the best possible job. John B. Boatwright, Jr. and Wildman S. Kincheloe, Jr., served as Secretary and Recording Secretary, respectively, to the Committee.

The Committee began its work by obtaining the views of the Commission of Game and Inland Fisheries as to recommend changes in the game, inland fish and dog laws contained in Title 29 of the Code of Virginia; .comments were also sought upon various local fish and game laws. The regulations of the Commission, and the laws ref erred to were all reviewed with the idea of. determining the changes that should be made. ·After wide publicity, public hearings were held· in Wytheville, Lynchburg and Richmond, to which the public was invited. A number of valuable suggestions were received.

The Commission of Game and Inland Fisheries, the Executive Director thereof, the technicians employed by the Commission, the supervising wardens, and a number of game wardens, were requested to, and did, meet with the Committee and make comments and suggestions; many valuable ideas were obtained in this fashion.

After reviewing the material before it, and taking into account the suggestions and recommendations made at the public hearings and meetings, through correspondence and otherwise, the Committee made its report to the Council. Having carefully considered the report of the Committee, the Council makes the recommendations set forth below, for the· reasons indicated, which, in its judgment, will serve. the best interests of the hunters and fishermen of this State.