RICHMOND- The Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (DGIF) is taking the COVID-19 virus very seriously and wants to make sure our staff, citizens and resources around the Commonwealth are taking all necessary precautions. DGIF encourages everyone in the Commonwealth to utilize the online option, gooutdoorsvirginia.com for all their licensing and registration needs. Hunters, anglers, boaters and wildlife enthusiasts can do most transactions online.
DGIF UPDATES:
As of close of business Wednesday, March 17 at 4:30pm, EST, all DGIF offices are closed for walk in traffic until further notice.
DGIF offices:
Headquarters, Henrico, VA.
Charles City, VA
Fredericksburg, VA
Forest, VA
Marion, VA
Verona, VA
The DGIF Board of Directors Committee Meetings and Board Meeting scheduled for Wednesday, March 18 and Thursday, March 19 have been canceled. The next scheduled meetings are May 27–28, 2020.
The following changes have been made to the 2020 Trout Stocking Program:
Heritage Day, scheduled for April 4 has been canceled.
Stockings for Urban Program Waters and the Youth-Only Stocked Trout Program will be rescheduled and will no longer be pre-announced. All waters will still receive their full allotment of trout stockings for the season but stockings will not be announced ahead of time.
Additionally, trout stockings at the Departments three Fee Fishing Areas (Clinch Mountain, Crooked Creek, and Douthat Lake) will not begin in early April as planned. Stockings at the Fee Areas will resume as soon as possible.
Information on daily trout stockings can be found on the DGIF website (https://www.dgif.virginia.gov/fishing/trout-stocking-schedule/) or by calling the Trout Line at 434-525-3474.
All DGIF fish hatcheries have been closed to the public until further notice.
The following changes have been made to hunter education classes:
All in-person Hunter Ed classes have been postponed until after April 14 but are still available online.
Kalkomey, the provider of hunter-ed.com, has donated 1000 courses to ensure students have the option for online education while at home. To obtain the complementary hunter education certificate, go to hunter-ed.com/virginia and use the code G1VirginiaHE202. You must register by April 14, 2020 for the free course.
The following event changes have been made:
The Merrimac Farm WMA Bluebell Festival scheduled for April 11 has been canceled. Visitors may still enter the WMA to view the Virginia Bluebells found throughout the Cedar Run floodplain.
For further resources, please see the below links.
To stay up to date with the latest DGIF information, please follow us on social media and subscribe to Notes from the Field.
Facebook: facebook.com/VDGIF
Instagram: instagram.com/virginiawildlife
Notes from the Field: dgif.virginia.gov/the-outdoor-report
While this virus is just gaining momentum, we ask that if you or someone you have been in contact with has a known connection to it, please stay home so that you do not spread the virus and/or germs. DGIF will keep working diligently with the Department of Health, the Governor’s office and other agencies to make sure we help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
If you have any questions regarding DGIF services or activities, please give us a call (804-367-1000) and we will help with your needs as best we can.