by Jackie Nunnery
HEATHSVILLE—Northumberland supervisors on Thursday, January 9, unanimously approved a revised ordinance to allow deer hunting with rifles and pistols from a stand. The 5-0 decision came following a second public hearing on the matter.
Under the changes, the rifle or pistol must be a .23 caliber or greater with a maximum magazine capacity of five rounds for rifles and six rounds for pistols. The stand must be at least eight feet off the ground and the firearm can only be loaded in the elevated stand. Rifles would not be allowed for turkey hunting.
Resident Matthew Sprague spoke in favor of the ordinance. “Still hunting in a stand is one of the safest ways to hunt. When you’re in the stand you’re evaluating your surroundings. When running dogs, there’s a lot of people and animals moving with a lot of room for error,” he said.
Thomas Kelley noted the changes would be “in alignment with surrounding counties.”
Pam Hagy raised concerns about younger “less-skilled” hunters with “high powered weapons whose bullets can travel 1.7 miles” and suggested an age limit.
However, county attorney Eric Gregory said Virginia code does not allow for localities to set age limits on hunting. …
