George Braxton

Key discussions during the meeting included a review update for the Governance Manual, Code of Ethics and Conduct, and Committee Charters, which led to a motion to approve staff recommendations for these documents. The committee also received a presentation regarding a cooperative effort between DCR and DWR to control deer populations on natural heritage sites. Furthermore, there was a presentation on 'Explore the Wild 2.0,' which is a GIS-based Property Database Access Portal designed for searching recreation locations. The Outreach Division provided an update on recent and upcoming events, including the Archery Open 2026, the 'Restore the Wild' event, the launch of the VA Elk Hunt Lottery, and the availability of the 2025 Annual Report and 2026 Wildlife Calendar. The Director reported on commendations for staff work related to the website and landowner/authority coordination.

The committee meeting focused on several key regulatory proposals and operational updates. Discussions included the Turkey Regulation Proposal, for which the committee recommended adopting the proposed amendment to the wild turkey bag limit regulation. A motion was passed to recommend the Blue Catfish Regulation Proposal to the full Board for adoption. The committee also approved staff recommendations for Regulatory Reform Proposals aimed at achieving a 25% reduction in regulatory mandates per Executive Order 19. Additionally, the committee recommended endorsing the 2025-2029 Bear Mange Management Plan and Response Protocol. Updates were provided on the Virginia Sea Turtle & Marine Mammal Conservation Plan, VPA-HIP Program Accomplishments, and reports from the Wildlife and Fish Divisions. The Wildlife Division report detailed increased wildlife response capacity, hunter sampling plans utilizing kits instead of physical stations, the new Forestry Prospectus aiming to increase revenue, and findings regarding Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in vultures. The Fish Division noted the ramp-up of fall stocking for channel catfish and trout. The Boating Division updated on customer service metrics and reported 71 total boating incidents for the year. The Non-game Program update highlighted findings from the Virginia Gray Fox Project and the upcoming unveiling of Virginia's 2nd Breeding Bird Atlas results. The Director's Report covered harvest updates for early deer and bear seasons, with preliminary figures showing increases for Youth/Apprentice Deer Weekend and Statewide Archery Deer Season Opening Weekend.

The Wildlife and Boat Committee meeting included public comments on dog hunting and the use of drones for deer herd analysis. Key agenda items involved the Migratory Bird Regulations & Bag Limit Proposals, for which preliminary 2026-2027 season recommendations were approved for full Board consideration. The Committee also recommended endorsement of the Smallmouth Bass Management Plan to the Full Board. Updates were provided on an EPA Grant, Annual Reports to USCG, and Virginia's Second Breeding Bird Atlas. The Wildlife Division Report detailed ongoing revisions to the Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) management plan, noting no confirmed positives from recent testing, and provided preliminary harvest data for deer (up 10% from the previous year) and bear (down approximately 15%). The Fish Division Update announced the start of the public scoping period for fishing, boating, and nongame regulations. The Boating Division Update covered 2025 customer service statistics, boating incidents, and progress on updating regulatory buoy data for accurate public maps by the end of 2026. The Non-game Program Update detailed the start of winter hibernacula counts for bats, surveys for Purple Sandpipers, and ongoing Bald and Golden Eagle trapping for migration studies and health assessments.

Key discussion topics included a presentation on the Second Quarter Finance Report and a subsequent Budget Update. A Procurement Update was provided, detailing a high-level review of Procurement Management and Procurement Initiatives/spending plan. The Director's Report highlighted the synergy between procurement management and the budget.

The committee meeting covered several key agenda items related to wildlife management and digital infrastructure. Discussions on Collaborative Deer Management on Virginia's NAPs detailed strategies for managing deer abundance through regulated hunting, focusing on antlerless harvest to decrease reproductive potential, and applying hunting pressure to influence deer behavior. The meeting also presented updates on the 'Explore the Wild 2.0' platform, which functions as the primary public access and recreation discovery platform, highlighting its interactive map, improved user experience, robust GIS-based property database, and upcoming phased rollout, including a public beta. Finally, a Director's Update was provided, and future plans for a native mobile application with offline functionality and push notifications were outlined.