Wednesday, February 8, 2012

A permit to visit where the Gallant Pelham fell? What next, Virginia?

Via SHNV

The monument marking the site of Maj. John Pelham's mortal wounding at Kelly's Ford, Virginia
The monument marking the site of Maj. John Pelham's mortal wounding at Kelly's Ford, Virginia

OK. You know you need a fishing permit if you want to go after channel catfish in the Rappahannock. Sue Stanley surely had one on 2 October 1992, when she reeled in the largest channel catfish (31 lbs. 6 oz.) ever caught in the Old Dominion. And everybody recognizes that a hunting license is the law if you want to nail a Boone and Crockett trophy deer as my good friend Eddy Webb did out in the Alleghany Mountains many years ago.

But what the heck is a Facility Access Permit? And to a civil war site? Let's quote the latest mandate from Virginia's Department of Game and Inland Fisheries:

Effective January 1, 2012, a Facility Access Permit will be required when using any Department-owned Wildlife Management Area or Fishing Lake. Such permit shall not be required for any person holding a valid hunting, fishing or trapping license or a current certificate of boat registration issued by the Department or persons 16 years of age or younger. The Facility Access Permit requirement does not apply to Department owned boat ramps or segments of the Appalachian Trail on Department-owned land. The permit fee is $4 for a daily permit or $23 for an annual permit and may be purchased online or at any license agent.

Forget guns, bows, or fishing rods. Now, you’re going to have to pay just to hike anything the WMA controls. Even if you just want to shoot pictures of pretty flowers. Or visit the solitary monument marking the spot where Major John Pelham was mortally wounded in the Battle of Kelly’s Ford on 17 March 1863.

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