(a) Hunting, killing, capturing or taking deer by any means is prohibited for a period of five years, commencing on July 1, 1971, except by the Commissioner or his designee in conjunction with and in furtherance of the program established by section 2722 of Title 19 of the Virgin Islands Code. At the end of such five-year period, the Commissioner shall restock deer destroyed during such period.
(b) With advance notice to land owners of the general area within which the Commissioner intends to hunt deer, the Commissioner or his designee may in the pursuit of deer and in conjunction with and in furtherance of the program described in subsection (a) hereof enter upon any lands or buildings with dogs or brush clearing equipment, if deemed necessary in the hunting, killing, capturing or taking deer. Any such entry shall be accomplished with reasonable care and the Government shall be liable for any damages caused to any such lands or buildings.
(c) Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this section, the Commissioner may prescribe a deer hunting season or seasons for all or part of the period of time between October 1, 1975, and September 30, 1976, inclusive; and shall provide adequate public notice thereof; provided, that—
(1) all hunting pursuant thereto shall be in accordance with the applicable requirements of this chapter and federal law;
(2) no such deer hunting season or seasons shall be prescribed unless the Commissioner, based on substantial evidence, finds that said season or seasons will not endanger the survival of the species on the island on which the deer will be hunted;
(3) the Commissioner may prescribe a hunting season for one or more of the islands of the territory or for only a part of any island or islands of the territory; and
(4) the Commissioner shall, at least two weeks prior to the date any proposed deer hunting season is to begin, publish for at least 5 consecutive publication days, the proposed commencement and termination dates of said season or seasons, inviting public comment thereon, which publication shall be in at least one newspaper of general circulation on each of the Islands of St. Thomas, St. John and St. Croix.
(d) Hunting, killing, capturing or taking deer by any means is prohibited except during a deer hunting season designated and established as provided for in this section.
(e) Fawns may not be hunted at any time.
(f) No deer shall be molested while it is swimming in water.
(g) Deer may not be hunted between the hours of dusk and dawn.
(h) Whoever violates this section shall be fined not less than $200 nor more than $1,000 or imprisoned not more than 60 days, or both.