Eastern Coyote
Scientific Name: Canis latrans
Coyote Hunting
When can I hunt coyotes? During most of the year coyotes may be hunted with only a general license, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. However, during any open big game season, you will need to be lawful to hunt the appropriate big game or have a furtaker’s license.
How can I hunt coyotes during big game seasons with my general license? If you do not have a furtaker license, during big game season you may only hunt coyotes if you are lawful to hunt the big game that is season. That includes but is not limited to:
- wearing the appropriate fluorescent orange for the big game season
- using the appropriate arms for the big game season
- having appropriate licenses and unused tags for the big game season
- abiding by the hunting hours listed in the digest for the big game season
May I hunt coyotes on Sundays with my general hunting license during the big game season? Yes. You do NOT need a furtaker license to hunt coyotes on Sundays because Sundays are not considered open season for big game.
May I hunt coyotes at night during a big game season with my furtaker license? Yes. Only those with furtaker licenses may hunt coyotes at night during the big game season. However, you should expect to undergo quite a bit of scrutiny from a game warden if you are approached while hunting coyotes at night during a big game season. The wardens will just be doing their job under the circumstances.
May I use electronic predator calls and decoys while hunting coyotes? Yes. Electronic calls and decoys are permitted for coyote hunting.
May I use a dog to hunt furbearers? Dogs are permitted to hunt furbearers. Electronic devices used for locating dogs while training or hunting, including such devices as e-collars, radio-telemetry dog tracking systems and beeper collars are permitted.
