Coyote Hunting Seasons by State: The Best Times to Hunt Coyotes
Wes Littlefield 02.25.25
Most states allow coyote hunting seasons year-round and don’t have a set coyote hunting season. A few only allow hunting through specific dates, so check your local regulations to ensure the list below is up-to-date. Year-round coyote hunting is allowed in a majority of states because they’re a nuisance. As a threat to pets, livestock, and wildlife, most state wildlife agencies understand the need for hunters to help control the population. As you keep scrolling, you’ll discover when to hunt coyotes, why it’s the best time to get after them, and why the regulations are so lax.
Coyote Hunting Seasons: When Should You Go?
You should go coyote hunting whenever it’s legal and you get the chance. However, when one understands coyote behavior, one knows coyotes are more active at certain times than others.
Coyotes are primarily nocturnal animals, meaning they spend most of their time awake during the night. So, if your state allows it, night-hunting will often yield more success than any other time of day.
If you live in a state that doesn’t allow night hunting, don’t worry, the early morning and late evening are still great times to take out a few yotes. I’ve had many coyote encounters while duck or deer hunting during daylight hours.
Another factor that determines coyote hunting seasons are the time of year. Some state wildlife departments don’t want hunting to occur during the birthing season (spring), so they close it during that time. I’m not a fan of coyote hunting seasons during the spring and summer because of the bugs (ticks and chiggers love me). However, if you get the itch and live in a state with an open coyote season, then don’t hesitate to help control the coyote population during the spring.
Coyotes are very active and vocal during the breeding season (winter to early spring), which is one reason why coyote hunting in the winter is the best. Winter is the best time to hunt coyotes to harvest their pelt because they have the thickest, prettiest fur.
Why Most Coyote Hunting Seasons Take Place during Winter
Living in a state with an open coyote season means I’ve tried my luck throughout the year, but I’ve found that winter is the best season for hunting coyotes for several reasons. The first, as I’ve already mentioned, is that their fur is in its best condition.
Another reason is the lack of ticks, chiggers, mosquitoes, and poison ivy. I don’t like early-season deer hunting because of the insects and poison ivy, so I’m definitely not putting up with them to hunt coyotes.
Still, another reason is that coyotes are more active during the day when temperatures are cooler (20 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit). So, if your state doesn’t allow night hunting or you prefer to hunt during the day, the winter offers your best chance of seeing a coyote.
The last reason is that they have fewer places to hide due to the less foliage on the bushes and trees. However, coyotes blend into their environment incredibly, so by no means are they easy to spot. Less foliage can also be a double-edged sword because it makes it more challenging for the hunter to blend into the environment.
Coyote Hunting Seasons by State for 2025
Your state’s wildlife department or Department of Natural Resources will determine whether a coyote hunting season is justified. Below, I have listed states with an open season and when it occurs.
Alabama
Alabama has a year-round open season on coyotes with no bag limits.
Alaska
Alaska has coyote hunting seasons that vary by unit. They are typically from late summer to early spring.
Arizona
Arizona has a year-round coyote season.
Arkansas
Arkansas has a year-round coyote hunting season, with no daily possession limits on private land.
California
California doesn’t have a coyote hunting season (it’s legal 365 days a year) or limits on the number of coyotes you can harvest.
Colorado
You can hunt coyotes year-round in Colorado with a small game or furbearer license.
Connecticut
There is no closed coyote hunting season in Connecticut, except on Sundays and during turkey season, which begins the first Wednesday in May and ends 25 consecutive days later.
Delaware
Delaware has coyote hunting and trapping seasons. The hunting season runs from September 1 through February 28, and the trapping season runs from December 1 to March 10. Landowners have a year-round depredation privilege if coyotes threaten livestock, humans, or pets.
Florida
You can hunt coyotes in Florida all year on private lands.
Georgia
Georgia has no closed season for coyote hunting (you can hunt them 365 days a year) on private land.
Hawaii
Hawaii doesn’t have a coyote hunting season because there are no known coyotes in Hawaii.
Idaho
Coyotes can be hunted or trapped all year in Idaho because they are predatory wildlife.
Illinois
Illinois has an open season on coyotes year-round except during firearm deer season. During that time, you must be a licensed deer hunter to harvest a coyote.
Indiana
The Indiana coyote season begins on October 15 and ends on March 15. During this time, there is no bag limit.
Iowa
You can hunt coyotes year-round in Iowa, except during deer season.
Kansas
Kansas does not have a closed season for hunting or trapping coyotes, nor does it have a bag limit on them.
Kentucky
Kentucky has an open season for coyotes. There is also no bag limit.
Louisiana
You can hunt coyotes year-round in Louisiana during daylight hours.
Maine
Maine has an open season for daylight hunting, but the night hunting season begins in mid-December and ends at the end of August.
Maryland
Maryland has an open season, day or night, for coyotes.
Massachusetts
Massachusetts has a coyote hunting season from mid-October to early March, with a trapping season in November.
Michigan
Michigan’s coyote hunting season begins July 15 and runs through April 15 of the following year.
Minnesota
Minnesota has an open season on coyotes, with no possession limits.
Mississippi
Coyotes can be hunted all year in Mississippi on private and public lands.
Missouri
Missouri has a year-round coyote season, but they cannot be hunted during daylight hours from April 1 until the start of spring turkey season.
Montana
Coyotes can be hunted year-round without a license in Montana.
Nebraska
Nebraska does not have a closed season for coyotes or a bag limit.
Nevada
Coyote hunting is legal year-round in Nevada, with some counties allowing night hunting and no possession limits.
New Hampshire
You can legally hunt coyotes all year in New Hampshire.
New Jersey
New Jersey has a bow-only season, general season, and special permit coyote season. The bow-only season dates are confusing: “The annual NJ hunting season for coyote and fox begins the 4th Saturday prior to the last Friday in October and ends the following March 15.” The general season dates are slightly better: “It begins the Saturday after Election Day in November and ends on March 15.” The special permit season is the clearest: January 1 to March 15.
New Mexico
New Mexico has an open season for hunting and trapping coyotes.
New York
Coyotes can be hunted day or night from October 1 to March 31 in New York without a bag limit.
North Carolina
North Carolina allows year-round coyote hunting without a bag limit.
North Dakota
In North Dakota, you can hunt coyotes all year, day or night.
Ohio
Hunting and trapping coyotes is legal year-round in Ohio, but you need a hunting license.
Oklahoma
Coyotes can be hunting year-round without a bag limit in Oklahoma. Hunting from dusk to dawn with artificial light or a sight dog is illegal, but night hunting for coyotes is not explicitly prohibited.
Oregon
Oregon does not have a closed coyote season. You can hunt or trap them year-round.
Pennsylvania
You can hunt coyotes in Pennsylvania all year without bag limits.
Rhode Island
Rhode Island has an open season for hunting and trapping coyotes.
South Carolina
As long as you have a valid hunting license, you can hunt coyotes all year long in South Carolina.
South Dakota
South Dakota has a year-round coyote season.
Tennessee
Tennessee has no closed season for coyote hunting. There is a night hunting season for private lands only.
Texas
You can hunt coyotes year-round in Texas with a valid hunting license.
Utah
Utah does not have a coyote hunting season. You can hunt them 365 days a year.
Vermont
There is no closed coyote season in Vermont, but there is a regulated trapping season and season for using dogs to hunt coyotes.
Virginia
Virginia has an open season on coyotes, except on Sundays, Department lands, and National Forest lands.
Washington
You can hunt coyotes year-round in Washington state.
West Virginia
West Virginia doesn’t have a bag limit or season for coyotes. You can hunt them all year but are limited to open fields during closed small game seasons. Artificial light may be used on private property from September 1 through December 31 to hunt coyotes.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin has an open season for coyote hunting, but the trapping season is from fall to mid-winter.
Wyoming
You can hunt coyotes without a license all day, every day in Wyoming.
Parting Shots: Coyote Hunting Seasons
As you can tell, coyote hunting season varies from state to state, but most Wildlife Departments have minimal restrictions on them. No matter where you live, coyote hunting is likely a viable option in the near future.
