Website: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Contact Phone Number: 1-888-936-7463
Address: 101 S Webster Street PO Box 7921 Madison WI 53707-7921
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Coyote Hunting Wisconsin Laws & Regulations

Are coyotes defined as furbearer, game animal, or other in Wisconsin? Furbearing animal means raccoon, fox, coyote, bobcat, skunk, opossum and weasel.

Do you need a license to hunt coyotes in Wisconsin? Residents are required to have a small game hunting license and non-residents are required to have a furbearer license.

A landowner is required to have a license to hunt deer, bear, turkey, game birds, migratory game birds and bobcat, or to trap otter, muskrat, mink, bobcat or fishers. The owner or occupant of any land and members of their family* may, without a license and subject to all other restrictions except seasons, hunt or trap on their own property for beaver, fox, coyote, raccoon, woodchuck, rabbit and squirrel year-round, and unprotected species causing damage or a nuisance, and may sell the skins of these species (except for woodchucks.)

Can a non-resident hunt coyotes in Wisconsin? Yes, Residents are required to have a small game hunting license and non-residents are required to have a furbearer license.

Is there a specific season for coyotes in Wisconsin? Year-round open hunting season.

Is there a bag limit for coyotes in Wisconsin? Unlimited, statewide.

What are the legal hunting hours in Wisconsin? Normal hunting hours apply except for those species that are legal to hunt at night (i.e., raccoon, fox, coyote and unprotected species). On any state park or state trail property, hunting hours for species that do not have hour restrictions begin one hour before sunrise and run until 11 P.M. except when the 9-day November gun deer season is open, during which normal 23 hunting hour restrictions apply to hunting for all species. The hunting hours are listed on pages 31–32.

Are electronic game calls legal in Wisconsin? Yes, with some limitations.

It is illegal to use or possess any electronic or electronically-amplified calls▲ while hunting migratory game birds or wild turkey**

• (▲ Note: It is legal to use any type of call or amplified sound for attracting foxes, raccoon, crows, coyotes, and unprotected species during the open season.)
• (**Exceptions: A person with a Class A or B Disabled Hunting Permit issued for more than one year and which authorizes hunting from a stationary vehicle may use electronic calls for hunting wild turkeys.)

Are decoys legal in Wisconsin? Yes.

What firearms are approved/disapproved for coyotes in Wisconsin? It is illegal to use any device other than legal firearms, airguns, bows or crossbows to kill or catch wild animals, except that traps and falconry birds may be used under the appropriate license or permit and seasons;

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It is illegal to hunt with a fully automatic firearm.

It is illegal to hunt with any means other than a gun discharged from the shoulder, a legal handgun, bow and arrow or crossbow

Are suppressors allowed for hunting in Wisconsin? It is illegal to possess or use a firearm suppressor/silencer unless you hold a federal license to possess the device.

Legal ammunition or restrictions for hunting coyotes in Wisconsin? It is illegal to possess or use while hunting any tracer or incendiary shells, cartridges or ammunition.

It is illegal to possess or control shotshells loaded with a single slug or ball while hunting any game bird or wild turkey except during open gun deer or bear seasons. Shotshells loaded with a single slug or ball are legal during any season for hunting small game species, including coyote, fox and bobcat, but not for hunting game birds or wild turkey;

Hunt while in possession of shot or shotshells loaded with shot larger than no. BB (including buckshot) from: June 1–Dec. 13 while hunting except:

• Non-toxic shot size BBB and T may be used for hunting waterfowl;
• Shot larger than BB may be possessed and used for the purpose of hunting bobcat.

Are there regulations for possessing, transporting dead coyotes, or pelts across state lines in Wisconsin? Lawfully harvested carcasses and pelts may be sold at any time. After their skin is removed, bobcat carcasses may be retained by the DNR for research purposes. It is illegal to possess the green skin of a bobcat which has not been registered beginning on the 6th day after the season closes.

Is night hunting allowed in Wisconsin? Coyote, fox, raccoon, and unprotected species may be hunted without hunting hour restrictions except:

1. If hunting with a bow or crossbow, the hours listed on pages 31–32 apply for hunting all species during the bear and archery deer seasons;
2. 2. If hunting with a gun, the hours listed on pages 31–32 apply for hunting all species during the regular 9-day November gun deer season. (*Note: Coyote, fox and raccoon may be hunted at night during the muzzleloader season, youth hunt or the 4-day antlerless only deer season.) This does not apply in the southern Farmland Deer deer management zone.

Use of Lights: A flashlight may be used to find your way and at the point of kill while hunting raccoon, fox and coyotes. Lights may not be used to shine or search for these animals. A “flashlight” means a battery-operated light designed to be carried and held by hand.

Shining | It is illegal to:

• Use or possess with intent to use a light, including vehicle headlights or laser sights* on firearms, bows and crossbows, for shining any wild animal while hunting or in possession of a firearm, bow or crossbow;
  • (*Note: Visually handicapped hunters with a Class C Disabled Permit may use a laser sight for hunting.)
• Use or possess with intent to use a light, including vehicle headlights, for shining wild animals between the hours of 10 P.M. and 7 A.M. from Sept. 15 through Dec. 31 whether or not in 7 possession of a firearm, bow or crossbow.
  • Exceptions: A flashlight may be used 1) while shooting coyote, raccoon, fox or unprotected species at the point of kill while hunting on foot, or 2) to find your way. A flashlight means a battery operated light designed to be carried and held by hand.
    • (Note: Some areas may prohibit shining by local ordinance. Check with the local sheriff’s department or township officials for local shining restrictions.)

Coyote, fox, raccoon and unprotected species may be hunted without hunting hour restrictions except:

1. If hunting with a bow or crossbow, the hours listed on pages 31–32 apply for hunting all species during the bear and bow deer seasons.
2. If hunting with a gun in the Forest or Central Farmland deer management zones, the hours listed on pages 31–32 apply for hunting all species during the regular 9-day November gun deer season.*

(*Note: Coyote, fox, raccoon and unprotected species may be hunted at night during the following deer seasons, but only in the Southern Farmland deer management zone: youth hunt, traditional 9-day November firearm in the southern, muzzleloader and 4-day antlerless-only.)

Can you hunt coyotes from a vehicle in Wisconsin? It is illegal to hunt any animal with the aid of any aircraft, including unmanned aircraft and drones.

Can baiting be used to hunt coyotes in Wisconsin? It is illegal to use bait to hunt small game mammals, migratory birds, game birds, wild turkey and furbearing animals. However, hunting over agricultural crops and wildlife food plots planted and left standing is legal. Also, hunting over seeds dispersed from naturally occurring vegetation, grain, or feed scattered solely by normal agricultural operations which include harvesting, post-harvest manipulations or other agricultural practices is not considered baiting. Manipulation of agricultural crops or natural vegetation prior to harvest by mowing, shredding, discing, rolling, chopping, trampling, flattening, burning or herbicide treatment is legal for hunting doves, but is not legal for hunting other species.

Can dogs be used to hunt coyotes in Wisconsin? Dogs are legal to use for hunting small game mammals, game birds, furbearing animals, migratory game birds and unprotected species, except dogs may be used for hunting wild turkeys ONLY during the fall season. Dogs must be leashed at all times on Waterfowl Production Areas (WPAs) unless engaged in legal hunting activity.

Is there a coyote bounty program in Wisconsin? It appears a resolution was passed in 2012: Wisconsin Wildlife Federation

Blaze Orange: During any gun or muzzleloader deer season, no person may hunt any game unless at least 50% of the person’s outer clothing above the waist is colored blaze orange. A hat, if worn, must be at least 50% blaze orange. Camo-blaze is legal if 50% of the material is blaze orange, but is not as visible as solid blaze clothing*.

• (*Exceptions: The blaze orange requirement does not apply to waterfowl hunters or during legal night hunting activities from ½ hour after sunset to ½ hour before sunrise while hunting coyote, fox, raccoon and unprotected species.)

This information is for informational purposes only. This website has no affiliation with any department of the above mentioned state. For your own safety please contact your local office to verify the information presented. CoyoteHunting101.com is not responsible for your own stupidity.