Alabama offers some of the most liberal seasons and bag limits for coyote hunting in the nation. If you are a novice coyote hunter and would like to explore the rules and regulations regarding coyote hunting in Alabama, you have come to the right place.
This article goes into an in-depth analysis of laws and regulations regarding coyote hunting in the Cotton State of Alabama. Along the way, I will also try to answer a few frequently asked questions related to coyote hunting in Alabama.
Coyote Hunting in Alabama
The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources regulates the coyote hunting activities in Alabama. This department is also in charge of wildlife management in the state.
Furthermore, the department has classified coyotes alongside bear, beaver, deer, fox, opossum, wild rabbit, raccoon, squirrel, nutria, mountain lion(cougar), red wolf, groundhog, bobcat, and feral swine(wild hog) as game animals.
Additionally, coyotes are also designated as furbearer animals in Alabama.
Related: Best Scopes for Night Hunting Coyote – Ranked and Reviewed
Do you need a hunting license to hunt coyotes in Alabama?
Whether you are a resident or a non-resident, you will need a hunting license in order to hunt coyotes in Alabama. You can purchase the licenses online through Outdoor Alabama.
Lifetime Licenses are also available at WFF District Offices, County Probate Judge, or License Commissioners, electronic license agents, online, by calling 1-888-848-6887, or Montgomery office, 64 North Union Street, Ste. 567, Montgomery, AL 36104, by probate judges and license commissioners, or by calling 1-888-848-6887.
If you were born on or after August 1, 1977, you must complete an approved hunter education program before purchasing a license for coyote hunting. If you are a non-resident, don’t worry!
Alabama accepts all other states’ hunter education certifications. Therefore, if you completed your hunter education in another state, you are good to go here.
Coyote Hunting seasons in Alabama
There is no closed season for hunting or trapping coyotes in Alabama. That means, holders of a hunting license may hunt coyotes year-round during legal daylight hunting hours. Keep in mind, hunting hours are 30 minutes before sunrise until 30 minutes after sunset.
For privately-owned and leased lands, you are eligible to hunt coyotes at night during special nighttime hunting seasons. There are currently two special nighttime hunting seasons and they are:
- February 11, 2022 – November 1, 2022
Note- Only on Privately Owned land
Bear in mind, landowners or their official agent must obtain a permit through the local district office for nuisance control coyote hunting outside of the dates of deer gun season.
Bag Limits for Coyote Hunting in Alabama
There are no bag limits for hunting coyotes in Alabama. You can hunt coyotes in Alabama all year round without having to worry about the season or bag limits.
Where to hunt Coyotes in Alabama?
Alabama offers good coyote hunting opportunities across its mix of forests, farms and more open prairies. Several wildlife management areas and state lands provide public access and maintain healthy coyote populations.
The northern half of Alabama contains excellent habitat for targeting coyotes, with farmlands and woodlots intermixing across the landscape. Lauderdale WMA, Freedom Hills WMA, Seven Mile Island WMA and Mud Creek Public Hunting Area all provide thousands of acres for hunting.
Central Alabama also produces coyotes on Oak Mountain State Park and Talladega National Forest. The Piney Woods region spanning the southern half of the state holds coyotes in areas like the Lowndes Wildlife Management Area and the Mobile-Tensaw Delta & W.L. Holland Wildlife Management Areas along the coast.
Legal Ways to Hunt Coyotes in Alabama
There are no specific restrictions on ammunition for coyote hunting in Alabama. In the case of firearms, rifles of any caliber are allowed for hunting coyotes. Pistols and Handguns are also approved for hunting coyotes in Alabama.
If you want to use shotguns for hunting coyotes, make sure you are using 10 gauge or smaller(with slugs or single round ball only during stalk gun deer season).
Additionally, it is completely legal to use longbows, compound bows, crossbows, and spear or sharpened blades to hunt coyotes. You can also use decoys for coyote hunting in Alabama.
You must not refuse to submit your firearms and ammunition or any device, instrument, or accessory used in coyote hunting to Conservation Enforcement Officers for inspection if required.
It is illegal to use any equipment that uses electronics to increase the ability to see in the dark(night vision equipment) for hunting coyotes except during the special nighttime hunting season.
If coyotes are causing any crop damage, property damage, or any reasonable concern to human safety, you are eligible to shoot them.
But first, make sure to procure a permit from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. You do not require to demonstrate any specific damage in order to obtain the permit.
Bear in mind, You can not bait or hunt coyotes over bait in Alabama. Furthermore, it is illegal to hunt coyotes in any area where baiting has occurred, until 10 days after all bait has been removed or consumed.
Can you use dogs to hunt coyotes in Alabama?
It is illegal to hunt coyotes using dogs in Alabama during and in areas of spring turkey season.
Can you hunt coyotes from vehicles in Alabama?
It is illegal to concentrate, drive, rally, kill, take, molest, capture, or hunt any coyotes in Alabama with the aid of any automobiles, ATV, airplane, train, motorboat, sailboat, or any type of mechanically propelled automobile.
However, you may hunt coyotes after you turn the motor off and cease all forward motion completely. Bear in mind, it is unlawful to hunt coyotes from a vehicle on a public road in Alabama.
Important Notice: The articles published on this website are only for informational purposes and we do not promote hunting/ killing animals. If you are willing to hunt please refer to Authorized sources for correct and updated information. Writer/ Website owner will not be responsible for any consequences due to information provided on this website. You can refer to relevant Government sources for updated information.
