If you want to start your coyote hunting quest in Oklahoma, you will need to understand the laws and regulations regarding coyote hunting in Oklahoma, at the bare minimum. And the good news is, you’ve come to the perfect place.
Oklahoma offers some of the most liberal hunting seasons and bag limits in the nation when it comes to hunting coyotes. Many hunters consider Oklahoma as a coyote hunting paradise thanks to millions of acres of public hunting land.
This article goes into an in-depth analysis of laws and regulations regarding coyote hunting in the Sooner State of Oklahoma. Along the way, I will also try to answer a few FAQs related to coyote hunting in Oklahoma.
Coyote Hunting in Oklahoma
The Department of Wildlife Conservation regulates all the coyote hunting activities in the state of Oklahoma. Furthermore, the department is also responsible for protecting and managing land, water, fish, and wildlife.
It also helps in providing access to outdoor recreation opportunities in Oklahoma. The state of Oklahoma has classified coyotes as Furbearers. That means there is neither any closed season nor bag limits for hunting coyotes.
Related: Coyote Hunting in Kentucky: Rules and Regulations 2022
Do you need a license to hunt coyotes in Oklahoma?
Both residents and non-residents need a hunting license to hunt coyotes in Oklahoma unless exempt. Residents of Oklahoma will need to purchase a resident hunting license while non-residents may purchase a non-resident hunting license.
In addition to a hunting license, you will need a trapping license if you intend to trap coyotes in Oklahoma.
You can purchase all the necessary hunting licenses and permits through the online licensing portal of the Wildlife Department.
Coyote Hunting seasons in Oklahoma
There is no closed season for hunting coyotes in Oklahoma. You may hunt coyotes year-round year day or night. However, individuals wanting to hunt coyotes at night must first obtain a permit through the county warden and must use a shotgun utilizing size #6 shot or smaller. It’s unlawful to hunt coyotes from dark to daylight with the aid of any artificial light and/or a sight dog.
Can you hunt coyotes at night in Oklahoma?
You can hunt coyotes in Oklahoma even at night. However, you must first obtain a permit through the county warden and must use a shotgun of size 6 shot or smaller.
Furthermore, while in pursuit of coyotes with hounds during the lawful, open furbearer season and owning a valid hunting license, you may possess a.22 caliber rimfire rifle or a .22 caliber rimfire pistol, as well as a light (carried on the person).
Nothing in Oklahoma’s hunting regulations prevents a hunter from possessing a .22 caliber rimfire rifle or pistol with a laser sighting device while hunting or taking coyotes with hounds during legal, open furbearer season while possessing a valid hunting license.
It is illegal to hunt coyotes by the use of a vehicle-mounted spotlight or other powerful light at night, by what is commonly known as “head-lighting” (or “spotlighting”), or use any light enhancement device (night scope).
Bag limit for hunting coyotes in Oklahoma
Since coyotes are classified as furbearer animals, there are no bag limits for hunting coyotes in Oklahoma. You can hunt coyotes in Oklahoma all year round without having to worry about the season or bag limits.
Where to hunt Coyotes in Oklahoma?
Western Oklahoma provides excellent coyote hunting opportunities across expansive prairie habitat interspersed with scrub brush and timber. Numerous public hunting lands exist, primarily in the form of state Wildlife Management Areas.
Some of the top WMAs for coyote hunting include the Black Kettle National Grassland spanning over 30,000 acres of prime prairie along the Roger Mills county border. Fort Supply WMA also offers mixed prairie and wooded canyons where coyotes thrive while hunting mammals and even livestock. In Ellis County, the Packsaddle WMA provides 25,000 acres of rolling plains habitat. These WMAs have good road systems allowing access while spotting for coyotes.
Several reservoirs managed by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation also harbor good coyote populations that can be hunted. Optima Reservoir WMA, Hackberry Flat WMA and Quartz Mountain Nature Park all provide a mix of open areas and wooded habitat for coyotes with public land access. Checking regulations is always essential when planning out hunts on these public lands.
Legal Ways to Hunt Coyotes in Oklahoma
During the daylight hunting hours, you may use any legal firearm or archery equipment for coyote hunting in Oklahoma.
In the case of nighttime hunting hours, hunters may possess a .22 caliber rimfire rifle or .22 caliber rimfire pistol and light, carried on the person, while in pursuit of furbearers with hounds during the legal, open furbearer season, while possessing a valid hunting license.
You may also use legally acquired and possessed suppressors to hunt coyotes on both private and public lands in Oklahoma. On the other hand, the use of or hunting over bait, or “baiting,” is illegal on lands owned or managed by the Wildlife Department.
The state of Oklahoma defines baiting as the placing, depositing, exposing, distributing, or scattering of shelled, shucked, or unshucked corn, wheat, or other grain or feed.
The hunting regulations of Oklahoma states that no person shall concentrate, drive, molest, hunt, take, capture, kill, or attempt to take any coyotes by the aid of any fire or smoke whether man-made or natural. Furthermore, you may also not hunt coyotes with a shotgun using a shot size larger than #4 buckshot.
Bear in mind, shooting coyotes from or across any public road, highway, or railroad right-of-way is unlawful in Oklahoma. Moreover, you must obtain permission to enter any posted or occupied land to hunt coyotes.
It is illegal to enter the land owned by another person without permission for the sole purpose of retrieving domestic livestock or other animals. Also, keep in mind, consent is not valid for more than one year, unless the owner, lessee, or occupant specifically grants consent for a specified period of time.
Using software that allows you to remotely control a firearm or weapon to hunt coyotes is illegal in Oklahoma. Additionally, no person shall engage in any activity that provides or sells computer-assisted remote control hunting of coyotes.
Can you use dogs to hunt coyotes in Oklahoma?
You may use dogs to hunt coyotes in Oklahoma. However, you may not hunt or attempt to hunt coyotes with the aid of a sight dog. Keep in mind, nothing prohibits you to pursue coyotes year-round for dog training and sports. A hunting license is not mandatory for someone who runs or chases coyotes with dogs but does not take it.
Can you hunt coyotes from a vehicle in Oklahoma?
The Oklahoma Wildlife Department only allows the use of a motor vehicle during hunting as a means of facilitating access. You may not use motor-driven vehicles, aircraft, drones, or boats to hunt coyotes in Oklahoma. Therefore, you must stop the vehicle and turn the engine off before hunting coyotes.
A 5-year motor vehicle permit to hunt coyotes with the aid of a motor-driven vehicle on Department-managed lands may be issued to residents having a permanent disability that confines them to a wheelchair or requires the use of crutches, a walker, or other means of support or assistance for body mobility as certified by a medical doctor licensed to practice in Oklahoma or any state which borders this state.
However, keep in mind, the use of a vehicle on department-managed lands by a motor vehicle permittee is authorized only on raids or trails specifically designated for such activities. It is unlawful to travel off-road by a motor vehicle. You may obtain maps of areas open to off-road use from the department headquarters in Oklahoma City.
Except as otherwise provided, no person may transport a loaded firearm in a land or water motor vehicle. Furthermore, no person shall transport any bow at a full or partial draw in a motorized vehicle.
Muzzleloaders may be transported with a loaded powder charge and bullet as long as the gun is uncapped or the battery is disconnected. You may not transport crossbows in a motorized vehicle without uncocking or disassembling it.
Are there any bounty programs for coyote hunting in Oklahoma?
There aren’t any bounty programs for coyote hunting in Oklahoma as of now. If any news pops up, we will update this section accordingly.