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Georgia unprotected and nuisance
Georgia Coyote Hunting
Georgia lists the coyote as unprotected, so on private land the season never closes and nobody counts a limit. Below: every 2026-27 segment, the limits, public land, legal weapons and the WRD rules for coyotes.
Photo: Gunn Shots ! (CC BY 2.0)
Electronic callers are legal for coyotes, and they may be hunted at night on private land. WMAs add a dedicated coyote season, May 16 to May 31, 2027, when any legal weapon may be used with orange or blaze pink but no lights or bait. At other times coyotes may be taken on a WMA with whatever weapon is legal for the season open there.
Coyote in the 2026-27 guide
- Equipment: Any legal weapon on private land, day or night; electronic calls allowed. WMAs: weapons legal for the open species, plus May 16-31 WMA coyote season with any legal weapon.
- Note: Unprotected species, no closed season.
What WRD allows for coyotes
The wording on the cards is WRD’s own for coyotes.
Coyote, armadillo, groundhog, beaver, nutria (unprotected)
No limit.
2026-27 coyote dates in Georgia
The full coyote calendar for 2026-27: 1 dated segment, newest status on the right.
| Hunt | Zone or land | Start | End | Days | Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year-round (unprotected) | Statewide private land | All year | Year-round | ||
| WMA coyote season | All WMAs (unless area listing says otherwise) | May 16, 2027 | May 31, 2027 | 16 |
Conditions on the coyote segments
- Unprotected species: no closed season, no limit; electronic calls allowed; may be hunted at night.
- Any legal weapon; orange or blaze pink required; no night hunting or baiting; electronic calls allowed. Coyotes may also be taken any time a WMA is open, with weapons legal for the open species.
From the Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division 2026-27 season page and the 2026-27 guide (PDF), checked October 13, 2026.
Where to hunt coyotes on Georgia public land
Coyote hunters have 110 public options in our list, led by Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests.
| Name | Land type | County | Region office | Acres |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests | National Forest | Rabun, Fannin, Union | – | 869,017 |
| Blue Ridge Ranger District | National Forest Ranger District | Union, Lumpkin, Fannin | Gainesville | 302,238 |
| Chattooga River Ranger District | National Forest Ranger District | Rabun, White, Habersham | Gainesville | 261,439 |
| Conasauga Ranger District | National Forest Ranger District | Murray, Fannin, Gilmer | Gainesville | 188,617 |
| Oconee Ranger District | National Forest Ranger District | Putnam, Jasper, Greene | Thomson | 116,724 |
| Cedar Creek WMA | Wildlife Management Area | Putnam, Jones, Jasper | Thomson | 41,000 |
| Redlands WMA | Wildlife Management Area | Greene, Oglethorpe, Morgan | Gainesville | 37,500 |
| Dixon Memorial WMA | Wildlife Management Area | Ware, Brantley | Brunswick | 35,247 |
| Townsend WMA | Wildlife Management Area | Long, McIntosh | Brunswick | 34,294 |
| Altamaha WMA | Wildlife Management Area | McIntosh | Brunswick | 31,569 |
| Savannah National Wildlife Refuge | National Wildlife Refuge | Effingham, Chatham | Fitzgerald | 30,715 |
| Cooper's Creek WMA | Wildlife Management Area | Union, Fannin | Gainesville | 30,000 |
| Paulding Forest WMA | Wildlife Management Area | Paulding, Polk | Armuchee | 28,183 |
| Chestatee WMA | Wildlife Management Area | Lumpkin, White | Gainesville | 27,123 |
| Dawson Forest WMA | Wildlife Management Area | Dawson | Gainesville | 25,658 |
95 more areas for coyotes
Chattahoochee WMA (25,150 ac) · John's Mountain WMA (23,710 ac) · Crockford-Pigeon Mountain WMA (21,895 ac) · Blue Ridge WMA (20,900 ac) · Rich Mountain WMA (20,674 ac) · Chickasawhatchee WMA (19,700 ac) · Sansavilla WMA (19,084 ac) · Swallow Creek WMA (19,000 ac) · Lake Russell WMA (17,300 ac) · Bullard Creek WMA (17,005 ac) · Little Satilla WMA (16,990 ac) · Paulks Pasture WMA (16,066 ac) · Ceylon WMA (16,000 ac) · Warwoman WMA (15,800 ac) · Ocmulgee WMA (15,475 ac) · Tuckahoe WMA (15,100 ac) · Oaky Woods WMA (13,450 ac) · B.F. Grant WMA (11,400 ac) · Penholoway Swamp WMA (11,177 ac) · Canoochee Sandhills WMA (10,224 ac) · Clarks Hill WMA – East (10,224 ac) · West Point WMA (10,000 ac) · Ohoopee Dunes WMA (9,271 ac) · Sapelo Island WMA (9,000 ac) · Flat Tub WMA (8,748 ac) · Chattahoochee Fall Line WMA: Hilliard Plantation Tract (8,089 ac) · Oconee WMA (7,930 ac) · Yuchi WMA (7,800 ac) · Allatoona WMA (7,589 ac) · Richmond Hill WMA (7,400 ac) · Horse Creek WMA (7,397 ac) · Big Hammock WMA (7,315 ac) · Treat Mountain WMA (7,260 ac) · Big Lazer Creek WMA (7,200 ac) · Alapaha River WMA (6,870 ac) · Chattahoochee Fall Line WMA: Almo Tract (6,700 ac) · Clybel WMA (6,700 ac) · Sprewell Bluff WMA: West (6,571 ac) · Mayhaw WMA (6,300 ac) · Griffin Ridge WMA (5,975 ac) · Rum Creek WMA (5,800 ac) · Hannahatchee Creek WMA (5,600 ac) · Sheffield WMA (5,556 ac) · Beaverdam WMA (5,500 ac) · Clayhole Swamp WMA (5,242 ac) · Tallapoosa River WMA (5,215 ac) · Blanton Creek WMA (4,800 ac) · Moody Forest WMA (4,675 ac) · Altama Plantation WMA (4,612 ac) · Lanahassee Creek WMA (4,440 ac) · Joe Kurz WMA (3,700 ac) · River Bend WMA (3,670 ac) · Rogers WMA (3,340 ac) · Carter's Lake WMA (3,300 ac) · Alligator Creek WMA (3,086 ac) · and 40 more in the land directory
Areas and species lists from WRD’s 2026-27 area listings, the WRD WMA layers and federal managers, retrieved 2026-10-13. Harvest by area from WRD Game Check.
Coyote licenses and requirements
Everything here comes from the 2026-27 guide and applies statewide unless an area listing says otherwise.
Fees
| License | Resident | Nonresident |
|---|---|---|
| Hunting License | $15.00 | $100.00 |
| Sportsman's License | $65.00 | $400.00 |
Hunting hours
Coyotes may be hunted at night on private land. On WMAs and the national forest there is no night hunting for coyotes.
Safety colours
WMA coyote hunts call for fluorescent orange or blaze pink.
Baiting
Bait placed for deer can make a property unlawful for coyotes within 200 yards.
Weekends
Georgia sets no statewide Sunday closure, so coyote seasons run straight through each weekend.
WMA coyote season
Any legal weapon; orange or blaze pink required; no night hunting or baiting; electronic calls allowed. Coyotes may also be taken any time a WMA is open, with weapons legal for the open species.
From the Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division 2026-27 guide, licenses and fees and hunting information, checked October 13, 2026. Georgia hunting laws · License guide.
What you may hunt coyotes with
WRD lists legal equipment by season; these rows cover coyotes.
| Applies to | Legal equipment | Prohibited |
|---|---|---|
| Feral hog | Private land: any legal weapon, day or night. WMAs/NF: only the weapons legal for the season open on the area; any legal weapon during WMA May 16-31 coyote/hog season where allowed. | Centerfire on WMA small game dates; night hunting on public land. |
| Suppressors | Lawfully possessed suppressors may be used for hunting unless otherwise specified; landowner permission required on private land. | – |
Methods that matter for coyotes
Electronic calls and devices
Electronically amplified sounds unlawful for game except electronic calls for bobcats, crows, foxes and coyotes (and feral hogs on WMAs). Electronic communications equipment may not be used to aid pursuit of game.
Night hunting
Alligators, raccoons, opossums, foxes, coyotes, bobcats and feral hogs may be hunted at night; lights for raccoon/opossum/fox/bobcat carried on body, hat/helmet or belt. No night hunting of hogs or coyotes on WMAs/National Forests.
National Forest rules
No discharge within 150 yards of residences, campsites or developed sites, across Forest Service roads or water bodies, or into caves; no loaded weapons in vehicles; hogs daylight only; no night hunting of coyotes; no placing food or bait that attracts wildlife.
Trespass and permission
Landowner permission required, including on power line, gas line, railroad and other rights-of-way; written permission required if land is posted. Hunting from a stand attached to a transmission tower is trespassing.
2026-27 guide (PDF) and the hunting information page, checked October 13, 2026.
Loading the truck for Coyote country
Picked around the hunting done here; prices change daily.
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Quick answers on coyotes
Can you hunt coyotes at night in Georgia?
Yes on private land. Alligators, raccoons, opossums, foxes, coyotes, bobcats and feral hogs may be hunted at night (feral hogs at night on private land only; no night hunting on WMAs/National Forest for hogs and coyotes).
Is there a coyote season on Georgia WMAs?
Yes, May 16 to May 31, 2027. Any legal weapon; orange or blaze pink required; no night hunting or baiting; electronic calls allowed. Coyotes may also be taken any time a WMA is open, with weapons legal for the open species.
Are electronic calls legal for coyotes in Georgia?
Electronically amplified sounds unlawful for game except electronic calls for bobcats, crows, foxes and coyotes (and feral hogs on WMAs).
What does WRD allow per day for coyotes?
No limit.
What paperwork do coyote hunters carry in Georgia?
For coyotes, resident prices: Hunting License ($15.00); Sportsman's License ($65.00).
Can I hunt coyotes on a Georgia WMA?
Our list has 110; by acreage, Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests, Blue Ridge Ranger District (Chattahoochee National Forest) and Chattooga River Ranger District (Chattahoochee National Forest) come first.
Can coyotes be hunted at night in Georgia?
Coyotes may be hunted at night on private land. On WMAs and the national forest there is no night hunting for coyotes.
Is orange needed when hunting coyotes?
WMA coyote hunts call for fluorescent orange or blaze pink.
Can I hunt coyotes over bait in Georgia?
Bait placed for deer can make a property unlawful for coyotes within 200 yards.
Does Georgia close Sundays for coyotes?
Georgia sets no statewide Sunday closure, so coyote seasons run straight through each weekend.
Can I use a rifle for coyotes in Georgia?
Feral hog: Private land: any legal weapon, day or night. WMAs/NF: only the weapons legal for the season open on the area; any legal weapon during WMA May 16-31 coyote/hog season where allowed.
When can I hunt coyotes in Georgia this season?
Coyote hunters get wma coyote season May 16 to May 31, 2027 (All WMAs (unless area listing says otherwise)).
Wrapping up coyotes
A WMA, refuge or Corps lake can add its own rules on top of the statewide coyote rules here.
Other photos on this page: Aly3naa (CC BY 2.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0); TonySprezzatura (CC BY-SA 2.0); USFWS Mountain Prairie (Public Domain Mark 1.0); USFWS/Southeast (CC BY 2.0); See1,Do1,Teach1 (CC BY 2.0).