Furbearers
Coyote hunting in Missouri
Seasons, bag limits, permit prices and where to hunt coyotes in 2026-27.
Photo: USFWS Midwest Region (Public Domain Mark 1.0)
Here are the 2026-27 coyote rules as MDC prints them, opening Jan 1, 2026, with harvest figures and conservation areas wherever the data has them.
Coyote: the short version
- Take: Any number.
- How and when: Hunting all year (restrictions April 1-spring turkey and during turkey/deer/elk seasons); trapping Nov 15-Feb 28 and private land Mar 1-Apr 14.
MDC source (as of Feb 6, 2026), checked October 29, 2026.
GearHeading out for a hunt? Hunting gear checklists by season →
Every coyote season row
3 rows for coyotes, as the 2026-27 MDC booklets list them; the last column checks each against today.
| Season | Zone or counties | Bag | From | To | Days | Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coyote hunting | Statewide | Any number | Jan 1, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | 365 | |
| Coyote: Trapping | Statewide | Any number | Nov 15, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | 106 | |
| Private-land trapping | Private land only | Any number | Mar 1, 2027 | Apr 14, 2027 | 45 |
Coyote row details
- Legal hunting methods; lights, night vision and thermal Jan 1-Apr 19 and May 11-Sept 30, 2026
- Year-round except no daylight hunting from April 1 to the day before spring turkey season; during spring turkey only turkey hours/methods with an unfilled turkey permit; deer-season method limits.
- Foot-hold, foot-enclosing and cage traps only
- 3 CSR 10-8.515(1)(B); the 2026 Summary prints the 2026 window (March 1-April 14, 2026).
From Hunting and Trapping Summary p. 18, Hunting and Trapping Summary p. 20 and Wildlife Code of Missouri, checked October 29, 2026.
How coyotes may be trapped
| Trapping | Rule |
|---|---|
| Legal | Smooth or rubber-jawed foot-hold, Conibear-type, foot-enclosing, cage and colony traps; snares only in water (loop <=15 in.); cable restraints (12 in. loop, breakaway 350 lb, Nov 15-Jan 31 rules per Code); electronic calls allowed. |
| Not legal | Dry-land snares, pitfalls, deadfalls, nets; killing traps near public roads except underwater. |
No furbearer dogs may run in daylight from Nov 1 through the end of the November portion, which affects coyote hunters.
Record coyote weights
| Weight | County | Date | Sex |
|---|---|---|---|
| 51.5 lb | Maries County | Jan 13, 2020 | Male |
trapping summary, MDC record weights, checked October 29, 2026.
Limits and permits for coyote hunters
Permit prices for coyotes match the Wildlife Code fee schedule; phone sales add $1 and there is no online surcharge.
| Limit row | Limit |
|---|---|
| Crows, groundhogs, furbearers | Any number. |
What coyote permits cost
| Permit | Residency | Who | Price | Valid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small Game | resident | Age 16-64 | $11.50 | Permit year |
| Daily Small Game | nonresident | All | $16 | 1 day |
| Small Game | nonresident | Age 16+ | $108.50 | Permit year |
| Trapping | resident | Age 16+ | $12 | To June 30, 2027 |
| Furbearer and Trapping | nonresident | All | $221.50 | To June 30, 2027 |
| Lifetime Trapping | resident | Age 15 or younger / 16-29 / 30-39 / 40-59 / 60+ | $320 / $465.50 / $407 / $349 / $40.50 | Lifetime |
From Hunting and Trapping Summary p. 11, Hunting and Trapping Summary p. 18, Hunting and Trapping Summary p. 8 and Hunting and Trapping Summary p. 9, checked October 29, 2026.
Where to hunt coyotes on public ground
Public ground for coyotes: 7 listed areas, sorted here by size.
| Area | County | Acres | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mark Twain National Forest | Oregon County | 1,510,740 | National Forest |
| Doniphan / Eleven Point district (Mark Twain National Forest) | Oregon County | 338,889 | Ranger district |
| Ava/Cassville/Willow Springs district (Mark Twain National Forest) | Taney County | 316,688 | Ranger district |
| Potosi / Fredericktown district (Mark Twain National Forest) | Iron County | 290,899 | Ranger district |
| Houston/Rolla/Cedar Creek district (Mark Twain National Forest) | Phelps County | 210,393 | Ranger district |
| Salem district (Mark Twain National Forest) | Reynolds County | 195,986 | Ranger district |
| Poplar Bluff district (Mark Twain National Forest) | Wayne County | 157,884 | Ranger district |
| Kind of land | Areas |
|---|---|
| Ranger district | 6 |
| National Forest | 1 |
| MDC region | Areas |
|---|---|
| Ozark | 3 |
| Southwest | 2 |
| Southeast | 2 |
Area lists from MDC area pages and the MDC places directory; methods from the MDC atlas; checked October 29, 2026.
Field rules for coyotes
- Legal light: MDC lists no hours for coyotes; what limits night hunting is the light rule (treed furbearers and coyotes only, Jan 1-Apr 19 and May 11-Sept 30, 2026).
- Orange: Orange is required for coyotes during the November portion statewide and the antlerless portions in open counties.
What may be used on coyotes
| Methods | Rule |
|---|---|
| Legal | Smooth or rubber-jawed foot-hold, Conibear-type, foot-enclosing, cage and colony traps; snares only in water (loop <=15 in.); cable restraints (12 in. loop, breakaway 350 lb, Nov 15-Jan 31 rules per Code); electronic calls allowed. |
| Not legal | Dry-land snares, pitfalls, deadfalls, nets; killing traps near public roads except underwater. |
Artificial lights: Not to spot or take game while holding a weapon, except treed furbearers (dogs) and coyotes Jan 1-Sept 30 excluding spring turkey season (2026: Jan 1-Apr 19 and May 11-Sept 30); landowners may use lights on their land without weapons.
shooting hours, hunter orange, methods, checked October 29, 2026.
When legal light starts for coyotes
Use this as a guide for coyotes; the MDC table and the longitude rule give the exact minute for any spot. The Code sets no shooting hours for coyotes, so the table shows sunrise and sunset only.
| Date | County | Sunrise | Sunset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 1, 2026 | Jackson County | 6:47 a.m. | 7:48 p.m. |
| Sep 1, 2026 | St. Louis County | 6:31 a.m. | 7:32 p.m. |
| Sep 1, 2026 | Greene County | 6:43 a.m. | 7:44 p.m. |
| Sep 1, 2026 | Boone County | 6:39 a.m. | 7:40 p.m. |
| Sep 1, 2026 | Cape Girardeau County | 6:28 a.m. | 7:29 p.m. |
| Sep 1, 2026 | Nodaway County | 6:49 a.m. | 7:50 p.m. |
| Nov 15, 2026 | Jackson County | 7:00 a.m. | 5:05 p.m. |
| Nov 15, 2026 | St. Louis County | 6:44 a.m. | 4:49 p.m. |
| Nov 15, 2026 | Greene County | 6:56 a.m. | 5:01 p.m. |
| Nov 15, 2026 | Boone County | 6:52 a.m. | 4:57 p.m. |
| Nov 15, 2026 | Cape Girardeau County | 6:41 a.m. | 4:46 p.m. |
| Nov 15, 2026 | Nodaway County | 7:02 a.m. | 5:07 p.m. |
MDC sunrise and sunset table with the MDC longitude rule; checked October 29, 2026. Legal hours for every county.
Coyote questions
Can I use a rifle for coyotes?
Smooth or rubber-jawed foot-hold, Conibear-type, foot-enclosing, cage and colony traps; snares only in water (loop <=15 in.); cable restraints (12 in. loop, breakaway 350 lb, Nov 15-Jan 31 rules per Code); electronic calls allowed. Not legal: Dry-land snares, pitfalls, deadfalls, nets; killing traps near public roads except underwater.
What is the legal hunting time for coyotes?
MDC lists no hours for coyotes; what limits night hunting is the light rule (treed furbearers and coyotes only, Jan 1-Apr 19 and May 11-Sept 30, 2026).
Must I wear hunter orange for coyotes?
Orange is required for coyotes during the November portion statewide and the antlerless portions in open counties.
Where can I hunt coyotes on public land in Missouri?
7 public areas in this guide list coyotes or the hunting group that covers them; the largest include Mark Twain National Forest, Doniphan / Eleven Point district (Mark Twain National Forest) and Ava/Cassville/Willow Springs district (Mark Twain National Forest). Area rules for coyotes differ, so check the area page.
Can coyotes be hunted every day of the week?
Yes. No Missouri rule closes Sundays, so plan coyote hunts on any day of the week.
What does the record coyote weigh?
51.5 lb, Maries County, Jan 13, 2020 (male). MDC record-weight furbearers, weighed on a certified scale since 2011.
When are dogs banned for coyotes?
Not for bear, deer, elk, turkey, beaver, mink, muskrat, otter (leashed tracking dogs excepted); no furbearer dogs in daylight Nov 1-end of November portion and antlerless portions; dogs must wear a collar with ID (except waterfowl and game-bird dogs); training only with blanks in closed season.
When can you hunt coyotes in Missouri?
Coyote hunting Jan 1 to Dec 31, 2026; Trapping Nov 15, 2026 to Feb 28, 2027; Private-land trapping (Private land only) Mar 1 to Apr 14, 2027.
How many coyotes can I take?
Any number.
How much is a permit for coyotes?
For coyotes, the resident Small Game permit costs $11.50 (Age 16-64). A nonresident hunting coyotes pays $16 for the Daily Small Game permit. There is no online surcharge on coyote permits; phone orders add $1.