Coyotes, feral hogs and prairie dogs
Coyote hunting in Oklahoma, 2026-27
2026-27: Open all year; limits, licenses, public land and legal hours from ODWC.
Photo: ZionNPS (CC BY 2.0)
Coyote in Oklahoma for 2026-27
ODWC prints coyotes as a year-round row, so the only limits that change are methods at night and the rules on Department land. Bag in one line for the coyote: No limit.
- In short (coyote): Year-round; no light/sight dog at night except landowner nuisance control.
- Take (coyote): No limit.
From ODWC furbearer and coyote regulations and ODWC general hunting regulations (as of November 2, 2026), checked November 3, 2026.
GearHeading out for a hunt? Hunting gear checklists by season →
Coyote season dates for 2026-27
Coyotes carry 1 row in the 2026-27 ODWC tables, with one area for all of them.
| Window | Zone or area | Take | Begins | Through | Days | Right now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year-round | Statewide | Limits below | Whole year | Year-round |
Coyote row details
- Youth are exempt from the hunting license for coyote.
- Landowners/ag lessees (with Tax Commission ag exemption permit) or their written agents may control nuisance coyotes day or night outside deer gun seasons with lights, thermal or night vision (not from a public road).
From ODWC furbearer and coyote regulations and 2026-2027 Oklahoma Fishing & Hunting Regulations p. 50, checked November 3, 2026.
The Oklahoma coyote bag
The coyote limits come from the regulations guide and the ODWC species pages, with each season row's own bag after them.
| Applies to | Rule |
|---|---|
| Year-round | Coyote: no daily, season or possession limit. |
From ODWC furbearer and coyote regulations, checked November 3, 2026.
Coyote: the harvest record
For coyotes the numbers are survey estimates for the whole state; ODWC notes small samples and possible recall bias.
| Survey row | Hunters | Days hunted | Harvest estimate | 95% range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coyote | 19,458 | 435,121 | 189,502 | 122,764 to 256,241 |
From 2025 Game Harvest Survey, checked November 3, 2026.
Oklahoma public land with coyote seasons
The largest of 104 public areas that name coyotes.
| Public land | Kind | County | Acres |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ouachita WMA | WMA | Le Flore, McCurtain | 354,559 |
| Ouachita WMA – Le Flore Unit | WMA unit | Le Flore | 221,559 |
| Three Rivers WMA | WMA | McCurtain, Pushmataha | 185,199 |
| Ouachita WMA – McCurtain & Tiak Units | WMA unit | McCurtain | 133,000 |
| Honobia Creek WMA | WMA | Pushmataha | 78,998 |
| Camp Gruber Training Center | Military | Muskogee | 51,840 |
| Eufaula WMA | WMA | Latimer, McIntosh +2 | 48,614 |
| Wister WMA | WMA | Le Flore | 35,500 |
| Cherokee WMA | WMA | Cherokee | 31,360 |
| Black Kettle WMA | WMA | Roger Mills | 30,710 |
| Fort Gibson WMA | WMA | Cherokee, Mayes +1 | 25,298 |
| Fort Gibson PHA | PHA | Cherokee, Mayes +1 | 21,798 |
| James Collins WMA | WMA | Latimer, Pittsburg | 21,353 |
| Keystone WMA | WMA | Creek, Osage +1 | 20,686 |
| Packsaddle WMA | WMA | Ellis | 19,659 |
From lands.json (ODWC area pages, special regulations, OLAP layer and federal rules), checked November 3, 2026.
Legal weapons and methods for coyotes
| Row | May use | May not use |
|---|---|---|
| Furbearers | For coyotes: Any legal firearm or archery by day; .22 rimfire and light while hunting with hounds at night in season; traps listed in fur rules incl. cable restraints (not on WMAs). | Not for coyotes: any trap not listed; lights/thermal/night vision from a public road. |
- Headlighting/spotlighting (coyote): No taking any deer, feral animal or wildlife (except fish and frogs) with a vehicle-mounted spotlight or other powerful light at night or with night scopes; exceptions for furbearer hound hunters and landowner nuisance coyote/feral swine control.
- Dogs (coyote): Dogs may not be used to take bear, deer, elk, antelope or turkey; year-round training/sport chase allowed without means to kill outside season; leashed tracking dog for downed game after notifying a game warden.
- Motor vehicles (coyote): No hunting or harassing wildlife from motor-driven land, air or water conveyances except non-ambulatory/motor vehicle permit holders (vehicle stopped, engine off); vehicles may follow dogs on public roads/waterways and on private land with permission.
Shotgun shot larger than #4 buckshot is not legal for coyotes unless the target is a feral hog.
From ODWC furbearer and coyote regulations and ODWC general hunting regulations, checked November 3, 2026.
Coyote: orange, reporting and transport
- Coyote: orange: Yes in daylight during big game gun or muzzleloader dates (orange head covering or upper garment); not for furbearer hunting at night.
- Coyote check-in: There is no reporting step for coyotes in the ODWC rules read; only the transfer-of-possession rule applies if someone else takes the animal.
- Handing over coyotes: Give written or electronic transfer information (names, addresses, customer ID, date taken, number/type, confirmation number); no compensation.
From the ODWC big game regulations, ODWC general hunting regulations and the 2026-2027 regulations guide, checked November 3, 2026.
Licenses and permits for coyotes
Youth 17 and under need no base license, but the Youth Annual Super license is required for coyotes if they are big game, turkey, waterfowl or furbearers.
| License | Who buys | Group | Fee | Lasts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Hunting | Resident | Age 18+ | $36 | 365 days |
| Youth Annual Super Hunting | Resident | Age 17 and under | $26 | 365 days |
| Nonresident Annual Hunting | Nonresident | Age 18+ | $209 | 365 days |
| Nonresident 5-Day Hunting | Nonresident | Age 18+ | $75 | Five days of choice |
From the ODWC license fee page and the ODWC license requirements, checked November 3, 2026.
Legal hours for coyotes
Times for coyotes are worked out for the centre of each county with the NOAA solar formula; ODWC prints no sunrise and sunset table, only the rule.
ODWC hour rule for coyotes: Furbearers at night only with hounds and a .22 rimfire plus carried light in the open furbearer season; coyote and prairie dog no light or sight dog dark to daylight; feral swine at night only by landowner/designee with the night exemption; nuisance coyote/hog control provisions for landowners and ag lessees outside deer gun seasons.
| Date | Point | County | Near | Sunrise | Sunset | Legal window |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | Cimarron County | Boise City area | 7:59 a.m. | 5:37 p.m. | – |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | Oklahoma County | Oklahoma City area | 7:35 a.m. | 5:20 p.m. | – |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | Tulsa County | Tulsa area | 7:31 a.m. | 5:13 p.m. | – |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | McCurtain County | Idabel area | 7:21 a.m. | 5:13 p.m. | – |
| Jun 21, 2027 | Longest day | Cimarron County | Boise City area | 6:31 a.m. | 9:12 p.m. | – |
| Jun 21, 2027 | Longest day | Oklahoma County | Oklahoma City area | 6:14 a.m. | 8:48 p.m. | – |
| Jun 21, 2027 | Longest day | Tulsa County | Tulsa area | 6:07 a.m. | 8:44 p.m. | – |
| Jun 21, 2027 | Longest day | McCurtain County | Idabel area | 6:07 a.m. | 8:33 p.m. | – |
Rules from the ODWC big game regulations and ODWC migratory bird regulations; sunrise and sunset worked out with the NOAA solar formula (Central Time); checked November 3, 2026. Legal hours for all 77 counties.
Coyote standing among rocks and oaks. Photo: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Southwest Region (Public Domain Mark 1.0)
Coyote trotting through low brush. Photo: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Southwest Region (Public Domain Mark 1.0)
Coyote standing in the open. Photo: U.S. Geological Survey (CC0 1.0)
Questions about coyotes in Oklahoma
Can landowners shoot coyotes at night?
Youth are exempt from the hunting license for coyote. Landowners/ag lessees (with Tax Commission ag exemption permit) or their written agents may control nuisance coyotes day or night outside deer gun seasons with lights, thermal or night vision (not from a public road). Any legal method; no artificial light or sight dog from dark to daylight (except nuisance-control provisions).
Is Sunday coyote hunting legal in Oklahoma?
Sundays are normal days for coyotes; ODWC prints no Sunday restriction.
Is there a daily limit on coyotes?
No limit.
Is coyote season open all year in Oklahoma?
The license year is the only window.
What guns and bows are legal for coyotes?
For coyotes, ODWC permits any legal firearm or archery by day; .22 rimfire and light while hunting with hounds at night in season; traps listed in fur rules incl. cable restraints (not on WMAs).
What license do I need for coyotes in Oklahoma?
For coyotes: Annual Hunting (resident, $36); Youth Annual Super Hunting (resident, $26); Nonresident Annual Hunting (nonresident, $209); Nonresident 5-Day Hunting (nonresident, $75).
Is there public land for coyote hunting in Oklahoma?
The biggest of the 104 listed areas are Ouachita WMA, Ouachita WMA – Le Flore Unit and Three Rivers WMA.
How early may I shoot coyotes?
Hours for coyotes: Furbearers at night only with hounds and a .22 rimfire plus carried light in the open furbearer season; coyote and prairie dog no light or sight dog dark to daylight; feral swine at night only by landowner/designee with the night exemption; nuisance coyote/hog control provisions for landowners and ag lessees outside deer gun seasons.
Does E-Check apply to coyotes?
There is no reporting step for coyotes in the ODWC rules read; only the transfer-of-possession rule applies if someone else takes the animal.
Must coyote hunters wear blaze orange?
Yes in daylight during big game gun or muzzleloader dates (orange head covering or upper garment); not for furbearer hunting at night.
Other photos on this page: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Southwest Region (Public Domain Mark 1.0); U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Southwest Region (Public Domain Mark 1.0); U.S. Geological Survey (CC0 1.0).