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Predators and unprotected species in Wisconsin
Coyote Hunting in Wisconsin
Coyotes may be hunted all year in Wisconsin with no bag limit; trapping has a season, Oct 17, 2026 to Feb 15, 2027. 2026-27 coyote dates, limits and public properties in Wisconsin.
Photo: ZionNPS (CC BY 2.0)
There are no shooting-hour limits for coyote hunting, except for bow and crossbow hunters during the bear and archery deer seasons. Lights may be used at the point of kill while on foot, but shining from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., Sept. 15 to Dec. 31, is illegal. Baiting coyotes for hunting is illegal, and landowners may hunt or trap coyotes on their own land without a license.
Coyote, the short version
- How and when: Hunting year-round; trapping Oct. 17-Feb. 15; night hunting allowed with lights at point of kill.
- Take: Unlimited.
DNR regulations page, checked October 19, 2026.
GearHeading out for a hunt? Hunting gear checklists by season →
Every 2026-27 coyote segment in Wisconsin
From the first coyote opener to the last close there are 1 segment; the dashed line marks today.
| Segment | Where | Legal method | First day | Last day | Length | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coyote (hunting) | Statewide | Hunting; no shooting-hour limits except bow/crossbow during bear and archery deer seasons | No closing date | Year-round | ||
| Coyote (trapping) | Statewide | Trapping | Oct 17, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | 122 |
What the DNR attaches to the coyote dates
- Year-round open hunting season, unlimited bag.
From the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Fall 2026-Spring 2027 regulations and the season dates page, checked October 19, 2026.
Wisconsin limits on coyotes
Coyote bag and possession rules as printed, followed by the Go Wild prices.
Raccoon, red fox, gray fox, coyote
Unlimited daily and possession.
Coyote licenses and stamps
| Approval | Resident | Nonresident |
|---|---|---|
| Small game (resident) or furbearer (nonresident) license | $18.00 | $165.00 |
| Trapping license | $20.00 | $150.00 |
DNR regulations, Go Wild resident list and nonresident list, checked October 19, 2026. Wisconsin hunting license guide.
Mapped public land for coyotes
The land records group coyotes under furbearers; shown here are the 423 properties listing that group.
| Area | Type | County | Acres |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest | National Forest | Ashland, Bayfield, Florence… | 1,526,925 |
| Managed Forest Law Open Lands 883,583 ac | Private Forest Land Open to Public | Adams, Ashland, Barron… | 883,583 |
| Douglas County Forest | County Forest | Douglas | 281,853 |
| Marinette County Forest | County Forest | Marinette | 229,978 |
| Bayfield County Forest | County Forest | Bayfield | 175,557 |
| Iron County Forest | County Forest | Iron | 175,343 |
| Washburn County Forest | County Forest | Washburn | 150,196 |
| Clark County Forest | County Forest | Clark | 134,742 |
| Langlade County Forest | County Forest | Langlade | 130,717 |
| Jackson County Forest | County Forest | Jackson | 122,685 |
| Sawyer County Forest | County Forest | Sawyer | 115,196 |
| Burnett County Forest | County Forest | Burnett | 111,516 |
| Lincoln County Forest | County Forest | Lincoln | 100,843 |
| Price County Forest | County Forest | Price | 92,294 |
| Rusk County Forest | County Forest | Rusk | 89,284 |
Coyote: the remaining properties
Oneida County Forest · Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge · Meadow Valley Wildlife Area · Kettle Moraine State Forest · Eau Claire County Forest · Brule River State Forest · Fort McCoy · Oconto County Forest · Apostle Islands National Lakeshore · Vilas County Forest · Ashland County Forest · Wood County Forest · Florence County Forest · Chippewa County Forest · George W. Mead Wildlife Area · Marathon County Forest · Crex Meadows Wildlife Area · Horicon National Wildlife Refuge · Wood County Wildlife Area · Juneau County Forest · Taylor County Forest · Polk County Forest · Barron County Forest · Forest County Forest · Navarino Wildlife Area · Hay Creek-Hoffman Lake Wildlife Area · Tiffany Wildlife Area · Fish Lake Wildlife Area · Leopold Wetland Management District · Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program Lands · White River Marsh Wildlife Area · Buena Vista Wildlife Area · Governor Earl Peshtigo River State Forest · Horicon Marsh Wildlife Area · Devil's Lake State Park · Sandhill Wildlife Area · Glacial Habitat Restoration Areas · Waterloo Wildlife Area · Upper Wolf River Fishery Area · Pershing Wildlife Area · Kimberly Clark Wildlife Area · Kickapoo Valley Reserve · St. Croix Wetland Management District · Grand River Marsh Wildlife Area · Monroe County Forest
Properties and their game lists from DNR property pages, the DNR managed lands layer and federal managers, retrieved 2026-10-19. Wisconsin public land directory · County guides.
Coyote field rules from the DNR
Registration, shooting hours, blaze orange, bait and the other DNR rules that apply to coyotes.
After the shot
The DNR registration list (deer, bear, elk, turkey, bobcat, fisher, otter) does not include coyotes.
When to hunt
Night hunting is legal for coyotes, with a light at the point of kill while on foot; shining between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. from Sept. 15 to Dec. 31 is not.
Orange and pink
Daytime coyote hunters in gun deer season need half their outer clothing above the waist in blaze orange or pink.
Bait
The small game baiting ban applies to coyotes.
Sunday rule
Nothing in Wisconsin law closes Sundays to coyotes.
Wolf look-alikes
Gray wolves are federally endangered; shooting one is unlawful except for an immediate threat to human safety. Identify the animal first.
From the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Fall 2026-Spring 2027 regulations: registration, blaze orange, baiting, shooting hours tables, checked October 19, 2026. Shooting hours by county · Wisconsin hunting laws.
Firearms, bows and loads for coyotes
Weapon rules change with the season, so match the row to the coyote segment you hunt.
| Season | Allowed | Not allowed |
|---|---|---|
| Furbearers (hunting) and unprotected species | Firearms (buckshot allowed), airguns, bows, crossbows; lights at point of kill on foot for coyote, fox, raccoon and unprotected species. | Shining while possessing a weapon; night hunting for bobcat; baiting coyote or bobcat. |
Wisconsin methods rules for coyotes
Shining
No shining wild animals while possessing a weapon; no shining 10 p.m.-7 a.m. Sept. 15-Dec. 31 regardless; local ordinances may add limits.
Dogs
No dogs for deer or elk; dogs allowed for small game, birds, furbearers, bear, migratory birds, unprotected species and fall turkey; leashed blood-tracking dogs allowed for wounded game if trackers carry no weapon; May 1-June 30 no pursuit north of the mapped highways; dogs on DNR land leashed (8 ft) April 15-July 31 except designated areas.
Roads
No hunting within 50 ft of a roadway's center; no shooting from or across a highway or within 50 ft of center (exceptions for disabled permits and small game/turkey with fine shot from dirt/gravel roads).
Wisconsin hunting regulations weapons and methods pages, Wis. Stat. ch. 29 and NR 10, checked October 19, 2026.
Coyote questions and answers
Can I hunt coyotes at night in Wisconsin?
Coyote, fox, raccoon and unprotected species may be hunted without shooting-hour restrictions except with bow/crossbow during the bear and archery/crossbow deer seasons; lights allowed at point of kill on foot.
Can I bait coyotes in Wisconsin?
Illegal to bait any small game (including coyote and bobcat) for hunting.
What happens after I take coyote in Wisconsin?
The DNR registration list (deer, bear, elk, turkey, bobcat, fisher, otter) does not include coyotes.
Can feed be used to hunt coyotes?
The small game baiting ban applies to coyotes.
Can a rifle be used on coyotes in Wisconsin?
Furbearers (hunting) and unprotected species: Firearms (buckshot allowed), airguns, bows, crossbows; lights at point of kill on foot for coyote, fox, raccoon and unprotected species.
Can coyote hunters go out on a Sunday in Wisconsin?
Nothing in Wisconsin law closes Sundays to coyotes.
Is there a daily or season cap on coyotes?
Unlimited daily and possession.
What is the 2026-27 calendar for coyotes in Wisconsin?
Coyotes: coyote (trapping) Oct 17, 2026 to Feb 15, 2027.
Where is public ground for coyotes in Wisconsin?
423 properties, among them Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, Managed Forest Law Open Lands and Douglas County Forest. The match is partly by a broader game heading.
Which approvals does a coyote hunter carry?
Resident approvals for coyotes: Small game (resident) or furbearer (nonresident) license ($18.00); Trapping license ($20.00).
Which days call for orange when hunting coyotes?
Daytime coyote hunters in gun deer season need half their outer clothing above the waist in blaze orange or pink.
How early may coyote hunters start shooting?
Night hunting is legal for coyotes, with a light at the point of kill while on foot; shining between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. from Sept. 15 to Dec. 31 is not.
Coyote: final checks
Pair this coyote guide with the property page for the wildlife area or forest you plan to hunt; closures and refuges are listed there.
Other photos on this page: Yellowstone National Park (Public Domain Mark 1.0); goingslo (CC BY 2.0); reivax (CC BY-SA 2.0); Harlequeen (CC BY 2.0).