Michigan’s open coyote hunting season used to be year-round, but two regulation changes are changing that.
The Michigan Natural Resources Commission approved two regulation changes that alter coyote hunting season in the state. Open coyote hunting season now takes place from July 15, 2024, through April 15, 2025.
That means that coyote hunting season will close on Tuesday, April 16, 2024, and reopen in mid-July. Even though hunting season is closed, coyotes are still considered a nuisance.
Because they’re a nuisance, property owner or someone they designate can take coyotes all year on private property if they coyotes are damaging livestock or physically present where they could imminently cause damage to livestock.
According to the state, doing damage or physical present where they could imminently cause damage means: “The property owner or their designee must be within a reasonable distance of the livestock when hunting or trapping, so that it is clear they are attempting to target the coyotes responsible for livestock damage or that are likely to attack livestock very soon.”
The DNR also noted that centerfire firearms .269-caliber or smaller can now be used at night in the Limited Firearm Deer Zone (southern portion of the Lower Peninsula; see hunting zones map) on both public and private lands to take coyote, fox, opossum and raccoon. Centerfire firearms still cannot be used at night statewide during Nov. 10-30 or in state parks and recreation areas.