Why do you need to learn the laws for coyote hunting in Pennsylvania? There are over 100,000 coyotes in the state. You’ll find very few states with that many predators, making a trip there worth your time. But, make sure you know how to spend that time hunting legally.
You may hunt coyotes in Pennsylvania with only a general license, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, during most of the year. However, during any open big game season, you will need to be lawful to hunt the appropriate big game or have a furtaker’s license.
Check out all the Pennsylvania hunting seasons.
Learn the state’s bobcat hunting rules here.
Learn the state’s fox hunting rules here.
Want to know how to hunt them legally during big game season? Want to learn what tools you can legally use? Read on. Just remember, regulations change—check the state’s hunting page for updates before you head out.
Laws for Coyote Hunting in Pennsylvania
If you are a property owner and require predator services or information, please visit to the Pennsylvania Predator Hunters Association.
Purchase a hunting license in Pennsylvania here.
Legal coyote hunting in Pennsylvania during big game season.
If you do not have a furtaker license, you may only hunt coyotes during the big game season if you (for the appropriate season):
- Wear fluorescent orange.
- Use the appropriate arms.
- Have appropriate licenses and unused tags.
- Abide by the hunting hours for the big game season.
Related: Read here to find out when the best time is to hunt eastern coyotes.
Related: The more land you have to call on, the better your odds. Learn how to ask permission to hunt in this article.
Coyote hunting in Pennsylvania on Sundays.
You may hunt coyotes on Sunday but do not need a furtaker license to hunt coyotes. Sundays are not considered the open season for big game.
Can you hunt coyotes in Pennsylvania at night?
With furtaker license you may hunt coyotes at night during the big game season. However, you should expect to undergo quite a bit of scrutiny from a game warden if you are approached while hunting coyotes at night during a big game season.
The wardens will just be doing their job under the circumstances.
What night vision scope were they using? The ATN 4K Pro: Check Amazon prices here.
Related: What are the secret calls your successful coyote hunting buddies are using?
Related: Learn how to identify coyote scat and foot prints here.
Decoys and dogs are legal tools for hunting coyotes in Pennsylvania.
Electronic calls and decoys are permitted for coyote hunting.
Using dogs to hunt coyotes in Pennsylvania.
Dogs are permitted to hunt furbearers. Electronic devices are permitted if used for locating dogs while training or hunting, including such devices as e-collars, radio-telemetry dog tracking systems, and beeper collars.
Trapping coyotes in Pennsylvania.
A furtaker license is not required to hunt coyotes, but is required to trap them. Porcupines may be hunted with a hunting or furtaker license. A furtaker license is required to take any other furbearer by hunting or trapping. In addition to a furtaker license, permits are required for bobcat, fisher and otter.
Related: Don’t make a trapping mistake that can ruin your whole trap line.
Firearms While Trapping
To dispatch trapped animals during deer season, trappers are limited to semiautomatic or manually operated 22-caliber rimfire or smaller rifles, manually operated 22-caliber or smaller rimfire handguns, or manually operated or semiautomatic air- or gas-operated rifles, manually operated handguns, that are 177- to 22-caliber. Persons under 12 may use a 22. caliber or smaller rimfire rifle, but only when accompanied by an adult.
Legal firearms while hunting coyotes in Pennsylvania.
List includes other furbearers.
• It is unlawful to take furbearers, including bobcats, with shotguns using shot larger than size No. 4 buckshot, or implements that are not lawful firearms, bows or crossbows.
Semiautomatic and manually operated rifles, manually operated handguns of any caliber, manual or semiautomatic shotguns and, bows and crossbows can be used.
Muzzleloading rifles or handguns that propel single-projectile ammunition can be used. Air- or gas-operated firearms of at least 22-caliber and propel a single-projectile pellet or bullet can be used.
Persons hunting coyotes, foxes, bobcats, raccoons, striped skunks, opossums and weasels may use gun-mounted lights that do not project a laser-light beam, as well as handheld and sporting-arm mounted night-vision and infrared (thermal) optics.
Porcupines may not be hunted at night.
Related: Hunting in bad weather? The truth about coyote hunting bad weather.
Related: Read here about how to get coyotes interested in you calls.
Unlawful devices while coyote hunting in Pennsylvania.
Unlawful Devices
It is unlawful to take furbearers through the use of fish hooks, snagging hooks
or any other hooks of similar design, or implements that are not lawful traps.
A furtaker license is needed to trap all furbearers, including coyotes.
Foxes & Raccoons
Foxes and raccoons may be hunted any hour, day or night, except during the
regular firearms deer season, when they may be hunted only after the legal
hours for deer. Foxes may be hunted on Sundays throughout the season.
Can you use bait while coyote hunting in Pennsylvania?
BAIT AND DEVICES
Natural or manmade nonliving bait and any electronic or mechanical device may be used to attract coyotes for hunting or trapping.
Related: Read how to make the perfect coyote bait pile.
BAIT VISIBLE FROM THE AIR
• The law allowing trappers to use any natural or manmade nonliving bait to attract coyotes does not permit the bait to be visible from the air.
It is unlawful to bait a trap with meat, animal products or their facsimiles if the bait is visible from the air. Those hunting coyotes, however, may hunt over bait visible from the air.
Hunting property destroying coyotes in Pennsylvania.
Killing game or wildlife to protect property.
(a) General rule.–Subject to any limitations in this subchapter, nothing in this title shall be construed to prohibit any person from killing any game or wildlife:
(1) which the person may witness actually engaged in the material destruction of cultivated crops, fruit trees, vegetables, livestock, poultry or beehives;
(2) anywhere on the property under the person’s control, including detached lands being cultivated for the same or similar purposes, immediately following such destruction; or
(3) where the presence of the game or wildlife on any cultivated lands or fruit orchards is just cause for reasonable apprehension of additional imminent destruction.
Lands divided by a public highway shall not be construed as detached lands. Any person who wounds any game or wildlife shall immediately make a reasonable effort to find and kill the game or wildlife. Every person shall comply with all other regulations in this subchapter pertaining to the method and manner of killing, reporting the killing and the disposition of game or wildlife and their skins and carcasses.
Related: Where do you shoot a coyote to put it down? Read this article.
Related: Should a deer hunter take a coyote when possible?
Killing coyotes to safe a person in Pennsylvania.
Killing coyotes to protect a person?
(a) General rule.–It is unlawful for a person to kill any game or wildlife as a means of protection unless it is clearly evident from all the facts that a human is endangered to a degree that the immediate destruction of the game or wildlife is necessary.
(b) Report, safekeeping and investigation.–A person killing any game or wildlife under this subchapter shall report the event to an officer as soon as possible following the incident but in no case later than 24 hours, provide for safekeeping of the game or wildlife intact at the place where it was killed and be available for interview by the officer. The person killing the game or wildlife shall answer, without evasion, any pertinent questions of the officer making the investigation.
(c) Exoneration.–At the conclusion of any investigation when any game or wildlife is allegedly killed as protection to a person, the officer may exonerate the person for the otherwise unlawful killing of the game or wildlife. In all cases the officer shall seize and dispose of the game or wildlife as required by this title or upon instructions of the director.
(d) Prosecution.–Any officer making an investigation when game or wildlife was allegedly killed as a protection to a person shall proceed with prosecution as though the game or wildlife was unlawfully killed if the officer is dissatisfied with the explanation of the person killing the game or wildlife or if the physical facts of the killing do not support and sustain the facts alleged by the person killing the game or wildlife.
(e) Penalties.–A violation of this section relating to:
(1) Threatened or endangered species is a misdemeanor.
(2) Elk or bear is a summary offense of the first degree.
(3) Deer is a summary offense of the second degree.
(4) Bobcat or otter is a summary offense of the third degree.
(5) Wild turkey or beaver is a summary offense of the fourth degree.
(6) Any other game or wildlife is a summary offense of the fifth degree.
Related: Read this article to learn how to kill eastern coyotes—the biggest predators.
Related: Want to learn how to quickly use an open reed caller?
Avoiding trespass charges while coyote hunting in Pennsylvania.
(a) General rule.–A person, while engaged in hunting or furtaking, commits an offense if, knowing that the person is not licensed or privileged to do so, the person:
(1) enters or remains on any land of another without authorization to do so, when the land is posted in a manner prescribed by law or reasonably likely to come to the person’s attention or is fenced or enclosed in a manner manifestly designed to exclude trespassers; or
(2) enters or remains on any land of another without authorization and defies an order not to enter or to leave that has been personally communicated to the person by the owner of the land or other authorized person.
Related: Don’t want to over hunt an area? Read this article.
(c) Penalty.–An offense under this section shall be graded as follows:
(1) A person who violates subsection (a)(1) commits a summary offense of the third degree.
(2) A person who violates subsection (a)(2) commits a misdemeanor.
(3) A person who commits a second or subsequent violation of this section within a seven-year period commits a misdemeanor, and the second or subsequent violation shall result in forfeiture of the privilege to hunt or take game or wildlife anywhere within this Commonwealth for a period of one year.
Coyote hunting in Pennsylvania on Sundays.
Hunting on Sunday prohibited.
(a) General rule.–Except as otherwise provided in this title, it is unlawful for any person to hunt for any furbearer or game on Sunday.
(b) Construction of section.–This section shall not be construed to prohibit:
(1) The training of dogs.
(2) The participation in dog trials as provided for in this title.
(3) The removal of lawfully taken game or wildlife from traps or the resetting of the traps on Sunday.
(b.1) Exceptions.–Subsection (a) shall not apply to:
(1) The hunting of foxes.
(2) The hunting of coyotes.
(3) Any hunting which occurs on noncommercial regulated hunting grounds holding a valid permit under section 2928(b)(2) (relating to regulated hunting grounds permits).
(4) Hunting on three Sundays each calendar year, as follows:
(i) One day of Sunday hunting shall be instituted by the commission during the deer rifle season.
(ii) One day of Sunday hunting shall be instituted by the commission during the Statewide deer archery season.
(iii) One day of Sunday hunting as determined by the commission shall be instituted by the commission.
Authority to hunt on any Sunday instituted by the commission under this paragraph shall not apply to any person required to secure a hunting license who attempts to hunt on private land without obtaining written permission of the landowner, an agent of the landowner or lessee.
(c) Penalty.–A violation of this section is a summary offense of the fifth degree.
Related: How to track a wounded coyote.
Related: https://thepredatorhunter.com/fox-calling-tips-for-new-predator-hunters/
Illegal devices an methods of coyote hunting in Pennsylvania.
(a) General rule.–Except as otherwise provided in this title, it is unlawful for any person to hunt or aid, abet, assist or conspire to hunt any game or wildlife through the use of:
(1) An automatic firearm or similar device.
(2) A semiautomatic rifle or pistol, except as set forth in subsection (b.1).
(3) A semiautomatic shotgun or magazine shotgun for hunting or taking small game, furbearers, turkey or unprotected birds unless the shotgun is plugged to a two-shell capacity in the magazine.
(4) Any recorded call or sound or recorded or electronically amplified imitation of a call or sound of any description or any other call or sound or imitation of calls or sounds which are prohibited by regulations of the commission. The commission shall be authorized, by resolution, to adopt rules and regulations authorizing the limited use of recorded calls or sounds or recorded or electronically amplified imitation of calls or sounds when such use is necessary in the commission’s judgment to protect the public health and safety or to preserve that species or any other endangered by it.
(5) A vehicle or conveyance of any kind or its attachment propelled by other than manpower. Nothing in this subsection shall pertain to any of the following:
(i) A motorboat or sailboat if the motor has been completely shut off or sail furled, and the progress thereof has ceased.
(ii) A motorized wheelchair if the person has been issued a permit to hunt under section 2923(a.1) (relating to disabled person permits).
(6) Any artificial or natural bait, hay, grain, fruit, nut, salt, chemical, mineral or other food as an enticement for game or wildlife, regardless of kind and quantity, or take advantage of any such area or food or bait prior to 30 days after the removal of such material and its residue. Nothing contained in this subsection shall pertain to normal or accepted farming, habitat management practices, oil and gas drilling, mining, forest management activities or other legitimate commercial or industrial practices. Upon discovery of such baited areas, whether prosecution is contemplated or not, the commission may cause a reasonable area surrounding the enticement to be posted against hunting or taking game or wildlife. The posters shall remain for 30 days after complete removal of the bait.
(7) Any setgun, net, bird lime, deer lick, pit or pit fall, turkey blind except as permitted under subsection (b)(3) or turkey pen or any explosive, poison or chemical of any kind.
(8) Any device which permits the release of two or more arrows simultaneously on a single full draw of a bow.
(19) Any other device or method of any kind prohibited by this title or regulations promulgated under this title.
(b) Exceptions.–The provisions of subsection (a) shall not apply to:
(1) (i) Any archery sight or firearm’s scope which contains and uses any mechanical, photoelectric, ultraviolet or solar-powered device to solely illuminate the sight or crosshairs within the scope.
(ii) (A) A flashlight or spotlight may be mounted on a firearm to take furbearers if the sole source of power for the flashlight or spotlight is contained within the flashlight or spotlight or on the person.
(B) For the purposes of this subparagraph, a flashlight or spotlight mounted on a firearm shall not include a device that projects a beam of laser light to indicate the intended point of impact for one or more projectiles discharged from the firearm.
(2) (i) Any political subdivision, its employees or agents, which has a valid deer control permit issued under section 2902(c) (relating to general categories of permits).
(ii) Any licensed hunter in cities of the first class, while hunting on private property and using a bow and arrow or crossbow, using bait to attract deer for removal as provided by commission regulations.
(iii) Any licensed hunter in special regulation areas, other than counties of the second class, using bait to attract deer for removal as provided by commission regulations.
(3) Any artificial or manufactured turkey blind consisting of all manmade materials of sufficient density to block the detection of movement within the blind from an observer located outside of the blind.
(4) Any natural or manmade nonliving bait used to attract coyotes for hunting or trapping.
(5) Any electronic or mechanical device used to attract coyotes for hunting or trapping.
(6) Any decoy used in the trapping or hunting of furbearers.
(b.1) Additional exception.–A semiautomatic rifle may be used to hunt game in accordance with regulations promulgated by the commission.
(c) Penalties.–
(1) A violation of subsection (a)(1), (2), (4) or (5) is a summary offense of the fifth degree.
(2) A violation of subsection (a)(7) is a summary offense of the third degree.
(3) A violation of any other provision of this section is a summary offense of the fourth degree.
Hunting or furtaking prohibited while under influence of alcohol or controlled substance.
(a) General rule.–It is unlawful to hunt or take game, furbearers or wildlife or aid, abet, assist or conspire to hunt or take game, furbearers or wildlife anywhere in this Commonwealth while in possession of a firearm of any kind or a bow and arrow if:
(1) under the influence of alcohol to a degree which renders the person incapable of safe hunting or furtaking;
(2) under the influence of any controlled substance, as defined by the laws of this Commonwealth and rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, to a degree which renders the person incapable of safe hunting or furtaking;
(3) under the combined influence of alcohol and a controlled substance to a degree which renders the person incapable of safe hunting or furtaking;
(4) the amount of alcohol by weight in the blood of:
(i) an adult is 0.10% or greater; or
(ii) a minor is 0.02% or greater.
(a.1) Prima facie evidence.–
(1) It is prima facie evidence that:
(i) an adult had 0.10% or more by weight of alcohol in his or her blood at the time of hunting or taking of game, furbearers or wildlife or the aiding, abetting, assisting or conspiring to hunt or take game, furbearers or wildlife if the amount of alcohol by weight in the blood of the person is equal to or greater than 0.10% at the time a chemical test is performed on a sample of the person’s breath, blood or urine; or
(ii) a minor had 0.02% or more by weight of alcohol in his or her blood at the time of hunting or taking of game, furbearers or wildlife or the aiding, abetting, assisting or conspiring to hunt or take game, furbearers or wildlife if the amount of alcohol by weight in the blood of the minor is equal to or greater than 0.02% at the time a chemical test is performed on a sample of the minor’s breath, blood or urine.
(2) For the purpose of this section, the chemical test of the sample of the person’s or minor’s breath, blood or urine shall be from a sample obtained:
(i) within three hours after the person or minor hunted or took game, furbearers or wildlife or aided, abetted, assisted or conspired to hunt or take game, furbearers or wildlife; or
(ii) within a reasonable additional time after the person or minor hunted or took game, furbearers or wildlife or aided, abetted, assisted or conspired to hunt or take game, furbearers or wildlife if the circumstances of the incident prevented collecting the sample within three hours.
(a.2) Legal use no defense.–The fact that any person charged with violating this section is or has been legally entitled to use alcohol or controlled substances is not a defense to a charge of violating this section.
(a.3) Exception.–A person who is furtaking shall not be deemed in violation of subsection (a) if that person is not in possession of a firearm.
(b) Penalty.–A violation of the provisions of this section shall be a misdemeanor. In addition to any penalty, the violator shall be denied the right to hunt or trap in this Commonwealth, with or without a license, for a period of one year.
(c) Definition.–As used in this section, the te
Loaded firearms in vehicles.
(a) General rule.–Except as otherwise provided in this title, it is unlawful for any person to have a firearm of any kind in or on or against any conveyance propelled by mechanical power or its attachments at any time whether or not the vehicle or its attachment is in motion unless the firearm is unloaded. The exceptions in this subsection do not apply when attempting to locate game or wildlife with an artificial light or when exercising any privileges granted by this title which may be exercised only when not in the possession of a firearm.
(b) Exceptions.–This section shall not be construed to apply to:
(1) A police officer engaged in the performance of his official duty.
(2) A commission officer engaged in the performance of his duty.
(3) A person carrying a loaded pistol or revolver when in possession of a valid firearms license issued by the chief or head of any police force or the sheriff of a county when the license is issued for protection under 18 Pa.C.S. Ch. 61 Subch. A (relating to Uniform Firearms Act).
(4) Any person as defined in section 2121(c) (relating to killing game or wildlife to protect property) while on lands they control and when not hunting or trapping for game or wildlife.
(5) Any motorboat or other craft having a motor attached or any sailboat if the motor has been completely shut off or the sail furled and its progress therefrom has ceased.
(6) Any political subdivision, its employees or agents, which has a valid deer control permit issued under section 2902(c) (relating to general categories of permits).
The exceptions in paragraphs (1) through (5) do not apply when attempting to locate game or wildlife with an artificial light or when exercising any privileges granted by this title which may be exercised only when not in the possession of a firearm.
(c) Penalty.–A violation of this section is a summary offense of the fourth degree if the vehicle is in motion. Otherwise the violation is a summary offense of the fifth degree.
Restrictions on shooting.
(a) General rule.–It is unlawful for any person during the open season for the taking of any big game other than turkey to:
(1) Shoot at any mark or target other than legal game or wildlife with a firearm of any kind or a bow and arrow.
(2) Discharge at any time any firearm or release an arrow at random in the general direction of any game or wildlife not plainly visible for the purpose of routing or frightening them.
(3) Discharge at any time any firearm or release an arrow at random or in any other manner contrary to this section.
(b) Exceptions.–This section shall not be construed to apply in any manner to:
(1) The discharge of any firearm for the sole purpose of signaling for aid or assistance while in distress.
(2) The use of rifle, pistol or archery ranges owned, leased or maintained by a State or Federal military or police organization or by any regularly organized rifle, pistol, shotgun or archery range, shooting association or club while shooting at a regularly established and properly safeguarded range or to any public shooting exhibition properly safeguarded and conducted under the direction of any organization for the promotion of marksmanship.
(3) The discharge of a muzzle-loading firearm at a proper target for the purpose of safe transportation of the muzzle-loaded firearm.
(4) Shooting at a properly constructed target or mark or a dead tree protected by a natural or artificial barrier so that the ball, bullet or arrow cannot travel more than 15 yards beyond the target aimed at, after making due allowance for deflection in any direction not to exceed an angle of 45 degrees. Target shooting shall only be lawful when it is done:
(i) Upon property owned by the shooter or by a guest of the property owner.
(ii) Within 200 yards of the camp or other headquarters where the person shooting is quartered or is an invited guest or visitor.