There are a few new rules for hunting coyotes in Alabama. All of them are wonderful news for predator hunters. Ever since someone had the bright idea to bring coyotes into the state in the 1920s, coyotes have increased in numbers and made their homes in every county in the state.
In 2022, Alabama finally jumped on the bandwagon and made night-hunting coyotes legal.
Purchase a license here.
In Alabama, as of 2022, the coyote hunting season is year-round during daylight hours and from February 11 until November 1 for night hunting. A license is required for all coyote hunting, but a special permit is required for night hunting.
Check out all the Alabama hunting seasons.
Related: Read the laws for hunting bobcats in Alabama.
Learn the rules for hunting fox in Alabama.
Rules for hunting coyotes in Alabama
Great news in Alabama! Now you can hunt coyotes year-round, and you only need a hunting license and written permission from the landowner if hunting on any land other than your own. All the equipment legal during the day, is legal at night.
This includes:
Decoys. Well, decoys are a daytime tool. If you haven’t tried one yet, spend a few bucks and give it a chance. Decoys suck up a coyote’s attention. Any chance you get to distract a coyote and get its eyes off you will increase the odds you take that animal.
You can check Amazon for decoy prices here.
Electronic game callers. Electronic game callers have been legal for daytime predator hunting in Alabama for some time now. If you are a new predator hunter, you will be sorely tempted to buy one. And, in fact, you probably eventually will. But I suggest you try some cheaper and just as effective hand calls first.
Check out a few articles to learn more about closed and open reed coyote callers.
Related: The closed reed call is the easiest to use. Learn how to here.
Related: The open reed call is slightly harder to use, but this article and video will teach you how.
Still think an electronic caller is the best option? Well, the truth is there really are just two sounds most coyote hunters like to use in the field. Read this article before you spend hundreds of dollars on a caller.
Okay, go ahead an check on Amazon to see how much money your new electronic caller costs.
Hunting coyotes in Alabama at night.
Just so we are straight here when night hunting coyotes, you need a hunting license and written permission from the landowner if hunting on any land other than your own. Always check for updates and changes to the law before hunting.
Artificial lights. You can now use lights when hunting coyotes at night in Alabama. A light clipped onto your rifle scope is the cheapest way to hunt predators at night. It is also 100% as effective as the fancy, high-priced riflescopes costing hundreds or thousands more dollars.
If you are just getting started hunting coyotes or foxes, start with a new light and an old rifle. You can read this article to help discover what color light is best for hunting coyotes.
If you want to learn everything you need to know to hunt red and gray fox, check out my book.
Night vision riflescopes. I’ll admit, they are a lot of fun. They can add some range to your reach, and they can help you find targets faster. They are also expensive. Take your time researching them, and try them out before buying one.
I have two articles I suggest you read before going much further.
Read this one to learn about the ATN X-Sight 4K Pro Infrared scope (I own two).
Read this article about the ATN Thor 4 Thermal scope (I own one).
Suppressors. They are legal in Alabama. That’s all I can say about them. I’ve never even touched one!
Legal stuff when hunting coyotes in Alabama.
This is not a complete legal guide to hunting. You are responsible for knowing and obeying all the laws. The obvious ones are do not trespass, do not drink and hunt, and always handle firearms safely.
In Alabama, there are some extra rules concerning hunting and discharging firearms near a dwelling.
It shall be unlawful for any person to hunt or attempt to hunt within 100 yards of any dwelling belonging to another, whether occupied or not, without the permission of the owner or lessee of said dwelling.
Provided further, it shall be unlawful for any person to discharge a firearm while hunting in such a manner that any projectile strikes any dwelling or building used for human occupation, whether occupied or not, or any commercial vessel, without the permission of the owner or lessee of said dwelling, building or vessel.
This regulation shall not apply to a landowner or member of his or her immediate family hunting on his or her own property provided that no projectile strikes any of the above stated property of another without the permission of the owner or lessee of said property.
