Do you need to know the rules for hunting coyotes in Illinois? You will find coyotes spread throughout Illinois. Coyotes have made their homes in rural and suburban areas and even into dense urban cities. As many as 120,000 coyotes are calling Illinois home by most accounts.
If you plan on hunting coyotes in Illinois, you will need to familiarize yourself with all the state’s hunting laws. Only some of which can be found here. Before you hunt, it is your responsibility to check for updates to the rules and regulations.
Illinois allows coyote hunting year round, but it is closed during the first and second firearm deer seasons in counties open to firearm deer hunting. Year round hours are 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset. No time restrictions for the period of 10 November – 15 March.
Purchase a hunting license here.
Check out the Illinois hunting seasons.
Click here to learn the laws for hunting fox in Illinois.
Click here to learn the rules for hunting bobcats in Illinois.
Are you ready to hunt coyotes in Illinois? Then keep reading!
The rules for hunting coyotes in Illinois.
Can you hunt coyotes at night in Illinois.
Coyotes can be hunted 24 hours from 10 November through midnight on 15 March. During the rest of the year, hunting hours for coyotes are 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset. Closed during shotgun deer seasons.
You will need a hunting license and habitat stamp unless exempt.
Related: When is the best time of day to hunt coyotes?
Related: Here’s how to track a wounded coyote.
Are there any weapon restriction when coyote hunting in Illinois?
You may hunt coyotes may on private property using dogs, archery devices, any type and caliber of handgun, any type of legal rifle including large capacity semi-automatic rifles, and shotguns using any type of shell.
During firearm deer seasons, coyotes may be harvested only by hunters with valid, unfilled deer permits using the same types of firearms that are allowed for deer. When hunting with a shotgun, make sure that the magazine has been fitted with a plug which makes the shotgun incapable of firing more than three consecutive shots.
Related: Want to find coyotes? Learn what coyotes eat during each season.
Related: Is there any such thing as an educated coyote?
Using electronic callers and lights when hunting coyotes in Illinois.
Electronic calling devices are legal for coyote hunting.
Lights with any color of lens can be used while hunting coyotes as long as the lights are not used from or connected to any vehicle or conveyance (including ATVs and horses).
Related: If you just have money for a light, what color should you use?
Related: Spend some time scouting, you may find a legendary stand near you.
Other legal methods of hunting coyotes in Illinois.
It is legal to bait coyotes for hunting as long as any wild game used was legally harvested.
Related: Click here for how to create the perfect bait pile.
Illinois does not restrict the type of sights or scopes used for coyote hunting (including laser sights and night vision scopes).
Check Amazon for night vision riflescope prices here.
Private property and firearm storage laws for Illinois.
It is illegal for a coyote hunter to wantonly allow a dog to hunt on another person’s land without first obtaining permission of the landowner or tenant. If a hunting dog crosses onto property in which the coyote hunter has no permission to hunt, the hunter has no legal right to follow the dog. Illinois Animal Control Laws or other local animal control ordinances could apply to dogs running at large.
Coyote hunters are required to keep their guns unloaded and in a case while in a vehicle or on a conveyance (including but not limited to ATVs and horseback) unless exempt by special IDNR permit.
Guns must remain unloaded until the hunter is clear of the road and right-of-way alongside the road.
Other laws pertaining to hunting coyotes in Illinois.
• Deer hunters with an unfilled firearm deer permit may hunt coyotes during the first and second firearm deer seasons, but must wear a cap and 400 square inches of solid blaze orange or solid blaze pink outer clothing when hunting.
• Before coyote hunting at public hunting areas, check with the site office for site specific regulations.
• It is legal to hunt coyotes while using or possessing a tree climbing device.
What’s with all the purple paint on trees in Illinois?
For some of us, finding purple paint on trees is odd. In Illinois, it’s how many chose to identify their land and mark it against trespass.
Read the law below to avoid getting into any trouble.
Public Act 97-0477 gives landowners or lessees the option of marking their property with a series of purple marks on trees or posts. Until January 1, 2013, landowners or lessees using purple marks must continue to issue a “no trespassing” notice either by oral or written notice to particular individuals or by posting appropriate signage at the main entrance to the property in question.
The purple marks must be either:
- A vertical line of at least 8 inches in length. The bottom of the mark shall be between 3 and 5 feet high. Each mark shall be no more than 100 feet from another such mark and be readily visible to any person approaching the property.
or
- A post capped or otherwise marked on at least its top 2 inches. The bottom of the cap or mark shall be between 3 feet and 5 feet 6 inches high. Posts so marked shall be no more than 36 feet apart and be readily visible to any person approaching the property. Prior to applying a cap or mark that is visible from both sides of a fence shared by different property owners or lessees, all such owners or lessees must agree to the decision to post their own property.
Trespassing on property so marked constitutes a Class B misdemeanor, except when a person trespasses using a motor vehicle if the marked area is an orchard; an enclosed area containing livestock; a barn or other agricultural building containing livestock; or an field that is used or capable of being used for growing crops. Such trespassing constitutes a Class A misdemeanor.
No landowner or lessee is authorized to post purple marks if doing so would violate any applicable law, rule, ordinance, order, covenant, bylaw, declaration, regulation, restriction, contract, or other instrument.