Do you need to know the rules for hunting coyotes in Missouri? The State of Missouri needs more coyote hunters. The numbers do not lie. The coyote population of Missouri doubled in 2020.
Coyotes may be hunted all year in Missouri, except during daylight from April 1 to the start of the Spring turkey season. Coyotes may be taken using only methods allowed for spring turkey during spring turkey season, and hunters must have an unfilled turkey permit and a permit to hunt small game.
Dogs may not be used to hunt coyotes during daylight hours statewide from November 1 to the close of the November portion of the firearms deer season and during the antlerless portions in open counties.
Purchase a hunting license for hunting in Missouri.
See the entire Missouri hunting and trapping season.
Related: Read the laws for hunting bobcats in Missouri.
Related: Read the laws for hunting fox in Missouri.
Rules for hunting coyotes in Missouri.
Coyotes can be hunted, and pelts and carcasses may be possessed, transported, and sold in any numbers throughout the year.
Special method restrictions apply during the spring turkey season. See Allowed & Prohibited methods (below).
There are no bag limits.
Related: Is there a legendary stand right where you live? Find it here.
Related: Is there a perfect night vision scope for you? Read this article to find one for new night hunters.
Interested in fox hunting at night? Check out my book: Night Hunting the Red and Gray Fox.
Check on ATN Thor 4 thermal riflescope prices on Amazon.
Additional information for hunting coyotes in Missouri:
Coyotes may be taken using only methods allowed for spring turkey hunting during spring turkey season. Hunters must have an unfilled spring turkey hunting permit and either a Resident Small Game Hunting Permit or a Nonresident Furbearer Hunting and Trapping Permit.
Can you use decoys and electronic callers while coyote hunting in Missouri?
Electronic calls or electronically activated calls may be used.
Check prices for electronic callers on Amazon here.
Amazon sells a variety of predator hunting decoys here.
Is hunting coyotes in Missouri legal with a suppressor?
Silencers are legal in Missouri. Hunting? Silencers are legal for hunting both game and non-game animals in Missouri. Relevant laws: Mo. Rev. Stat. § 571.020 makes it illegal to possess a silencer “in violation of federal law.” However, the law is silent with regard to hunting.
Related: Learn how to read the mind of coyote here.
Related: Only have a light to hunt coyotes? Here’s how to pick the right color light for night hunting.
Hunting coyotes in Missouri during deer season.
Special Provision for Firearms Deer Season: During the November portion and Antlerless portion in open counties, furbearer hunters must also possess an unfilled firearms deer hunting permit if hunting during daylight hours.
During spring turkey season, coyote hunters must also possess an unfilled spring turkey hunting permit.
Related: Shoot a coyote, save a fawn? Learn why this is true here.
Allowed and prohibited methods when coyote hunting in Missouri.
Allowed & Prohibited Methods
Methods
Pistols, revolvers, and rifles propelling a single projectile at one discharge
Firearms powered by spring, air, or compressed gas
Shotguns not larger than 10 gauge with magazine cut off or plugged to reduce the capacity to not more than three shells in the magazine and chamber combined.
Bows, including longbows, compound bows, and recurve bows.
Crossbows
Atlatls
Slingshots
Dogs may be used (Dogs may not be used during daylight hours from November 1 through the end of November portion statewide and the antlerless portion in open areas.)
Additional Allowed Methods (February 1 – March 31)
Adopted in 2020.
During this time, the below equipment is allowed in conjunction with other legal hunting methods to pursue and take coyotes.
· Artificial light
· Night vision equipment
· Infrared or thermal imagery equipment
Prohibited methods of hunting coyotes in Missouri.
Arrows containing any drug, poison, chemical, or explosive
Poisons, tranquilizing drugs, chemicals, or explosives
Motor-driven conveyances may not be used to take, drive, or molest wildlife
Artificial lights to search for, harass, or disturb wildlife (see special allowed methods for a coyote)
You may not take wildlife from or across a public roadway with a firearm, bow, or crossbow
Additional Info
You may not possess night vision or thermal imagery equipment while carrying a firearm, bow, or other implement used to take wildlife. (See special allowed methods for coyote.)
I have personally killed more coyotes with the ATN 4K Pro than any other rifle scope.
General hunting regulations for Missouri.
Methods
Seasons, permits, and species have specific rules governing the type of firearm, bow, atlatl, and slingshot which may be used to hunt. Review the information in those areas before hunting.
Fully automatic weapons are prohibited for all hunting.
Firearm restrictions during deer firearms season
During the November and antlerless portions, other wildlife may be hunted only with a shotgun and shot not larger than No. 4 or a .22 or smaller caliber rimfire rifle. This does not apply to waterfowl hunters, trappers, or to landowners on their land.
If you are hunting furbearers during daylight hours during firearms deer season, only deer hunting methods may be used.
Firearm restrictions during elk firearms portion
During the firearms portion of the elk hunting season in open counties, other wildlife may be hunted only with a shotgun and shot not larger than No. 4 or a .22 or smaller caliber rimfire rifle. This does not apply to waterfowl hunters, trappers, or to landowners on their land.
Poisons, tranquilizing drugs, chemicals, and explosives
Poisons, tranquilizing drugs, chemicals, and explosives may not be used to take wildlife.
Transportation vehicle useage while hunting in Missouri.
Motor driven transportation
Motor driven transportation may not be used to take, drive or molest wildlife.
A motorboat may be used to hunt wildlife, except bear, deer and elk, if the motor is shut off and the boat’s forward progress has stopped.
All-terrain vehicles (ATVs)
It is illegal for anyone (except landowners and lessees on land they own or lease and certain agricultural workers) to drive all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) in Missouri’s streams and rivers unless the ATV is on a crossing that is part of the highway system. Violators could lose their fishing and hunting privileges.
With limited exceptions, all-terrain vehicle use is prohibited on conservation areas. Other vehicles are restricted to graveled and paved roads and established parking areas, unless otherwise posted.
Using artificial lights when hunting coyotes in Missouri.
Artificial lights may be used to hunt:
- bullfrogs
- green frogs
- raccoons and other furbearing animals when treed with the aid of dogs
- coyotes from February 1 – March 31 in conjunction with other legal hunting methods.
Landowners may use artificial lights on their property, but while doing so may not be in possession of — or be in the company of someone who possesses — a firearm, bow, or other implement used to take wildlife.
Artificial lights may not be used to search for, spot, illuminate, harass, or disturb other wildlife than the above.
Using night vision and thermal riflescopes when hunting coyotes in Missouri.
Night Vision and Thermal Imagery
You may not possess night vision or thermal imagery equipment while carrying a firearm, bow, or other implement used to take wildlife, except:
- To take coyotes from February 1 – March 31 in conjunction with other legal hunting methods
- For the purposes of killing feral swine by landowners or their authorized representatives on the landowner’s property.
- With written authorization of an agent of the department.
Using calls and dogs when hunting coyotes in Missouri.
Calls
Mouth and hand calls may be used any time.
Electronic calls or electronically activated calls may be used to pursue and take crows and furbearers. They may also be used to take light geese during the Conservation Order. Electronic calls may not be used with artificial light or night-vision equipment, except when hunting coyotes from February 1 – March 31 in conjunction with other legal hunting methods.
Dogs
Dogs may be used in hunting wildlife — except bear, deer, elk, turkey, muskrat, mink, river otter, and beaver. Learn more about the rules for hunting with dogs.
Furbearer dens or nests
The dens or nests of furbearers shall not be molested or destroyed.
Hunter orange
You are urged to wear hunter orange whenever you are hunting for your safety. In addition, you are required to wear hunter orange at certain times and locations. Learn more about the hunter orange rules.
Hunting near flood waters or fire
Wildlife, except waterfowl, may not be pursued or taken while trapped or surrounded by floodwaters or while fleeing from floodwaters or fire.
Hunting and trapping on public roadways
You may not take any wildlife from or across a public roadway with a firearm, bow or crossbow. A Conibear-type trap may be used adjacent to public roadways only if set underwater in permanent waters.
After a successful hunt
Excessive waste
It is illegal to intentionally leave or abandon any portion of any wildlife that is commonly used as human food.
Possessing, transporting, and storing wildlife
You must keep any wildlife you take separate or identifiable from that of any other hunter.
You can possess and transport wildlife as part of your personal baggage. It may be stored at your home, camp, place of lodging or in a commercial establishment.
Proper labeling
When storing bear, deer, elk, and turkey, it must have the hunter’s:
- Full name
- Address
- Date taken
- Telecheck confirmation number
When storing wildlife other than bear, deer, elk, or turkey, it must have the hunter’s:
- Full name
- Address
- Permit number
- Species
- Date it was placed in storage
When transporting wildlife other than bear, deer, elk, or turkey, it must have the hunter’s:
- Full name
- Address
- Permit number
- Date it was taken
Buying and selling pelts, feathers, and other parts
Unless federal regulations prohibit, you may buy, sell or barter legally obtained:
- feathers
- squirrel pelts
- rabbit pelts
- groundhog pelts
- turkey bones
- turkey heads
- turkey feet
- deer heads (except those acquired with a disposition form)
- elk heads (except those acquired with a disposition form)
- deer and elk antlers
- deer and elk hides
- deer and elk feet
- NOTE: Regardless of the state of harvest, black bear gallbladders may not be bought, sold, offered for sale, transferred, or given away. Extracted black bear gallbladders may not be transported into or within Missouri.
They must be accompanied by a bill of sale showing:
- the seller’s full name, address
- the number and species of the parts
- the full name and address of the buyer
Wildlife and wildlife parts, after mounting or tanning, also may be bought and sold.
People who receive or purchase deer or elk heads or antlers attached to the skull plate must keep the bill of sale as long as the heads or antlers are in their possession. The bill of sale must include the transaction date and a signed statement from the sellers attesting that the deer or elk heads and antlers were, to their knowledge, taken legally.
Giving away wildlife
You may give wildlife (excluding bear gall bladders) to another person, but it will continue to be a part of your daily limit for the day when taken. Wildlife received as a gift will be included in the possession limit of the person you give it to.
Bear, deer, elk, and turkey must be appropriately labeled as outlined above.
All other wildlife being given away must be labeled with:
- your full name
- address
- permit number
- species
- date taken
