Rules for Hunting Coyotes in Oklahoma

Permission to trap: No person may trap on the inhabited land of another without first obtaining from the owner or occupant thereof a written permit to do so.

Illegal to hunt coyotes in Oklahoma remotely with a computer.

Computer-Aided Hunting

The use of computer software or services that allow a person, not physically present, to remotely control a firearm or weapon to hunt any live animal or bird is prohibited. No person shall engage in any activity that provides, sells, offers for sale, assists in, or provides facilities for computer-assisted remote control hunting of wildlife.

Use of lights when hunting coyotes in Oklahoma.

Headlighting / Spotlighting

No person may attempt to take, take, attempt to catch, catch, attempt to capture, capture, attempt to kill, or kill any deer, feral animal or other wildlife, except fish and frogs or except as provided by law, by the use of a vehicle-mounted spotlight or other powerful light at night, by what is commonly known as “headlighting” (or “spotlighting”) or use any light enhancement device (night scope). Provided, however, nothing in this code shall prevent one from possessing a .22 caliber rimfire rifle or .22 caliber rimfire pistol and a light carried on his person while in pursuit of furbearers with hounds during the legal open furbearer season, while possessing a valid hunting license and fur license, unless exempt.

Hunting During Big Game Seasons

Any person hunting any wildlife in open areas during the youth deer gun, bear muzzle­loader, deer muzzleloader, deer gun, holiday antlerless deer gun (in open zones), elk gun (in open counties) or September antelope gun (in open areas) seasons with a shotgun and rifled slug, or any rifle or handgun larger than a .22 caliber long rifle, must possess a valid bear, deer, elk, or antelope license, unless otherwise exempt.

Hunting From Motor Vehicles

No person may harass, attempt to capture, capture, attempt to take, take, kill or attempt to kill any wildlife with the aid of any motor-driven land, air or water conveyance, except a non-ambulatory person may hunt from said conveyances with a non-ambulatory or motor vehicle permit. Provided, however, nothing in this code shall prevent the use of motor-driven land or water conveyances for following dogs in the act of hunting, when use of said conveyances is restricted to public roads or waterways. Said conveyances may be used on private property for following dogs in the act of hunting with the landowner’s or occupant’s permission.

Landowner Permission

Hunters must obtain permission to enter any posted or occupied land or land primarily devoted to farming, ranching or forestry purposes.

Nothing in this guide shall be interpreted as permitting hunting or allowing access into any area, public or private, without permission from the owners or custodian as required by law. All persons are prohibited from entering land owned by another without permission for the sole purpose of retrieving domestic livestock or other animals.

Consent is not valid for more than one year, unless the owner, lessee, or occupant specifically grants consent for a specified period of time.

Carrying firearms when hunting coyotes in Oklahoma.

Unless otherwise provided by state law, a person may carry a firearm on any private or public state lands. This includes, but is not limited to, while hunting, fishing, scouting and tracking. Federal lands such as Corps of Engineers or National Wildlife Refuges are subject to additional regulations that may prevent the provisions of this act.

Possession of wildlife when hunting coyotes in Oklahoma.

No person may possess any game bird, animal or other wildlife, or portions thereof, that have been taken by another person unless written information giving the taker’s name, address, customer ID number, date taken and the number and kinds of game birds, animals or other wildlife, is attached to the game birds, animal or other wildlife, or portions thereof. In addition, information on turkey, bear, deer, elk, and antelope must include where game was checked or the online confirmation number. The person’s name and address receiving said wildlife must also appear on the written information.

It shall be unlawful for any person to have in their possession any meat, head, hide, or any part of the carcass of any wildlife not legally taken. The keeping of wildlife as pets and the sale of wildlife or parts is strictly controlled by state and federal laws.

Protected Species

Selling of Wildlife

Except as otherwise provided for by law, no person may buy, barter, trade, sell or offer, or expose for sale all or any part of any fish or wildlife or the nest or eggs of any bird, protected by law.

Shooting From Road

Shooting from or across any public road, highway (or right-of-way) or railroad right-of-way is prohibited. Public roadways are defined as any governmental or corporate roadways where vehicular traffic is not restricted and the roadway is routinely used by the general public.

Shotgun Pellet Size

No person in the field may possess or attempt to harvest any wildlife, except waterfowl and crane, with a shotgun using shot larger than #4 buckshot. Hogs are not considered wildlife; see Small Game/Hog Regulationsfor shotgun provisions for hogs.

Coyote hunting in Oklahoma: Taking of wildlife,

No person, including but not limited to persons licensed for commercial hunting or wildlife breeders, may hunt, chase, capture, shoot, shoot at, wound, attempt to take or take, attempt to kill or kill, slaughter, or use any trap, net, snare, cage, pitfall, baited hook or similar device, drug, poison, narcotic, explosive or similar substance, swivel or punt gun of greater caliber than ten (10) gauge, or any device which generates electricity on an antelope, moose, whitetail or mule deer, bear, elk, mountain lion, Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, wild turkey, or any subspecies except as otherwise provided by statute or commission rule.

Weapons transportation when hunting coyotes in Oklahoma.

Transportation of Firearms, Bows & Crossbows

Except as otherwise provided, no person may transport a loaded firearm in a land or water motor vehicle. No bow may be transported at full or partial draw in a motorized vehicle.

Muzzleloaders may be transported with a loaded powder charge and bullet as long as the gun is uncapped or battery is disconnected.

Crossbows may not be transported in a motorized vehicle unless uncocked or disassembled. 

Use of Fire

No person shall concentrate, drive, molest, hunt, take, capture, kill, or attempt to take any wildlife by aid of any fire or smoke whether man-made or natural.

Wanton Waste

No person may capture, kill or destroy any wildlife protected by law and remove the head, claws, teeth, hide, antlers, horns or any or all of such parts from the carcass with the intent to abandon the carcass. No person may kill any wildlife protected by law and abandon the carcass without disposing of the carcass in the most appropriate manner. No person may dump the carcass of any dead animal in any well, spring, pond, or stream of water or leave it within 1/4 mile of any occupied dwelling or public highway without burying the carcass in an appropriate manner where it will not become exposed through erosion of the soil or where such land is subject to overflow. Penalties and fines have been increased for anyone convicted of improperly disposing of wildlife.

Public Lands

Seasons on public lands may vary from statewide seasons. Consult public hunting lands special regulations.

Hunter Orange

For hunter orange requirements, see Big Game Regulations.

Coyote hunting in Oklahoma: Sale of carcasses.

Skinned carcasses or parts of legally acquired furbearing animals and coyotes (excluding the hide/pelt/fur) may be purchased, bartered, traded, sold or offered for sale.

Coyote hunting in Oklahoma: Buying or selling furs.

Buying/Selling of Furs

Persons buying fur in Oklahoma must possess a current Fur Dealers License. Rules and regulations for purchasing fur in Oklahoma can be given upon request from the Furbearer Biologist. Persons taking pelts during the season shall have 10 working days after the close of the season to sell or dispose of the pelts or notify the Department in writing of intent to hold pelts after the 10-day deadline. All pelts held after the 10-day deadline must be inventoried on a form provided by an authorized Department employee. All bobcats and river otters must have a permanent tag affixed for the current year, prior to being held for later sale.

Possession of Carcasses or Hides

It shall be illegal to possess live animals, carcasses or raw furs of ringtail, spotted skunk or swift fox unless it can be proven that each carcass or hide was taken legally outside of Oklahoma. Proof of legality or origin for carcasses or green hides shall be a tag or other marking or device attached to or imprinted on each and every hide in such a way that it cannot be removed intact. The tag or marking must be the official method used by the issuing agency. If an identification is not required by the issuing agency, a hunting or trapping license appropriate to the species taken is required as proof.

Tagging Hints

All bobcats and otters are usually tagged with a plastic tag looped under the skin from the eye to the mouth. If you choose to freeze your bobcat or otter whole prior to tagging, it is best to open a 1/2-inch wide slot under the skin from the eye to the gum line with a knife or sharp screwdriver and install some sort of spacer that can be removed later to allow tagging once the bobcat or otter is frozen. Taking these few simple steps will allow the spacer to be removed and the tag attached in the proper location without having to thaw the bobcat or otter. Otherwise, partially thaw the carcass before taking it to be tagged.

Handling of property destroying furbearers in Oklahoma.

Exemptions from Regulations

Nothing in this regulation prevents the killing of furbearers actually found destroying livestock or poultry. In addition, nothing in this regulation prevents the running or chasing of coyote, bobcat, fox or raccoon with dogs for sport only, except on those public lands where such activity is prohibited. Bobcats and foxes taken with this exemption cannot be removed from the property. Only furbearers taken within season and with a fur license may be sold or removed from property.