Fox and coyote trapping and fox hunting seasons have started

Fox and coyote trapping season: Statewide Oct. 15 – March 1 Coyote may be taken on private property by a property owner or designee all year if they are doing or about to do damage on private property. A license or written permit is not needed. See Winter Fox and Coyote Non-lethal Cable Restraints for regulations governing the trapping of fox and coyote.

Gray and red fox hunting seasons: Statewide Oct. 15 – March 1 See Nighttime Raccoon and Predator Hunting for specific regulations governing the hunting of these species at night.

And a reminder that coyote hunting season is in full swing until April 15. Residents possessing a valid small game license may hunt coyote during the established season.

 

Everyone who hunts and traps furbearing animals, including those who trap or hunt on their own enclosed farmland or private property, must have a valid fur harvester license. This license allows you to hunt fox, bobcat, coyote or raccoon, and trap badger, bobcat, fisher, marten, fox, coyote, weasel, mink, raccoon, muskrat, beaver, otter, skunk or opossum.

 

Exceptions: Raccoon and coyote may be taken on private property by a property owner or designee all year if they are doing or about to do damage on private property. A license or written permit is not needed. Residents possessing a valid small game license may hunt coyote during the established season.

 

Those 17 years of age and older must possess a valid fur harvester license. A junior resident fur harvester-trap only license is available to youth 10 to 16 years old without hunter safety training. Youth under 10 years old may trap furbearers as licensed through the Mentored Youth Hunting Program.

 

For more information on fox and coyote hunting and trapping, visit the DNR’s fox and coyote page or the Hunting and Trapping Digest, pages 22-27.