Coyote Hunting Laws in Maryland: Seasons, Licenses, and Rules Explained

Coyote hunting in Maryland is one of the most accessible and least restricted forms of predator hunting in the mid-Atlantic region. Coyotes may be hunted year-round in all counties, day and night, with some Sunday restrictions. That open framework gives hunters a lot of flexibility — but the rules around licenses, weapons, night hunting, and trapping still carry real legal weight.

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) supported legislation that provided for the legal classification of coyotes as a “Fur-Bearing Mammal.” That classification shapes every rule you need to follow before heading into the field. This guide breaks down the key regulations so you can hunt confidently and legally.

Pro Tip: Always verify season dates and specific county restrictions directly with the Maryland DNR before you hunt, as regulations are updated annually.

Is Coyote Hunting Legal in Maryland?

Yes, coyote hunting is legal in Maryland. During the 2000 legislative session, the General Assembly repealed the sunset clause provisions, affording the coyote permanent statutory classification as a “Fur-Bearing Mammal.” That permanent status means annual hunting and trapping seasons for coyotes have been established.

The coyote’s rapid range expansion throughout North America reflects its adaptability and ability to thrive in a variety of habitat types. In Maryland, coyotes occupy most of the state’s habitat types, with the highest densities occurring in intermixed woodland and farmland areas. Their growing presence makes regulated hunting a practical wildlife management tool for the state.

It is unlawful to hunt any animal other than deer on the first day of Deer Firearms Season — except coyotes. That specific carve-out reflects how Maryland treats coyotes differently from other furbearers when it comes to year-round access. If you are hunting coyotes on public or private land in Maryland, the DNR’s furbearer framework is the governing authority.

Coyote Hunting Season Dates in Maryland

Coyotes may be hunted in all counties year-round during daylight hours — from one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset. There is no closed season for daytime coyote hunting anywhere in the state.

Coyotes can be hunted at night during the period specified in the furbearer seasons and bag limits chart. At all other times of the year, coyotes may only be hunted during the legal daylight shooting hours. The night hunting window is the key variable to check each season, as it runs on a defined calendar period tied to the furbearer chart published by the DNR.

With the exception of nutria, hunting furbearers on Sunday is prohibited. This Sunday restriction applies statewide and is one of the most commonly overlooked rules for coyote hunters planning weekend outings.

Hunting Type	Season	Legal Hours	Sunday Hunting
Daytime Coyote Hunting	Year-round, all counties	½ hr before sunrise to ½ hr after sunset	Prohibited
Nighttime Coyote Hunting	Per furbearer seasons chart (check DNR annually)	After sunset during open night period	Prohibited
Incidental Take (while pursuing other game)	Year-round	During legal hours for target species	Per target species rules

The coyote season runs January 1 through December 31 with no bag limit and any legal weapon permitted. That no-limit structure means you are not restricted on how many coyotes you can take in a single outing or over the course of a season.

License and Permit Requirements for Coyote Hunting in Maryland

You need two documents to legally hunt coyotes in Maryland: a valid hunting license and a Furbearer Permit. A person must obtain or be authorized by a Furbearer Permit to hunt, chase, or trap any furbearer — including coyote — including persons participating in the unarmed chasing of fox and raccoons.

The Furbearer Permit is also required for persons not required to have a hunting license, such as landowners hunting on their own property, and holders of any senior hunting license. Even if you own the land and would otherwise be exempt from a standard hunting license, you still need the Furbearer Permit to pursue coyotes legally.

There are two types of Furbearer Permits: Individual and Group. Any person desiring to participate in these activities can obtain the Individual Furbearer Permit. The representative of an association or group established for the purpose of chasing or hunting furbearers may obtain the Group Furbearer Permit.

As of the 2025–2026 license year, the Furbearer Permit costs $25 and is required for trapping or hunting furbearers such as fox and raccoon. A resident hunting license costs $35, while a nonresident license costs $160. Non-residents can hunt coyotes in Maryland with a valid nonresident hunting license.

Important Note: A hunting license holder is required to have a printed paper copy or electronic copy of their hunting license in their possession while hunting. Carry both your license and Furbearer Permit every time you go out.

You can purchase your license and permit through the Maryland DNR Licenses, Stamps and Permits page or via the MD Outdoors app. Licenses are also available at Bass Pro, Walmart, and sporting goods stores.

Legal Methods and Weapons for Coyote Hunting in Maryland

Firearms, archery equipment, and air guns may be used to hunt coyote, fisher, gray fox, opossum, raccoon, red fox, and skunk. Maryland gives hunters a broad range of legal tools, but specific restrictions apply to each category.

Firearms

Taking coyotes with firearms is subject to these regulations: a shotgun may not hold more than three shells in the magazine and chamber combined. Rifles and handguns may be used. Full metal-jacketed, incendiary, or tracer bullets may not be used. Only soft-point expanding ammunition is lawful.

Muzzleloading rifles, shotguns, and handguns may be used. To be considered a muzzleloader, a rifle, shotgun, or handgun must be loaded from the muzzle, and a revolver must be loaded from the front of the cylinder.

Archery Equipment

Vertical bows may be used. Draw-locking devices and release aids are legal for hunting furbearers. Crossbows may be used. All crossbows should have a working safety. The use of poisoned or explosive-tipped arrows or bolts is not permitted.

Air Guns

Air guns that shoot bolts, bullets, or arrows may be used to take coyote, fisher, gray fox, opossum, raccoon, red fox, and skunk. It is unlawful to have a loaded air gun in, on, or leaning against a vehicle. An air gun with the projectile removed is considered to be unloaded.

Telescopic and laser sights may be used on all devices legal for hunting furbearers. It is against the law to shoot on, from, or across any public road. Also, it is unlawful to hunt, trap, or shoot at wildlife within 150 yards of an occupied building or camp without permission of the owner or occupant.

For a broader look at how Maryland regulates hunting tools across all species, see the Maryland hunting laws guide on this site.

Night Hunting and Electronic Call Rules in Maryland

Night hunting for coyotes is legal in Maryland during the designated furbearer season window. The use of artificial light and/or dogs is permitted while hunting coyotes on foot. The key restriction is that artificial lights cannot be cast from a vehicle.

It is a violation of law to cast the rays of an artificial light from a vehicle on dwellings or buildings, fields, livestock, orchards, wild mammals and birds, or woods. It is unlawful to cast the rays of an artificial light from a vehicle on woods, fields, orchards, livestock, wild mammals, or birds, dwellings, or buildings. However, in Baltimore City, Montgomery, and Prince George’s counties, a person may cast the rays of an artificial light from a vehicle for the sole purpose of observing or photographing wildlife until 9:00 p.m.

Night vision and thermal optics are widely used by Maryland coyote hunters. Thermal scopes and scanners have become the go-to method for detecting predators and all things living at great distances. These tools are not prohibited under Maryland’s furbearer hunting rules, making the state a solid destination for night predator hunters.

Coyotes, fishers, foxes, opossums, raccoons, and skunks can be hunted with the aid of electronic calling devices. There is no prohibition on using electronic calls for coyotes in Maryland — a meaningful advantage compared to neighboring states that restrict or ban them. Decoys are also legal and pair well with electronic callers for both day and night setups.

Pro Tip: When night hunting, always hunt on foot with your light source. Casting a light from a vehicle — even while scouting — can result in a violation under Maryland’s artificial light statute.

If you hunt coyotes at night in other nearby states, it is worth comparing Maryland’s rules against those in Virginia, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey, where night hunting rules differ significantly.

Trapping Coyotes in Maryland

Trapping is a legal and regulated method for taking coyotes in Maryland. DNR is authorized to establish a trapping season for coyotes with harvest regulations determined by DNR. Trapping seasons are established annually by regulation and are concurrent with fox trapping seasons in individual counties.

Before you can trap, you need to complete trapper education. Any person who is trapping or attempting to trap furbearers — including coyote — under the authority of a Furbearer Permit must first obtain a certificate of trapper education from the Department, except that the certificate is not required if the person held a Furbearer Permit during the 2006–07 trapping season.

Any similar certificate issued by another state is acceptable as complying with the educational requirements if the privileges are reciprocal for Maryland residents. A Nonresident Hunting License and Nonresident Trapping License are required of nonresidents to trap furbearers in Maryland.

• Anyone who uses a snare, trap, or another similar device to capture wildlife must include their DNRid number either stamped on the device or affixed by metal tag.
• Destroying or disturbing furbearer dens is prohibited.
• A permit is required to possess the meat or skinned carcass of a furbearer for more than 10 days after the season has closed. Permits can be obtained from the Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP).
• The pelts or unskinned carcasses of furbearers harvested in Maryland that are transported across the state line must have a “Fur Shipping Tag” accompanying them. These tags are available through MD Outdoors or by contacting local offices of either the Wildlife and Heritage Service or Natural Resources Police.

On Wildlife Management Areas in Caroline, Dorchester, Somerset, Wicomico, and Worcester counties, only trapping permit holders or their appointees can hunt or trap furbearers between November 15 and March 15. If you plan to trap on public WMA land on the Eastern Shore, this restriction is critical to know.

For a comparison of how trapping rules work in neighboring states, see the guides for North Carolina and Ohio.

Landowner Rights and Depredation Rules in Maryland

Maryland gives landowners meaningful authority to protect their property from coyotes without the standard licensing requirements. A permit is not required for a landowner to hunt or trap a coyote, fox, or skunk that is damaging or destroying the personal or real property of the landowner on their land.

This depredation exemption applies only on the landowner’s own property and only when actual damage is occurring. Landowners can kill coyotes on their property if the animals pose an immediate threat to livestock or pets. Outside of those conditions, the standard license and permit rules apply even to property owners.

DNR has contracted with the USDA Wildlife Services to establish a public access nuisance animal hotline. Wildlife Service specialists are available to provide technical guidance or facilitate contacts with professional Nuisance Wildlife Cooperators. Individuals experiencing problems with coyotes or other wildlife species are encouraged to call (877) 463-6497.

If you hunt on someone else’s private land, landowner permission is required if you hunt on private property to kill coyotes. Maryland law also allows landowners to post their property using blue paint stripes. Posting property boundaries in a conspicuous manner makes it illegal to trespass or for any person to enter without the landowner’s permission. Maryland law allows the use of blue paint stripes and/or signs to indicate private property boundaries.

Important Note: The landowner depredation exemption does not eliminate the need for a Furbearer Permit when you are hunting coyotes recreationally on your own land — it only waives the permit requirement when a coyote is actively damaging your property. Always confirm the distinction with the Maryland DNR furbearer regulations before acting.

Hunters across the mid-Atlantic can also review how landowner and depredation rules compare in states like New York, Tennessee, and Indiana to understand how Maryland’s framework stacks up regionally.

Key Rules to Know Before You Hunt Coyotes in Maryland

Maryland’s coyote regulations are relatively hunter-friendly, but a few rules catch people off guard. Here is a quick summary of the most important points to keep in mind before you go:

• A valid hunting license and Furbearer Permit are required for all hunters, including landowners hunting recreationally on their own land.
• There is no bag limit or possession limit for coyotes.
• Sunday hunting for furbearers, including coyotes, is prohibited statewide.
• Night hunting is legal during the designated furbearer season window, but only on foot — never from a vehicle.
• Electronic calls and decoys are fully legal for coyote hunting.
• Full metal-jacketed, tracer, and incendiary ammunition are prohibited.
• Trappers must complete a trapper education course and mark all devices with their DNRid number.
• Transporting coyote pelts or unskinned carcasses across state lines requires a Fur Shipping Tag.
• Landowners may remove coyotes causing property damage without a permit, but only on their own land and only during active depredation.

For hunters who pursue coyotes across state lines, it is worth reviewing the rules in Washington, Wisconsin, and Minnesota to stay compliant wherever you hunt. The Maryland DNR’s 2025–2026 Hunting and Trapping Guide remains the authoritative source for season dates, county-specific restrictions, and any regulation changes that take effect each August.