Coyote Hunting Laws in Alaska: Seasons, Licenses, and Unit-by-Unit Rules

Alaska gives coyote hunters more freedom than almost any other state in the Lower 48. Across most of the state’s Game Management Units (GMUs), there is no closed season and no bag limit — a setup that reflects the coyote’s status as a widespread, adaptable predator rather than a species requiring tight population controls.

That said, the rules are not uniform. Canis latrans, the coyote, is classified as a fur animal under Alaska law, and the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) sets season dates, bag limits, and methods of take that differ significantly depending on which GMU you’re hunting. Before you head out, you need to know which unit applies to you and what that unit allows.

This guide covers every major regulation category — from season dates and license requirements to night hunting, electronic calls, trapping, and landowner rules — based on the 2025–2026 Alaska Hunting Regulations published by ADF&G, effective July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026.

Is Coyote Hunting Legal in Alaska?

Yes, coyote hunting is fully legal in Alaska. You may take coyote under either hunting regulations or trapping regulations, but you must follow the seasons, bag limits, and methods and means permitted by those regulations. This dual-pathway system is one of Alaska’s more distinctive features: the same animal can be legally pursued with either a hunting license or a trapping license, provided you comply with the rules that apply to the license you hold.

If you trap a coyote, you are required to salvage its hide. There is no comparable meat-salvage requirement for coyotes taken under a hunting license, but you should confirm current requirements with your local ADF&G office before the season opens.

Important Note: Federal regulations may be more restrictive than state regulations on certain federal public lands in Alaska. If you plan to hunt on national parks, refuges, or other federal areas, verify federal rules separately before your hunt.

Coyotes are not listed as a threatened or protected species in Alaska, and ADF&G manages them as a harvestable fur animal. The state’s broad open-season structure in most units reflects that management philosophy. For a comparison with how other states approach this species, see coyote hunting laws in Texas and coyote hunting laws in Colorado.

Coyote Hunting Season Dates in Alaska

Season dates in Alaska are set by Game Management Unit, and the difference between units is significant. Some hunters enjoy year-round, unlimited hunting, while others face a defined season window and a two-coyote bag limit. Knowing your unit before you go is not optional — it is the foundation of legal hunting in Alaska.

Units 1–5, 18, and 22 carry a bag limit of two coyotes and a season running September 1 through April 30. Units 6–7, 9–17, 19–21, and 23–26 have no bag limit and no closed season. That means hunters in the majority of Alaska’s GMUs can pursue coyotes at any time of year with no cap on harvest.

The table below summarizes the two main season structures under the 2025–2026 regulations:

Game Management Units	Season Dates	Bag Limit
Units 1–5, 18, and 22	September 1 – April 30	Two coyotes
Units 6–7, 9–17, 19–21, and 23–26	No closed season	No limit

Unit 14C carries special area restrictions that affect small game hunting. If you plan to hunt in Unit 14C, check for special area restrictions before heading out. Additionally, in certain areas of Unit 15, wolf, coyote, and lynx may be taken under applicable hunting regulations from November 10 through March 31; however, there is no hunting allowed within one-quarter mile of boat launches or certain designated campgrounds.

Pro Tip: ADF&G publishes season summaries at hunt.alaska.gov. Always check for emergency orders before your trip — issued emergency orders can supersede the printed regulation booklet.

License and Permit Requirements for Coyote Hunting in Alaska

A hunting license is required to take coyotes in Alaska. In Alaska, a license is required to participate in hunting and trapping, and several different licenses are available for residents, non-residents, members of the military, resident disabled veterans, and resident seniors who are 60 years or older.

As of the 2025–2026 license year, resident hunters pay $45 for an annual hunting license, while nonresidents pay $160, and nonresident aliens pay $630. Alaska’s Combination Hunt/Fish/Trap license costs $105 for residents and bundles hunting, sport fishing, and trapping into a single purchase. Resident seniors age 60 and older pay $10 for hunting privileges.

There are several important exemptions and special categories to know:

• Resident minors under 18 do not need a hunting, sport fishing, or trapping license, unless they are proxying or guiding.
• Alaska residents who are 60 years of age or older and meet ADF&G’s residency definition are eligible for a permanent identification card to hunt, sport fish, or trap for free.
• The State of Alaska honors resident disabled veterans by providing a complimentary permanent identification card to those who meet ADF&G’s residency definition and who are certified 50% disabled or greater.
• Active-duty military members who are Alaska residents are eligible for a free annual hunting license.

Hunting licenses are valid from the date of purchase through December 31st of each calendar year. Coyotes do not require a big game locking tag — they are managed as fur animals, not big game, so no species-specific tag is needed beyond your base hunting license. No draw permit is required for coyotes in any unit.

Alaska is one of the very few states in the US that does not require hunter education to purchase a hunting license. Voluntary hunter education courses are available and recommended, but there is no mandatory certification. Bowhunter education is required for archery-only designated hunt areas in certain game management units.

To qualify for a resident license, you must have maintained a domicile in Alaska for the 12 consecutive months immediately before applying, be physically present in the state with the intent to remain indefinitely, and not be claiming residency in any other state, territory, or country.

Legal Methods and Weapons for Coyote Hunting in Alaska

Alaska’s methods-and-means regulations for coyotes are generally permissive, but there are specific firearm and equipment restrictions you need to follow — particularly around shotguns and lead shot in certain units.

You may take coyote under either hunting or trapping regulations, but you must follow the seasons, bag limits, and methods and means permitted by those regulations. In Unit 18, lead shot size T (.20″ diameter) or smaller is prohibited. Taking game under provisions of either a hunting or trapping license using a shotgun or using loose shot in a muzzleloading firearm is only allowed using nontoxic shot size T (.20″ diameter) or smaller, and hunters may not be in immediate possession of lead shot.

Rifles, shotguns (with appropriate shot in applicable units), and archery equipment are all standard legal methods for coyote hunting under a hunting license. Electronic calls and decoys are allowed for coyote hunting in Alaska. This makes Alaska one of the more straightforward states for predator hunters who rely on modern calling equipment.

One unit-specific rule applies to dogs: in Unit 20D, dogs may be used to hunt coyote after registering with the ADF&G office in Delta Junction. In all other units, hunting coyotes with dogs is not permitted under standard hunting regulations. The registration requirement in Unit 20D is a simple administrative step, but it must be completed before you hunt.

Important Note: The use of aircraft for same-day airborne hunting of coyotes is prohibited under standard hunting regulations. Under trapping regulations, you may shoot a coyote on the same day that you have flown in an airplane only if the coyote is caught in a trap or snare, or you are more than 300 feet from the aircraft.

For hunters in other states looking to compare legal methods, see coyote hunting laws in Arizona and coyote hunting laws in Washington for contrasting approaches.

Night Hunting and Electronic Call Rules in Alaska

Night hunting regulations in Alaska for coyotes are less explicitly defined than in many other states, but the rules around vision-enhancement technology are firm and clearly stated.

There are no specified hunting hours in Alaska’s regulations in relation to coyote hunting — meaning the state does not impose a sunrise-to-sunset restriction the way many states do. This effectively allows night hunting in units with no closed season, provided you comply with all other applicable regulations.

However, certain equipment is strictly off-limits regardless of time of day. All electronically-enhanced night vision devices, any forward-looking infrared device, and any device used to spot or locate game with the use of a camera or video device are strictly prohibited. This means traditional night-vision scopes that amplify ambient light electronically, thermal imaging devices, and camera-assisted spotting systems cannot legally be used to take or locate coyotes.

On the other hand, electronic calls and decoys are allowed. Standard electronic game callers — the kind that play recorded prey distress sounds or coyote vocalizations — are fully legal in Alaska. This is a meaningful distinction from states like New Jersey or New York, where electronic call rules are more restrictive.

If you plan to hunt at night, use a standard flashlight or non-electronic light source for illumination. Thermal and electronic night-vision equipment remains prohibited regardless of how it is marketed or described by manufacturers.

Trapping Coyotes in Alaska

Trapping is a fully legal and historically significant method for taking coyotes in Alaska. The state operates a separate trapping license and regulation system, and the season dates and bag limits under trapping regulations differ from those under hunting regulations for the same species.

Hunting regulations apply if coyotes are taken under a hunting license; the Alaska Trapping Regulations apply if they are taken under a trapping license. You cannot mix and match — the license you hold at the time of take determines which set of rules governs your hunt or trap line.

Under the 2025–2026 Alaska Trapping Regulations, coyote trapping seasons by unit include:

• Units 1–5: November 1 – April 30, no limit
• Units 12 and 20E: October 15 – April 30, no limit
• Units 19, 20 (except 20E), 21, 24, and 25: November 1 – March 31, no limit
• Units 26B and 26C: November 1 – April 15, no limit

If you trap a coyote, you are required to salvage its hide. This is a non-negotiable requirement under Alaska trapping law. Failure to salvage the hide constitutes a violation even if the take itself was otherwise legal.

Trapping licenses are an exception to the standard license validity rule — they are valid from the start date through September 30th of the following year, giving trappers a longer window than standard hunting licenses.

Traps and snares are the primary legal tools under trapping regulations. The same aircraft restriction noted above applies: you may shoot a coyote on the same day you have flown in an airplane only if the coyote is caught in a trap or snare, or you are more than 300 feet from the aircraft. For a look at how trapping regulations compare in another state, see coyote hunting laws in Minnesota.

Landowner Rights and Depredation Rules in Alaska

Alaska law gives landowners meaningful tools to address coyote depredation on livestock and property, though the specifics depend on whether you are dealing with state or private land and the nature of the damage occurring.

In the majority of Alaska’s GMUs, the open season and no-limit structure already provides significant flexibility for landowners. In Units 6–7, 9–17, 19–21, and 23–26, there is no closed season and no bag limit on coyotes, which means a landowner in those units can take coyotes at any time without additional depredation authorization, provided they hold a valid hunting or trapping license.

For units with a defined season (Units 1–5, 18, and 22), landowners experiencing active livestock depredation should contact their local ADF&G office. Alaska statute allows the emergency taking of game under specific circumstances, and ADF&G offices can advise on the appropriate legal pathway for out-of-season depredation situations.

Access to land is also a practical consideration in Alaska. Access and use of state land and water is protected under the state constitution. Parts of Alaska State Park lands are open to hunting, but laws about discharge and use of firearms vary by park. Most state refuge lands are open to hunting, though there may be local regulations or registration requirements depending on the area.

Pro Tip: Always confirm land ownership and access rules before setting traps or hunting on unfamiliar land in Alaska. The Bureau of Land Management and the Alaska Department of Natural Resources both maintain general land status information for public lands.

Hunters who want to compare how landowner and depredation rules work in other states can read about coyote hunting laws in Ohio, coyote hunting laws in Georgia, or coyote hunting laws in Indiana for additional context.

Alaska’s coyote regulations reward hunters who take the time to understand the GMU system. With most of the state offering year-round, unlimited hunting, Alaska is one of the most accessible destinations for predator hunters in North America. Review the current ADF&G regulations for your specific unit, confirm your license is valid, and check for any emergency orders before your trip — those three steps cover the bulk of what you need to hunt coyotes legally in the Last Frontier.