Coyote Hunting Laws in North Dakota: Season Dates, Licenses, and Rules

North Dakota is one of the most hunter-friendly states in the country when it comes to coyotes. The prairie landscape, open terrain, and minimal restrictions make it a top destination for predator hunters from across the region. Whether you plan to call them in at first light, run a spotlight during a winter night hunt, or set traps on a rancher’s pasture, the state gives you more access and fewer barriers than almost anywhere else.

That said, “fewer restrictions” does not mean “no restrictions.” Specific rules govern when and how you can hunt, what equipment you can use, and what licenses you need — and those rules shift depending on whether you are a resident or non-resident, whether you are hunting by day or night, and whether you are using firearms or traps. This guide walks through every major regulation category so you can head into the field with confidence.

Pro Tip: Always verify current regulations directly with the North Dakota Game and Fish Department before each season, as proclamation details can change year to year.

Is Coyote Hunting Legal in North Dakota?

Yes, coyote hunting is fully legal in North Dakota. Coyotes are classified as predators and can be hunted year-round, along with red fox, gray fox, badgers, and prairie dogs. There is no closed season that prevents you from pursuing them at any point during the calendar year, which puts North Dakota in a category of states that offer some of the most open access for predator hunters.

Coyotes are found across the entire state, from agricultural fields and grasslands to badlands and river breaks. With generous seasons and no daily or possession limits, it is a predator hunter’s paradise. The North Dakota Game and Fish Department (NDGF) manages coyote hunting as part of its furbearer program, and the species is not listed as threatened or protected in any way.

Whether you can shoot a coyote in your backyard depends on several factors. Coyotes are classified as predators and can be hunted year-round, but you must still follow local firearm laws, hunting regulations, and safety rules for shooting near buildings or within city limits. Always check municipal ordinances before discharging a firearm in or near a populated area. For a broader look at hunting laws in North Dakota, the state’s general regulations cover a wide range of species and methods.

Coyote Hunting Season Dates in North Dakota

North Dakota structures coyote hunting into two distinct seasons — a day hunting season and a night hunting season — each with different rules on timing and equipment. Understanding the difference matters because the method you plan to use determines which season applies to you.

During the day hunting season, coyotes may be taken with firearms, pre-charged pneumatic air guns, archery equipment (including crossbows), and pursued with dogs statewide and year-round. Hunting hours run from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset each day. The season officially closes March 31 and reopens April 1.

Red fox, gray fox, and coyote may be hunted at any hour from November 24 through May 31. Any hunter who engages in the hunting of red fox, gray fox, or coyote during the time from a half-hour after sunset to a half-hour before sunrise must hunt exclusively on foot. This foot-only requirement during nighttime hours is one of the most important rules to know before heading out after dark.

Key Insight: The 2025 regulations extended night hunting for fox and coyote through May 31 — a notable change from prior seasons. The river otter harvest quota increased to 30, and night hunting for fox and coyote was extended through May 31.

For reference, here is how the two seasons compare:

Season Type	Dates	Allowed Hours	Equipment
Day Hunting	Year-round (closes Mar 31, reopens Apr 1)	30 min before sunrise to 30 min after sunset	Firearms, air guns, archery, dogs
Night Hunting	Nov 24 – May 31	Any hour (foot travel only after sunset)	Firearms, air guns (archery after archery deer season closes)

If you also hunt other species in the state, check out the guides on pheasant hunting season in North Dakota and deer hunting season in North Dakota to avoid any scheduling or equipment conflicts.

License and Permit Requirements for Coyote Hunting in North Dakota

License requirements differ between residents and non-residents, and there is one important exemption that applies to landowners hunting their own property. Getting this right before you purchase anything saves time and money.

Except for residents under 16 years of age, a furbearer license is required to hunt or trap furbearers. Nonresidents may not take furbearers, except they may hunt fox and coyote if they possess a furbearer and nongame license. This means non-residents are specifically permitted to pursue coyotes — they just need the correct combination of licenses before heading afield.

Hunters and trappers are required to purchase licenses, except any resident or member of their family permanently residing with them may hunt small game, trap, or use cable devices during the open season without a license upon land owned or leased by them — but otherwise is governed by seasons, limits, and all other regulations. This landowner exemption is a meaningful benefit for farming and ranching families dealing with coyote pressure on their property.

• Residents (general): Furbearer license required (residents under 16 are exempt)
• Residents on own land: No license required, but all seasons and rules still apply
• Non-residents: Furbearer and nongame license required to hunt fox and coyote
• Non-residents (trapping): Must hold a nonresident reciprocal trapping license; nonresidents with this license may not take bobcats, mountain lions, river otters, or fishers

Hunters born after December 31, 1961 must complete a certified state or provincial hunter education course to purchase a North Dakota hunting license. Exceptions include persons who hunt only on land they own or operate, and youth under age 12 with appropriate licenses accompanied by a parent or guardian.

There is no minimum age for hunting furbearers, but anyone under age 15 afield with firearms must be under direct supervision — meaning they must be able to have unaided verbal contact — with a parent, guardian, or adult authorized by their parent or guardian. You can purchase licenses through the NDGF online licensing portal.

Legal Methods and Weapons for Coyote Hunting in North Dakota

North Dakota gives hunters a broad range of legal tools for taking coyotes during the day hunting season. Coyotes may be taken with firearms, pre-charged pneumatic air guns, archery equipment (including crossbows), and pursued with dogs statewide and year-round. That flexibility means you can adapt your setup to the terrain and conditions you are hunting.

Centerfire rifles, shotguns, and even archery equipment can all be used for coyote hunting in North Dakota. Most hunters use flat-shooting rifles in open country, though shotguns are effective when calling in thicker brush or near cover. The wide-open prairie and agricultural fields of North Dakota tend to reward longer-range setups, making flat-shooting centerfire cartridges popular for most situations.

Suppressors are legal with proper federal licensing. North Dakota state law explicitly permits suppressors and short-barreled rifles for hunting purposes, so if you have the appropriate federal paperwork (a National Firearms Act tax stamp), you can use a suppressor in the field. There are no ammunition restrictions specific to coyote hunting.

Dogs are also a legal and traditional method. Badger, coyote, and fox (red and gray) may be hunted statewide using legal firearms, archery equipment (including crossbows) or pursued with dogs during regular hunting hours.

Important Note: Aircraft may not be used to take coyote, fox, or other furbearers without a special permit. Hunting from a vehicle or snowmobile is also prohibited in certain circumstances — it is not allowed to use snowmobiles and hunt from aircraft without a permit.

For comparison, see how weapon rules differ in neighboring states: coyote hunting laws in Michigan and coyote hunting laws in Pennsylvania each have their own equipment restrictions worth reviewing.

Night Hunting and Electronic Call Rules in North Dakota

Night hunting for coyotes is one of the most exciting aspects of predator hunting in North Dakota, and the state has specific rules that govern how it works. Getting these details right is especially important because violations during nighttime hunting carry real legal consequences.

During the night hunting season, coyotes may be taken with firearms and pre-charged pneumatic air guns at any hour from November 25 through March 15. Beginning January 6, hunters can also use archery equipment (including crossbows) for night hunting of coyotes. Any person who engages in the hunting of coyotes from 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise must hunt exclusively on foot.

Coyotes may be hunted on foot with the use of an artificial light, night vision, thermal vision, or infrared light with a power source of not more than 6 volts. The artificial light must produce a red, green, or amber color. White lights are not permitted for night hunting, so make sure your setup uses a compliant color filter.

Hunters can use night vision, artificial light, thermal vision, and infrared light equipment during the night hunting season. Hunters are prohibited from using archery equipment (including crossbows) for night hunting until after the close of the archery deer season. If you plan to use a bow after dark during the early part of the night season, confirm that the archery deer season has officially closed first.

Electronic calls are fully legal for coyote hunting in North Dakota. Electronic calls are legal for coyote, fox, and other furbearer species during their respective seasons. Electronic calls and decoys are also legal. The one important exception involves migratory birds — using an electronic or recorded call while hunting migratory game birds is against the law — so keep that in mind if you are in the field during waterfowl season. For more on those rules, see the guide on duck hunting laws in North Dakota.

Electronic calls that mimic distress sounds, coyote vocals, or prey animals are popular and effective in North Dakota’s open terrain. The use of electronic calls and motion decoys can enhance the chances of successful hunts by drawing animals closer to hunters.

Trapping Coyotes in North Dakota

Trapping is a legal and widely practiced method for managing coyote populations in North Dakota. The state allows both foothold traps and cable devices (snares), though each has its own season window and placement rules.

Red fox, gray fox, coyote, and badger may be taken with traps statewide and year-round. The season will officially close March 31 and reopen April 1 of each year. Cable devices (snares) may only be used statewide from November 24, 2025 through March 15, 2026. This means foothold traps are available year-round, while snares are restricted to the winter window.

Trapping furbearers is allowed on state wildlife management areas, federal waterfowl production areas, U.S. Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers lands during the open seasons, unless otherwise posted. Trapping is only allowed on Private Lands Open to Sportsmen tracts with written permission from the landowner. Trapping is only allowed on school trust lands with written permission from the commissioner.

Trap tags are only required on cable devices (snares), not cage/box, foothold, body-gripping, or colony traps. That said, it is best practice to mark all your equipment so it can be identified in the field. The NDGF and the North Dakota Fur Takers Association recommend that all traps be visually inspected and all captured animals be removed at no greater than 48-hour intervals, and that rubber gloves be worn for skinning and handling of all furbearers.

One firm restriction applies to bait placement: it is illegal to place traps or cable devices (snares) within twenty-five feet of any sight-exposed bait. Keep this setback in mind if you plan to use any attractant near your trap location.

Pro Tip: The North Dakota Department of Agriculture publishes a Coyote Catalog that connects hunters and trappers with landowners who want predator control on their property. A pilot program called the HuntLink App is also available and can be used in place of or in addition to the Coyote Catalog.

Landowner Rights and Depredation Rules in North Dakota

North Dakota gives landowners and tenants meaningful authority to deal with coyotes that are actively threatening their livestock, poultry, or crops — and that authority goes beyond what a standard hunting license permits.

A landowner or tenant or that person’s agent may catch or kill any wild fur-bearing animal that is committing depredations upon that person’s poultry, domestic animals, or crops, except a landowner or tenant or that person’s agent shall notify and obtain the approval of the director before catching or killing a black bear. Because coyotes are not black bears, this means landowners can act against depredating coyotes without prior agency approval.

According to North Dakota Conservation Biologist Greg Schonert, “The coyote season in North Dakota is year-round. There are some restrictions, but when it comes to cattle, specifically livestock, they can shoot them basically 24/7. They can trap them during the trapping season. So for coyotes, there’s not a lot of rules or regulations. Without getting too far into the weeds, they’re basically an open target.”

There is one important limitation on what you can do with a coyote taken under depredation authority: a landowner or tenant or that person’s agent may not commercialize in, sell, or ship an animal or the pelt or any part of an animal caught or killed under this section if caught or killed during the closed season. In practical terms, if you take a coyote outside of the standard open season under depredation rules, you cannot sell the pelt.

For hunters (not landowners) seeking access to private land, North Dakota has a unique default rule. North Dakota’s unique system allows hunting on unposted private land unless otherwise stated. However, it is always best to contact landowners for permission, especially if planning to return to a property regularly. Many landowners appreciate predator control and may welcome responsible hunters who reach out ahead of time. Always close gates, respect property, and leave no trace to maintain good relationships.

Landowners experiencing coyote depredation of livestock should first contact the U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services for professional assistance and coordination. The NDGF Depredation Assistance page also provides technical guidance on management techniques for reducing conflicts. The Department does not make payments for damages caused by any wildlife, but with some advanced planning, private landowners can prevent or minimize depredation to their stored livestock feed supplies.

If you hunt coyotes in other states as well, it is worth comparing the rules side by side. The regulations in Missouri, Virginia, and North Carolina each take a different approach to depredation and night hunting, so reviewing those before a multi-state trip will keep you compliant.

Key Takeaways for Coyote Hunters in North Dakota

North Dakota offers some of the most accessible coyote hunting in the country. The season is effectively year-round, there is no bag limit, and both residents and non-residents can participate with the right licenses in hand. The most important rules to internalize are the foot-travel requirement during nighttime hours, the artificial light color restrictions, and the difference between what foothold traps and snares are permitted to do during different parts of the year.

Residents hunting their own land have the fewest barriers — no license required, though all seasons and safety rules still apply. Non-residents need a furbearer and nongame license combination. Landowners dealing with active livestock depredation have broad authority to act, and the state’s Coyote Catalog and HuntLink App make it easier to connect with ranchers who want help managing predator pressure on their property.

Before every season, pull the current proclamation from the NDGF Small Game and Furbearer Regulations page to confirm that dates and equipment rules have not changed. You may also want to review turkey hunting season in North Dakota and dove hunting season in North Dakota if you plan to combine species during the same trip, as those seasons overlap with prime coyote calling conditions in the fall.