Coyote Hunting Laws in Vermont: Seasons, Licenses, and Rules Explained
July 7, 2026
Vermont is one of the more permissive states in the Northeast when it comes to coyote hunting. There is no closed hunting season on coyote, and coyotes may be hunted at any time under natural light. That open-season framework gives you flexibility year-round, but it comes paired with a set of specific rules around weapons, night hunting, dog use, and trapping that you need to understand before stepping into the field.
Vermont’s mix of hardwood forests, rolling hills, and agricultural valleys supports a healthy population of eastern coyotes. These predators are a growing part of the state’s ecosystem, often overlapping with deer, turkey, and small game territories. Whether you’re calling from a ridge in the Northeast Kingdom or still-hunting through southern Vermont farmland, this guide walks you through every regulation that applies to you.
Important Note: Vermont’s coyote hunting rules — especially those covering dog use and trapping — have been actively revised since 2022 and are subject to ongoing legal proceedings. Always verify the current season dates and permit requirements at vtfishandwildlife.com before you hunt.
Is Coyote Hunting Legal in Vermont?
Yes, coyote hunting is legal in Vermont. Legal game species you can hunt in Vermont include coyote alongside white-tailed deer, black bear, wild turkey, moose (by limited permit only), bobcat, snowshoe hare, ruffed grouse, and various waterfowl. The eastern coyote (Canis latrans × Canis lupus lycaon hybrid) is classified as a furbearer under Vermont law, which means it falls under the jurisdiction of the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department and the Fish and Wildlife Board.
Coyote hunting operates with no closed season and no bag limit, providing year-round opportunities. This reflects coyotes’ abundant population and their impact on other wildlife. However, “legal” does not mean unrestricted. Vermont law places firm boundaries on lighting, dog use, trapping methods, and competitions — all of which are covered in the sections below.
One restriction worth knowing upfront: it is illegal to participate in a coyote hunting competition for a prize. The fine for a first offense is $400 to $1,000 and ten points on a hunter’s license, and a second offense carries a $2,000 to $4,000 fine and twenty points. Vermont is one of a relatively small number of states that has formally banned coyote killing contests by statute.
Coyote Hunting Season Dates in Vermont
For standard hunting without dogs, there are no season date restrictions at all. This applies only to hunting coyotes without the aid of dogs — there is no closed hunting season, and coyotes may be hunted at any time under natural light. You can pursue coyotes in January, July, or any month in between.
If you plan to use dogs, a completely separate and more restrictive set of season dates applies. The Coyote Dog Training Season runs from June 1 through September 15, all dates inclusive, for both resident and nonresident permit holders. The Coyote Dog Hunting Season runs from December 15 through March 31, all dates inclusive.
Shooting hours for dog-assisted coyote hunting are one half hour before sunrise until one half hour after sunset. Outside of those hours, you may not take a coyote while dogs are deployed, even if the dogs were already in pursuit.
Pro Tip: The trapping season for coyote runs concurrently with several other furbearers. The trapping season for mink, skunk, fox, raccoon, coyote, opossum, and weasel runs October 25 through December 31. Plan your fall schedule accordingly if you intend to combine hunting and trapping.
License and Permit Requirements for Coyote Hunting in Vermont
A valid Vermont hunting license is required to hunt coyotes. Any person hunting, trapping, or taking any wild animals must have a hunting license in Vermont. There is no separate coyote-specific hunting license for standard (non-dog) hunting — your general small game or hunting license covers you.
All first-time hunters in Vermont must pass a hunter education course before getting a hunting license, unless they can show proof of a hunter education card or license from another state. Hunters under the age of 18 must take the online course and then complete an in-person class to fulfill the hunter education requirements. If you already hold a valid license from a previous year, you do not need to retake the course.
Dog hunting adds a significant additional permit layer. Any person training, hunting, pursuing, harvesting, or in any manner involved in the taking of a coyote with the aid of dogs must apply for and hold a valid Coyote Dog Permit issued by the department, or accompany a Coyote Dog Permit holder. If more than 100 permit applications are received, the department will hold a lottery to randomly select 100 permits.
Nonresident hunters face an additional cap on dog permits. In any given year, the number of permits available to non-resident hunters shall not exceed ten percent of the total number of permits issued to resident hunters the previous year. This means nonresident access to the dog hunting program is tightly limited and not guaranteed even with a timely application.
| Hunting Method | License Required | Additional Permit | Bag Limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard hunting (no dogs) | Vermont hunting license | None | No limit |
| Hunting with dogs | Vermont hunting license | Coyote Dog Permit (max 100 issued) | No limit |
| Trapping | Vermont trapper’s license | None (education or prior license required) | No limit |
Legal Methods and Weapons for Coyote Hunting in Vermont
Vermont does not restrict the caliber or type of firearm you use for standard coyote hunting without dogs. Rifles in .223 or .22-250 work well for longer shots, and in tighter terrain, shotguns loaded with buckshot offer close-range versatility. Suppressors are also permitted — a person in the act of taking game may use, possess, and carry a gun suppressor according to criminal and fish and game law.
Archery equipment is legal but comes with specific arrowhead requirements. No person shall take coyote with or without the aid of dogs with a bow and arrow or crossbow if the arrow or bolt has an arrowhead that measures less than seven-eighths of an inch at its widest point or that has less than two sharp cutting edges.
When hunting coyotes with the aid of dogs, the method of take is more restricted. A person may harvest a coyote by utilizing a muzzleloader or gun fired at arm’s length, or bow and arrow, or crossbow. High-powered rifles are not listed as a legal take method in the dog-hunting context, so confirm the current rule language with the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department before combining rifle use with a dog permit.
Vermont also has a wanton waste rule that applies broadly to game animals, though coyotes receive a specific exemption. The covered wild animal must be processed as food, fur, hide, or feathers, or used for taxidermy. Coyotes that are taken by lawful means other than trapping and are retrieved and disposed of legally are excepted from these required uses. You are still required to retrieve the animal — a coyote or its parts may not be left along a public right-of-way or highway, on posted property without landowner permission, or where otherwise prohibited by law.
Night Hunting and Electronic Call Rules in Vermont
Night hunting for coyotes is permitted in Vermont, but the rules around artificial light are strict. Artificial lights and sighting devices that project a beam of any kind of light are prohibited when shooting at a coyote. This means standard spotlights, gun-mounted lights, and laser sights are off the table.
The question of thermal and night-vision optics sits in a grayer area. For night hunting, thermal or infrared optics are allowed, provided you follow all lighting regulations. Because the law specifically bans devices that “project a beam of light,” passive thermal imaging — which detects heat signatures without emitting any beam — is generally understood to be permitted. Before using any night-vision or infrared optic that includes an IR illuminator, contact a Vermont game warden directly for clarification.
Electronic calls are widely used by coyote hunters across the country, and Vermont does not specifically prohibit their use for coyote hunting. Coyote hunting in Vermont blends old-school woodsmanship with modern predator tactics. With open season regulations, plentiful access, and a growing coyote population, hunters have the chance to hone their skills year-round. Electronic predator calls are a common and accepted tool in that toolkit, distinct from the electronic call restrictions that apply to some migratory bird species. Always confirm there are no updated restrictions at eRegulations Vermont before your hunt.
Pro Tip: Coyotes’ breeding season typically occurs between January and March. During this time, coyotes are more active and vocal, making them easier to locate and call in. Night calling sessions during the late winter breeding season can be especially productive.
Trapping Coyotes in Vermont
Coyotes are a legal furbearer species for trapping in Vermont. Legal furbearer species include beaver, bobcat, coyote, fisher, grey fox, red fox, mink, muskrat, opossum, otter, raccoon, skunk, and weasel. To trap any of these species, you must hold a valid Vermont trapper’s license. A person trapping in Vermont on property not owned by the trapper must have a valid Vermont trapper’s license, and a person trapping for compensation must also have a valid Vermont trapper’s license.
Vermont’s trapping rules were revised as part of Act 159 (S.201), which directed the Fish and Wildlife Department to adopt updated best management practices. Furbearer hunting and trapping regulations changed in 2024. Key operational requirements include strict trap-check schedules and placement setbacks:
- Land sets must be checked once every calendar day.
- Body-gripping traps in water or under ice must be checked at least once every 3 calendar days. Colony/cage traps underwater or foothold traps under ice must also be checked at least once every 3 days.
- All traps must be tagged with the trapper’s name and address.
- Traps must be set at least 50 feet from the traveled portion of a legal, public trail or public highway.
- Traps must be set at least 100 feet from public buildings, parking lots, shelters, pavilions, schools, camps, or campgrounds, designated wildlife viewing areas, or recreational facilities.
Reporting requirements also apply. Anyone who holds a valid trapper’s license must submit an annual trapper’s report, including those who did not trap and those who trapped for compensation. Failure to submit a report will result in a non-point violation. If you catch a non-target animal, any domestic dog or cat caught must be reported to a warden within 24 hours of discovery.
If you are considering trapping on private land, note that landowner permission is required prior to setting traps on private land. This is a firm legal requirement, not merely a courtesy suggestion. For more on how trapping intersects with the broader furbearer rule framework, the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department’s BMP update page provides the full regulatory history.
Landowner Rights and Depredation Rules in Vermont
Vermont’s land access rules for hunting are more permissive than most states, but they come with important nuances for coyote hunters — especially those using dogs. All private land in Vermont is open to hunters unless the landowner posts against hunting. That means you do not need to seek written permission to hunt coyotes on unposted private land, though getting permission is always recommended as a matter of courtesy.
Posted land is a different matter. Hunting, fishing, or trapping on properly posted land is illegal without written permission. This includes land posted for hunting, fishing, or trapping by permission only. To be properly posted, the landowner must file with the town clerk and the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department.
Dog hunters face stricter obligations than standard hunters. A person shall not release a dog onto land posted in accordance with section 5201 for the purpose of pursuing coyote with the aid of dogs unless the dog owner or handler has obtained a courtesy permission card from the landowner or landowner’s agent allowing the pursuit of coyote with the aid of dogs on the land. Even on unposted land, a person hunting coyotes with the aid of dogs is encouraged to seek landowner permission before releasing dogs or entering land that is not posted.
Landowners dealing with coyote depredation on livestock have broader authority to act. Vermont law generally allows landowners to protect their property from wildlife causing damage, though specific depredation permits or authorizations from the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department may be required depending on the circumstances. Contact the department directly if coyotes are actively preying on livestock or poultry to understand your options under current statute.
Vermont also participates in the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact. The Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact (IWVC) ensures that in participating states, nonresident violators will receive the same treatment as resident violators. IWVC member states reciprocate in the suspension or revocation of licenses and permits resulting from violations of hunting, fishing, or trapping laws. A violation in Vermont can follow you home.
Pro Tip: Understanding coyote behavior, such as their tendency to circle downwind, is important for effective hunting. Many landowners welcome predator control efforts, especially during calving or lambing seasons. Introducing yourself to farmers in your hunting area can open access to productive private land.
Coyote hunting in Vermont rewards hunters who understand both the permissive open-season framework and the specific rules that govern how, when, and where you can hunt. If you hunt other states in the region, the rules can vary significantly — see our guides on coyote hunting laws in New York, coyote hunting laws in Pennsylvania, and coyote hunting laws in New Jersey for direct comparisons. For states further afield, our pages on coyote hunting laws in Virginia, coyote hunting laws in Michigan, and coyote hunting laws in Ohio cover the rules in detail. Always check the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department’s official regulations page for the most current season dates and permit requirements before you go.