Coyote Hunting Laws in West Virginia: Season, Licenses, and Rules Explained
July 30, 2026
West Virginia is one of the most permissive states in the country when it comes to coyote hunting. Coyotes may be hunted year-round in the Mountain State, and there is no daily, annual, or season bag limit. That open framework attracts both resident hunters and out-of-state predator callers looking for consistent action across four seasons.
That said, “year-round with no bag limit” does not mean “no rules.” West Virginia imposes specific restrictions on night hunting windows, location, weapons, and trapping that every hunter needs to know before heading afield. This guide breaks down the coyote hunting laws in West Virginia based on the 2025–2026 Hunting and Trapping Regulations Summary published by the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR). Always confirm the latest rules directly with the WVDNR before each season.
Is Coyote Hunting Legal in West Virginia?
Yes, coyote hunting is fully legal in West Virginia. Coyotes are among the species — alongside skunks, opossums, woodchucks, weasels, pigeons, English sparrows, and European starlings — that can be hunted year-round in the state. The eastern coyote (Canis latrans × Canis lupus lycaon hybrid) has established a strong presence across West Virginia’s mountainous terrain, farmland corridors, and reclaimed mine land, making it one of the most accessible predator hunting opportunities in the Mid-Atlantic region.
The WVDNR allows coyote hunting on private land with few restrictions, making it an attractive option for hunters. To pursue coyotes, you must carry a valid West Virginia hunting and trapping license — even though coyotes can be hunted year-round. Coyotes are classified as a furbearer and small game species under state law, so the standard small game license framework applies.
One important boundary to understand: during closed small game seasons, coyotes may only be hunted in open fields. This prevents hunters from using coyote season as a workaround to walk wooded areas during periods when other game seasons are closed. For a broader look at how coyote rules fit into the state’s overall framework, see the guide on hunting laws in West Virginia.
Coyote Hunting Season Dates in West Virginia
According to the WVDNR’s official 2025–2026 Hunting and Trapping Regulations Summary, coyote hunting is open year-round with no closed season and no bag limit. This is one of the broadest hunting windows of any species in the state and reflects the WVDNR’s position that coyotes require active population management.
While the hunting season itself has no start or end date, there are time-of-day and location restrictions tied to specific calendar windows. Coyote hunting with any color artificial light or night vision technology — including image intensification, thermal imaging, or active illumination — is permitted from January 1 through December 31. However, from September 1 through December 31, coyote hunting is only permitted on private land with the written consent of the private landowner.
Key Insight: The year-round season does not mean unrestricted access everywhere. From September 1 to December 31, night hunting shifts exclusively to private property with written landowner permission. From January 1 through August 31, public land night hunting is permitted under applicable rules.
Hunters pursuing coyotes during other open small game seasons should also note the open-field restriction. During closed small game seasons, hunting is restricted to open fields. Plan your setups accordingly — wooded draws and timber edges are off-limits as stand locations when small game seasons are closed. For comparison with a neighboring state’s approach, the coyote hunting laws in Virginia article covers how rules differ just across the border.
License and Permit Requirements for Coyote Hunting in West Virginia
Even for animals that are always in season, hunters are required to have a valid West Virginia hunting and trapping license. No separate coyote-specific stamp or permit is required on top of that base license, which keeps the entry cost relatively low compared to big game pursuits.
All West Virginia residents age 15 or older must have a resident base or combination hunting license and the Conservation Stamp. All nonresidents — except those who hold a West Virginia lifetime license — are required to possess a nonresident license, regardless of age. Licenses can be purchased online at WVhunt.com or through any authorized license agent.
| Hunter Type | License Required | Additional Stamps |
|---|---|---|
| WV Resident (age 15+) | Resident base or combination hunting license + Conservation Stamp | None for coyotes |
| Nonresident | Nonresident hunting license | None for coyotes |
| WV Lifetime License Holder | Lifetime license covers coyote hunting | None for coyotes |
One notable recent change: the Small Arms Hunting Stamp (Class A1) for handgun hunting has been eliminated as of the 2025–2026 season. If you previously needed that stamp to carry a handgun afield, you no longer do. This simplifies the license stack for hunters who use a sidearm as a backup or primary coyote weapon. For more detail on how West Virginia’s license system works across all species, review the West Virginia hunting laws guide.
Legal Methods and Weapons for Coyote Hunting in West Virginia
West Virginia permits a wide range of weapons for coyote hunting. Hunters can use electronic calls and devices simulating animal calls to attract coyotes, and firearms such as shotguns, rifles, and handguns are all permitted. There is no minimum caliber restriction for daytime hunting, giving you broad flexibility in your rifle selection.
For air rifles, there is one specific rule to follow: air rifles used for coyote hunting must be at least .22 caliber. Sub-.22 air guns are not legal for taking coyotes under state regulations.
- Rifles: Any caliber permitted for daytime hunting; no maximum caliber restriction for night hunting (as of the 2025–2026 season)
- Shotguns: Legal for coyote hunting with no gauge restriction
- Handguns: Legal; no Small Arms Hunting Stamp required as of 2025–2026
- Air rifles: Legal at .22 caliber or larger
- Archery equipment: Legal during appropriate archery windows
A major regulatory change took effect for the 2025–2026 season regarding night hunting calibers. The West Virginia Legislature’s 2025 regular session approved the removal of maximum caliber restrictions for night coyote hunting. Previously, hunters using artificial light or night vision at night faced a caliber ceiling; that restriction no longer exists. The WVDNR does remind hunters to always hunt safely and be aware of their target’s location and what lies beyond — a reminder that carries extra weight when shooting in low-light conditions with larger-caliber rifles.
Regarding prohibited technology: night vision technology and thermal imaging devices are not allowed for hunting most species, and laser sights are also prohibited on hunting weapons. However, coyotes are a named exception — night vision and thermal imaging are explicitly permitted for coyote hunting under West Virginia Code. Electronic calls and decoys are also legal, as covered in the next section. For context on how archery-specific rules interact with coyote hunting, the bow hunting laws in Virginia article provides useful regional comparison.
Night Hunting and Electronic Call Rules in West Virginia
Night hunting for coyotes is one of West Virginia’s most actively regulated areas, and understanding the seasonal split is essential before you set up after dark. Hunting coyotes at night using any color artificial light or night vision technology — including image intensification, thermal imaging, or active illumination — is permitted from January 1 through December 31. That is a calendar-year authorization, but it comes with a critical location restriction tied to a specific window.
From September 1 through December 31, hunting coyotes at night is only permitted on private property with the written consent of the landowner. Outside that window — January 1 through August 31 — night hunting is also permitted on public land where hunting is otherwise allowed, subject to any site-specific rules. Always check local regulations for night hunting restrictions on public ground before setting up on Wildlife Management Areas or national forest land.
Pro Tip: Get landowner permission in writing before any September–December night hunt. A verbal agreement does not satisfy the legal requirement, and hunting without written consent during this window is a violation regardless of your license status.
Under West Virginia Code §20-2-5, it is lawful to hunt or take coyote, fox, raccoon, opossum, or skunk by the use of artificial light or night vision technology, including image intensification, thermal imaging, or active illumination. This statutory carve-out is what makes West Virginia’s coyote night hunting framework among the most permissive in the eastern United States.
On electronic calls: electronic calls are legal for coyote hunting in West Virginia, with no restrictions on the type of sound file or call device used. Decoys are also permitted. Most electronic calls available come with an electronic decoy that can be attached directly to the caller and controlled with a remote — a setup that adds realism by placing the sound source and visual stimulus at the same location. There are no restrictions on the number of electronic call units you can run simultaneously.
Hunters pursuing other species in West Virginia should be aware that the night vision and thermal imaging exemption is species-specific. If you are also targeting deer or turkey on the same property, those species cannot be taken using night vision or thermal equipment. See the deer hunting season in West Virginia guide for how those rules interact with your coyote setup.
Trapping Coyotes in West Virginia
Trapping coyotes operates under a separate seasonal framework from hunting. According to the WVDNR’s 2025–2026 Hunting and Trapping Regulations Summary, the trapping season for skunk, opossum, coyote, and weasel runs from November 1 through February 28. This is a considerably narrower window than the year-round hunting season, so trappers need to plan accordingly.
West Virginia has an annual regulated trapping season where coyotes can be harvested, along with a continuous open hunting season on coyotes. The two methods are not interchangeable — trapping outside the November 1–February 28 window is not permitted even though hunting remains open year-round.
| Method | Season | Bag Limit | License Required |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hunting | Year-round | None | Hunting license |
| Trapping | November 1 – February 28 | None | Hunting and trapping license |
A valid hunting and trapping license is required for all trapping activity in West Virginia. Trappers must also comply with WVDNR trap-check requirements and any tagging rules that apply to furbearer traps. The WVDNR provides regulations and guidelines for hunting and trapping coyotes, including the trapping season from November 1 to February 28. If you plan to sell raw coyote pelts, you must hold the appropriate fur dealer license under West Virginia Code — buying raw furs without that license is unlawful. For additional context on how trapping fits into West Virginia’s broader animal laws, the roadkill laws in West Virginia article covers related possession and handling rules.
Landowner Rights and Depredation Rules in West Virginia
West Virginia gives landowners meaningful authority to protect livestock and property from coyote depredation, and the combination of year-round hunting with flexible night hunting rules makes the state’s framework particularly useful for agricultural producers. Coyote management is important in West Virginia, as coyotes can cause significant damage to livestock and native wildlife.
Because coyotes have no closed hunting season, a landowner or tenant does not need a depredation permit to address coyote problems through hunting — the open season already covers that. Under West Virginia law, it is lawful for a bona fide resident landowner, any member of that landowner’s family, and any bona fide tenant of that landowner, to carry an uncased gun at any time in their regular pursuits of caring for and looking after the landowner’s livestock. This provision gives working farm families broad authority to respond to coyote threats without navigating a permit process.
Important Note: The landowner carve-out for carrying an uncased firearm applies to livestock protection activities. Hunters who are neither the landowner nor a family member or tenant still need standard hunting licenses and must follow all applicable season and location rules, including written permission for September–December night hunts.
Hunters must obtain written permission from landowners before hunting on private property in West Virginia. This requirement protects landowners’ rights and ensures hunters have legal access to the land. It is unlawful for any person to shoot, hunt, fish, or trap upon the fenced, enclosed, or posted lands of another person without written permission in their possession from the owner, tenant, or agent of the owner.
For livestock producers dealing with active depredation, WVU Extension and USDA APHIS Wildlife Services both offer technical assistance. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service leads the livestock protection program in West Virginia and can provide technical or operational assistance to landowners. Much of the coyote’s livestock depredation occurs from late spring through September when coyotes are raising pups. By changing the season of lambing or calving, many producers have been able to reduce loss to coyotes. Moving animals out of remote pastures and into barns or paddocks during that period may also be effective.
West Virginia law prohibits hunting within 25 yards of any building used for human occupancy without the owner’s permission. This rule applies to all types of firearms and archery equipment. Keep that buffer in mind when setting up calling stations near farm structures, even on your own property. For additional background on how West Virginia regulates animals and property rights, the dog bite laws in West Virginia and leash laws in West Virginia articles cover related liability topics that landowners often encounter alongside predator management questions.
Hunters looking to expand their predator hunting across state lines can review how neighboring states handle similar rules: the coyote hunting laws in Pennsylvania, coyote hunting laws in Missouri, and coyote hunting laws in Michigan guides provide direct comparisons. For West Virginia-specific season planning beyond coyotes, the turkey hunting season in West Virginia and duck hunting laws in West Virginia articles round out the state’s predator and small game picture.