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An Official Vermont Government Website

Hunting Coyotes with the Aid of Dogs

This webpage provides highlights of Section 4.20 of 10 App. V.S.A. § 44. Furbearing species rule. 
Click here for a complete wording of the rule.

NOTE: This information pertains ONLY to hunting coyotes with the aid of dogs. If hunting coyotes without the aid of dogs, there is no closed hunting season and coyotes may be hunted at any time under natural light.

Season Dates Notes
Coyote Dog Training Season June 1 - September 15 A Coyote Dog Permit required. 
A nonresident may train dogs to pursue coyote only while the training season is in effect in the nonresident’s home state and subject to the requirements of Vermont’s rules.
 
Coyote Dog Hunting Season December 15 - March 31 A Coyote Dog Permit required. No coyote hunting with dogs is allowed until permits are received

 
Shooting hours: One half hour before sunrise until one half hour after sunset.

Licenses and Permitscoyote in a field

  • Any person hunting, pursuing, harvesting, or in any manner involved in the taking of a coyote with the aid of dogs must hold a valid Vermont Hunting License, and use only department registered dogs.
     
  • 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. 

Coyote Dog Permit applications are available for download here.

The deadline to apply is January 15, 2024

  • Lottery: If more than 100 permit applications are received the department will hold a lottery to randomly select 100 permits.
     
  • The permit must always be carried by the permittee while taking coyote with the aid of dogs, and exhibited to a game warden, landowner, or law enforcement officer upon demand.

Legal Methods

  • A person may harvest a coyote by utilizing a muzzleloader or gun fired at arm’s length, or bow and arrow, or crossbow.  
     
  • All arrows or crossbow bolts must have an arrowhead of at least 7/8 of an inch wide and at least two cutting sides. 

Dogs and Packs

  • A person shall not take coyote with the aid of dogs unless the person is in control of the dog(s). 
     
  • Control means that when transporting, loading, or unloading dogs from vehicle(s), and handling, catching, restraining, releasing, or following dogs at all times during training dogs and taking of coyote with the aid of dogs the permittee shall be able to locate and remotely recall the dogs. 
     
  • Collar(s) with GPS functions, track log capability, and training/control features in the collar(s) shall be required to always locate and track dogs. Collar(s) will also have a Department Registration Dog-Tag and a metal identification name plate with the person's name, address and telephone number attached.
     
  • A person taking a coyote with the aid of dogs shall maintain a GPS location log of each dog taking coyote and shall maintain the log for at least 30 days after the close of the season.  
     
  • Department Registered Dog is a dog bearing a numbered identification dog-tag (Department Registration Dog-Tag) approved or issued by the department, with the permit holder's coyote dog permit number and a number one to four. 
     
  • Pack of Dogs is one to four dogs. Removing and replacing one or more dogs to the original pack of dogs once the pursuit has begun is prohibited.

Reporting

  • A person taking coyotes with the aid of dogs shall within 48 hours after the close of season, report the taking of all coyotes during the season on a form provided with their coyote dog permit.

Download the Reporting Form

Hunting on Private Land

  • A person hunting coyotes with dogs shall not release the dogs on land posted in accordance with Title 10 V.S.A. § 5201, without the written permission of the landowner.  
     
  • 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 in accordance with Title 10 V.S.A. § 5201.  

See also: