Shooting Coyotes

[Glock30]

This may not be the right place to post, but it seems the most logical.

I live in a small town in a somewhat rural part of the state. When I went to town for dinner the other night, I spotted a large coyote roaming the streets in town, eventually running through a field between two city streets. I saw a small pack of 4 coyotes running down the road last summer.

My question: When may you shoot a coyote? City/county boundary limits? Is there a law regarding this? I think the end result is obvious if I'm out walking at night and one comes upon me. What I'm thinking about is a preemptive shot if I see it across the street from home in an open field.

Thoughts and input are greatly appreciated.

[TLRMADE]

Can shoot them during normal hunting hours, year round, no bag limit. You may shoot them at anytime that they are causing harm or damage to you, dogs, or your livestock. They are becoming a very serious problem around my farm and I hunt them 24/7 for that reason!!!

[Guest clownsdd]

Check with your local leo as shooting inside city limits is illegal in many municipalities.

[ShaunM]

Protecting your person or property is one thing but hunting them in city limits with a gun is illegal due to you not being able to discharge a firearm in city limits. As far as hunting them 24/7 meaning at night could get you in trouble. You have to prove that the coyotes are causing damage to your property. You cannot hunt them at night. If you are going to hunt them you will need a small game license. Again if it was me I would be very careful when shooting one at night.

[mikegideon]

Check with your local leo as shooting inside city limits is illegal in many municipalities.

Yep... even the yotes have figured out the gun free zone thing. There are a couple roaming my neighborhood, but I'm not going to jail over it. Hopefully, they will eat the neighbor's dog that barks all night, every night. Can't shoot him either. He has rights.

[Alleycat72]

Bow or pellet rifle

[Guest BungieCord]

Most cities lump BB and pellet guns in with firearms. And it'd take a pretty stout pellet rifle to bring down a coyote. That might drive them off but I don't think that was the OP's objective.

If you've got them downtown, that probably means there's a butt-load of 'em in the surrounding farms. Shouldn't be that hard to find an obliging farmer who'll let you hunt them on his property.

[Guest GunTroll]

Don't state hunting laws supersede the more local laws? I would think, meaning my non-legal minded opinion, that as long as you were the 100 yard distance requirement away from a structure/dwelling you should be ok. And that would be hard in most city limits I'd suspect. Also I personally don't want to get into a debate with a LE over such a law (state vs. local) for I hate legal issues. But thats just me.

[Sidewinder]

Anyone been shooting any yotes lately? What's your technique for calling them this time of the year? How about the gun of choice for this time of the year also? Let's hear your yote hunting stories... we're having burnt gunpowder withdrawals!

[ShaunM]

Haven't been due to being busy. Animal distress like rabbit still works.

[TLRMADE]

Shot one the other night coming up to the house and trying to mess with the dogs. No need to call the dogs bring them right up!!!

[Sidewinder]

Shot one the other night coming up to the house and trying to mess with the dogs. No need to call the dogs bring them right up!!!

TLRMADE, glad you got him before he got your dogs. I believe the supply of pets outdoors is the reason we see a lot of them in residential areas.

[Caster]

I would say you could likely see trouble for shooting a coyote in defense of a pet or property. I don't condone a lie of any kind, BUT, it's just the easiest to say; I was in fear for my life. In theory that should nip it in the bud.

[Sidewinder]

I would say you could likely see trouble for shooting a coyote in defense of a pet or property. I don't condone a lie of any kind, BUT, it's just the easiest to say; I was in fear for my life. In theory that should nip it in the bud.

Caster, in the good ole days, "common sense" reigned supreme, but not in the Tennessee laws and regs pertaining to hunting wildlife these days! One would think it took a "Philadelphia lawyer" to have written such non common sense laws for us hunters! Many are confusing, and non common sense, at best.

[Guest BungieCord]

I would say you could likely see trouble for shooting a coyote in defense of a pet or property. I don't condone a lie of any kind, BUT, it's just the easiest to say; I was in fear for my life. In theory that should nip it in the bud.

Tennessee Code 70-4-115. Destruction and disposal of wildlife — Permit — Penalty. —

(a) The owner of lands may destroy any wild animals, wild birds, or wild fowl when such wild animals, wild birds, or wild fowl are destroying property upon such lands. Any person, before destroying any big game under the conditions provided for in this section, is required to obtain a permit for destroying such big game. Such permit shall be issued by an officer of the wildlife resources agency.

[Acts 1951, ch. 115, § 33 (Williams, § 5178.62); 1959, ch. 145, § 4; Acts 1974, ch. 481, § 21; 1979, ch. 193, § 1; 1982, ch. 738, § 19; T.C.A. (orig. ed.), § 51-424; Acts 1989, ch. 591, § 113; 1990, ch. 891, § 13; 1999, ch. 285, § 1.]

[Mike.357]

I have them coming into my yard at night, it is gettng to be a regular thing. I heard something this morning about 6 AM that I can't even explain the sound. It sounded large and it had to have been within 50 yards of the house. It made the oddest yak sound I have ever heard before. Not that it sounded like a Yak ( bovine animal), but rather the bark or whatever you would call it sounded like "YAK" Very creepy and very loud. It scared the crap outta my grandson when we went out to take him to school.

If I was to take a shot at one would a .22 LR into the lungs do the trick?

[ShaunM]

A 22lr would do the trick especially if your trying to get rid of them.

[Iownabowcuaseim16]

I'm 16 and I enjoy hiking and live in apartments sorrounded by woods. Recent two maybe more coyotes have moved in the woods around me . I almost got attacked to day. They were moving close.I wanted to know if I got my bow and killed them would I get in any trouble. I live a sorta rural area of Bellevue . I understand they may not have attacked me,but I was scared. 

Edited April 4, 2018 by Iownabowcuaseim16

[E4 No More]

On 3/25/2011 at 1:44 PM, Mike.357 said:

I have them coming into my yard at night, it is gettng to be a regular thing. I heard something this morning about 6 AM that I can't even explain the sound. It sounded large and it had to have been within 50 yards of the house. It made the oddest yak sound I have ever heard before. Not that it sounded like a Yak ( bovine animal), but rather the bark or whatever you would call it sounded like "YAK" Very creepy and very loud. It scared the crap outta my grandson when we went out to take him to school.

If I was to take a shot at one would a .22 LR into the lungs do the trick?

Maybe he was puking! 

[Ronald_55]

Good chance that the origional coyote is not around anymore...the post was from 2011.....

[Sidewinder]

On 4/4/2018 at 2:47 PM, Iownabowcuaseim16 said:

I'm 16 and I enjoy hiking and live in apartments sorrounded by woods. Recent two maybe more coyotes have moved in the woods around me . I almost got attacked to day. They were moving close.I wanted to know if I got my bow and killed them would I get in any trouble. I live a sorta rural area of Bellevue . I understand they may not have attacked me,but I was scared. 

Be very careful of any coyotes that act like they're not afraid of you! Coyotes, by nature, usually light the afterburner and get the heck out of Dodge at the first scent of a human. You need to check with the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency about any wild animal that is not afraid of humans and for your own safety, keep your distance. They can advise you about the correct procedure to dispatch them with your bow.

[jgradyc]

Are you close to Edwin Warner Park? I've seen coyotes there and they aren't as afraid of humans as the ones out where I live in the country. 

I doubt if one or a pack of two would attack you. Still, you were there and can assess what you saw better than me. 

Yelling and waving the largest stick you can find is usually enough to deter the largest dogs. It should work with a 30-pound coyote.

I haven't seen any bigger than that where I live near Beaman Park (Joelton area).

[Sidewinder]

18 hours ago, jgradyc said:

Are you close to Edwin Warner Park? I've seen coyotes there and they aren't as afraid of humans as the ones out where I live in the country. 

I doubt if one or a pack of two would attack you. Still, you were there and can assess what you saw better than me. 

Yelling and waving the largest stick you can find is usually enough to deter the largest dogs. It should work with a 30-pound coyote.

I haven't seen any bigger than that where I live near Beaman Park (Joelton area).

jgradyc, my main concern was that the animal may have Rabies. Even a rabid skunk will attack, I'm told. Thankfully, I not speaking from experience as I've never encountered one. Hope I never do.