6 Comments

  1. By Vivienne Armentrout
    March 8, 2011 at 9:19 pm | permalink

    What do you mean, coyote hunting? Do they kill them? What are the laws around that?

    We have had coyotes go through our yard. Rabbit infestation reduced.

  2. By Mary Morgan
    March 8, 2011 at 10:10 pm | permalink

    Hmmmm – I didn’t ask, but my assumption was they weren’t going to be hunting with tranquilizer guns. According to this chart from the state Dept. of Natural Resources website, open season on coyotes (for “damage control”) is March 1-31 and Sept. 15-Oct.14: [link]

    Apparently, it’s also open season on raccoons and opossums, too. Recipes, anyone?

  3. By jcp2
    March 8, 2011 at 10:13 pm | permalink

    Was it an ACME bag?

  4. By George Hammond
    March 9, 2011 at 8:01 am | permalink

    Here’s the main page on fox and coyote hunting in Michigan: [link]

    What Ms. Morgan found is just the limits on night hunting. It’s generally illegal to hunt at night, but they make an exception for raccoon, fox, coyote and opossum. Also, anybody can kill a coyote on private land if it is “doing or about to do” damage to private property. Per the page above, the regular daylight season for coyote hunting is July 15 to April 15, and you need a small game license. Coyotes can also be trapped, there are separate rules for that and you need a fur harvester license.

    Not much of this applies within the city though. City ordinance forbids discharge of firearms, air guns, slingshots, bows or crossbows within the city limits. Poisoning of birds and other animals and use of leghold traps is also forbidden. Our chicken-keepers will have to rely on passive defense to protect their livestock.

  5. By bear
    March 10, 2011 at 8:21 am | permalink

    what about spears & javelins? or an atlatal? Ancient innovation that preceded bow & arrow.

  6. By George Hammond
    March 10, 2011 at 10:43 pm | permalink

    Heh. I don’t think there are ordinances against spears or javelins, whether atlatl-enhanced or not. Just keep your spears on your property and you’re ok. It might take just a bit of practice to hit a coyote with one.