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Coyote Hunting Laws in Minnesota (2026)
Minnesota’s rules are straightforward once you find the right DNR sections, but night hunting, lights, and thermal/NV have specific conditions. Verify before you hunt.
Last checked: 2026-04-30. Regulations change, confirm with the official sources linked below.
Not legal advice. This page is a practical guide. Always verify the current Minnesota regulations before you hunt.
Jump to: At a glance · Rules checklist · Gear · Official sources
At a glance (Minnesota)
Source: Minnesota Hunting & Trapping Regulations (effective July 2025 through June 30, 2026; updated 10/1/2025). Page references below are to that booklet.
- Shining/spotlighting baseline rule: “A person cannot shine artificial light … to find or take a wild animal while possessing a gun, bow, or any other tool…” (p. 33).
- Coyote/fox light exception window: “Lights for hunting fox and coyote (January 1 – March 15)” (p. 33).
- Conditions for using a light for coyote/fox (Jan 1–Mar 15): on foot, not within a public right-of-way, using a shotgun, using a calling device, and not within 200 feet of a vehicle (p. 33).
- Night vision / thermal: “Except when taking fox or coyote at night, a person may not possess any kind of night vision or thermal imaging equipment…” (p. 33). The regs also state: “A person legally taking coyote or fox may use night vision or thermal imaging equipment…” (p. 33).
- Electronic callers: “A remote controlled animal noise caller can be used for … furbearing animals and unprotected animals.” (p. 34).
Minnesota rules checklist (what to verify)
This is a simplified checklist to help you find what matters in the official regs quickly.
| Rule area | What to confirm | Confirm with |
|---|---|---|
| Season / limits | Open season dates (if any) + bag limits (if any) | Minnesota DNR hunting regs |
| License | Whether a hunting license is required for your method (firearm/archery/trapping) and resident status | Minnesota DNR licensing |
| Night hunting | Restrictions around hours, lights, thermal/NV use, and proximity to roads/buildings | Minnesota DNR guidance + regs |
| Land access | Private permission + public land/WMA restrictions | DNR area rules |
Gear that matches the intent (and stays relevant)
If your area allows night hunting and lights, these are the next-step guides:
Best lights for coyote hunting at night
Best coyote calls (buyer guide)
Related state law pages
Official resources (Minnesota)
- Minnesota DNR coyotes resource page: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/livingwith_wildlife/coyotes/index.html
- Minnesota DNR small game hunting regs: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/hunting/smallgame/index.html
- Minnesota Hunting Regulations (PDF): https://files.dnr.state.mn.us/rlp/regulations/hunting/full_regs.pdf
- Minnesota DNR licensing: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/licenses/index.html