Utah...at night

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blackrifle

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Are there any members here, that know if it is legal to hunt coyotes (in any or all counties) here in utah, at night (WITHOUT an artificial light). I did not find any info on this at utah wildlife division.....I DO know there are safety concerns. Thankyou for any help you can offer.
 
That is a good question... The proclamation does say that you can only shoot between certain hours but I don't know if that includes coyotes.
 
That is going to depend on the county. There are only a couple that will allow it. Your best bet is to go to the county office and get a copy of the county ordinance on spotlighting or discharging a firearm after dark. The ones that do have one usually say the sheriff can issue permits. Talk to the sheriff also. Most will not issue a permit even if the ordinance says they can. The best bet is just hunt during the day in Utah
 
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Are there any members here, that know if it is legal to hunt coyotes (in any or all counties) here in utah, at night (WITHOUT an artificial light). I did not find any info on this at utah wildlife division.....I DO know there are safety concerns. Thankyou for any help you can offer.



I'm a little confused. How do you plan on hunting at night without an artificial light? Night Vision? I read that you CAN hunt coyotes at night but you may not hunt from the roadway, any vehicle, or within 1000 feet of any structure or livestock without written permission from the owner.

I don't know where I read that, but I'll try to find it again.
 
Lawdog, good question about no light, but, there is incredible visibility many nights...snow covered desert, full or partial moon, clear night..Often, there is better visibility on clear, snow covered nights, than on a foggy or snowy morning.
 
I agree, I have experienced the same but never had a hunting partner brave enough to try out that theory. Tell you what, I'll be getting my Dtech black rifle in a few weeks. Maybe we can go hunt together and give it a shot. I'm in Roy but will always travel for a coyote.
 
I think you can hunt coyotes at night with out a light. Since they are not protected and you are not cpotlighting, I doubt there is any issue with it. However, just call teh sheriff's office where you are plannin on hunting and ask about that. It is fun to do it under the light of the moon, sometimes in the hard hunted areas, it is the only way!


C
 
It isnt so much a law about using a light. The law states the legal shooting hours as one half hour before official sunrise to one half hour after official sunset. It does not specify that it is only for game animals. I did a lot of research and made a lot of calls to the counties to get information. I would suggest you do the same before you get caught doing it. They can and will take your guns and vehicle.
 
I just spoke with the sheriff's dept. in Utah county. He told me that it is legal to shoot coyotes at night in utah county. Even using a spot light, except it can't be hooked to any vehicle in any way. It has to be carried on your person.

THe catch comes with the typw of weapon used. You can only use a shot gun shooting bird shot type BB's. They have the exact size on their web site. Would be great for fox though. NO rifles are allowed.

He also told me each county has different regulations. Call the sheriffs office where you will be hunting.

C
 
The fish and game have no authority to regulate coyote hunting or trapping in the state of utah. It is up to the individual counties and the Utah Department of agriculture to decide what happens with them therefore the half hour before half hour after rule does not apply because it is a wildlife rule and not state law and you are not pursuing a game animal so it is up to the counties themselves.
 
gotchanow, you are right that the fish and game do not regulate coyote much in Utah. They do have the authority, they are just not protected. However they do regulate setting traps on public property, or discharging firearms. The Utah DWR have a law making it legal to hunt coyote at night (with a light not attached to a vehicle)only if the county passes an ordinance making it legal. Most counties just didn't act, so it is illegal by state law. BTW the half hour before sunrise and after sunset law applies to all furbearers/predators/animals, not just protected ones. Dont get caught on private property either, you will get cited. That has very limited protection. Justin
 
I dont want to sound like the badguy but, the shooting hours do apply on coyotes in utah, dont realy want to admit to it but i just know from first hand experience. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smiliesmack.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smiliesmack.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smiliesmack.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smiliesmack.gif
 
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I know for a fact that you can spotlight on private property as loing as the owner or employee is there with you.

As for regulating coyotes, it is up to the DWR which made them unprotected, so in doing the they did regulate them.

It is up to the county to decide if it will or will not allow the hunting of coyotes at night. Utah county does and will allow it with a spot light even as long as the light is carried on your person and not a vehicle. You also have to shoot a shot gun, no rifles.

C
 
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The fish and game have no authority to regulate coyote hunting or trapping in the state of utah. It is up to the individual counties and the Utah Department of agriculture to decide what happens with them therefore the half hour before half hour after rule does not apply because it is a wildlife rule and not state law and you are not pursuing a game animal so it is up to the counties themselves.



The fish and game does regulate the trapping not the counties. The law about the shooting hours is a state law and not a fish and game law. You need to do some checking on the laws.
 
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I know for a fact that you can spotlight on private property as loing as the owner or employee is there with you.

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pertaining to coyote, red fox, striped skunk, and racoon.
"A person or his agent who is acting to protect his crops or domestic animals from predation by those animals." quote from the proclimation

Agent is described by the DWR as a person working for and on regular payroll

Like I said very limited protection, be carefull.
 


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