Coyotes
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Flintlock Deer Season IS considered a big game season so you would need either a valid Furtaker's license, or a valid deer tag for use during Flintlock Season if you are going to hunt coyotes.
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Since small game season is in couldn't he be in woods with say a 22 magnum and take a coyote if he would see one?
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Coyotes—(During any big game season) May be taken while lawfully hunting big game or with a furtaker’s license.Unlimited
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Not legally without a valid Furtaker's license.
As Timber pointed out, you must be lawfully hunting big game, not just lawfully hunting.
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Let me try again and btw I have a furtakers license. So Dec. 26 We all know flintlock season is in but so is small game. So if I don't have flintlock tag or no fur license and I'm small game hunting I could not take a coyote if I seen one? Otherwise in this case is a coyote considered big game?
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Again, for your December 26 example (during Flintlock season), a hunter would need either a valid Furtaker's license, OR a valid deer tag for use during Flintlock Season to legally hunt/kill coyotes.
If you are hunting small game and have a Furtaker's license, you're good to shoot all the 'yotes you see.
Coyotes are classified as a furbearer.
If someone is small game hunting with a shotgun and #6 shot, they cannot shoot a coyote? I believe the rules are in place so that people aren't tempted to shoot a deer with a center fire rifle while claiming they are hunting coyotes. But that would be moot for a small game hunter with bird shot.
On the other hand, I still have a doe tag. If I wanted to hunt coyote....I could. But, if I was out with only a 20ga and #6 shot, would the WCO assume I am hunting deer with bird shot.....since it is big game season?
On the other hand, I still have a doe tag. If I wanted to hunt coyote....I could. But, if I was out with only a 20ga and #6 shot, would the WCO assume I am hunting deer with bird shot.....since it is big game season?
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Below is the code that is applicable to this discussion:
Title 58, § 141.4. Hunting hours.
Except as otherwise provided, wild birds and mammals may be hunted 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset.
(1) During the regular antlered and antlerless deer seasons, it is unlawful to take or attempt to take other wild birds or mammals except game birds on regulated hunting grounds, migratory waterfowl, coyotes, feral swine, wild boar and bear. Coyotes may be hunted from the first day to the last day inclusive of any big game season only by persons who possess a valid furtaker’s license, or by persons lawfully engaged in hunting big game who have a valid tag. Feral swine and wild boar may be taken from the first day to the last day inclusive of any big game season only by persons lawfully engaged in hunting big game who have a valid tag.
Title 58, § 141.4. Hunting hours.
Except as otherwise provided, wild birds and mammals may be hunted 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset.
(1) During the regular antlered and antlerless deer seasons, it is unlawful to take or attempt to take other wild birds or mammals except game birds on regulated hunting grounds, migratory waterfowl, coyotes, feral swine, wild boar and bear. Coyotes may be hunted from the first day to the last day inclusive of any big game season only by persons who possess a valid furtaker’s license, or by persons lawfully engaged in hunting big game who have a valid tag. Feral swine and wild boar may be taken from the first day to the last day inclusive of any big game season only by persons lawfully engaged in hunting big game who have a valid tag.
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The bold would include all of archery as well. If you take it literally. So, would turkey be considered big game? Could you hunt coyotes during fall turkey season, while archery is in, if you have a turkey tag? But no deer tag?
The spirit of the law is to keep guys from trying to shoot another deer once they're tagged out. As in, the guy who is out in buck season with a 30-06 and no buck tag. He can't say he is coyote hunting.
Now, the same guy out in small game season with a shotgun and #6 is not going to shoot another deer. So you don't have to forbid him from shooting a coyote to prevent him from killing a deer. And I doubt guys are hunting coyotes with a bow or flintlock. So, it would be pretty easy to flush out who is coyote hunting and who is trying to shoot an extra deer without a tag.
Is there no common sense interpretation of these rules? So many are written with enough ambiguity that they should be amended.
I take it to mean (big game season) as rifle elk, bear and deer. When no other game is in. In archery and flintlock, small game and/or turkey is in. So, there are already guys out there with guns that aren't carrying deer tags.
The spirit of the law is to keep guys from trying to shoot another deer once they're tagged out. As in, the guy who is out in buck season with a 30-06 and no buck tag. He can't say he is coyote hunting.
Now, the same guy out in small game season with a shotgun and #6 is not going to shoot another deer. So you don't have to forbid him from shooting a coyote to prevent him from killing a deer. And I doubt guys are hunting coyotes with a bow or flintlock. So, it would be pretty easy to flush out who is coyote hunting and who is trying to shoot an extra deer without a tag.
Is there no common sense interpretation of these rules? So many are written with enough ambiguity that they should be amended.
I take it to mean (big game season) as rifle elk, bear and deer. When no other game is in. In archery and flintlock, small game and/or turkey is in. So, there are already guys out there with guns that aren't carrying deer tags.
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Title 58 specifies "any big game season".
Turkeys are classified as Big Game.
If you're hunting turkeys, you would have a valid turkey tag, and then you could lawfully shoot a coyote.
Turkeys are classified as Big Game.
If you're hunting turkeys, you would have a valid turkey tag, and then you could lawfully shoot a coyote.
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but, if you already used your turkey tag or are not a turkey hunter, then...NOPE
you would need the furtakers license...Correct?
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Correct. You would then need a Furtaker's License.
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This thread has been a eye opener for me. Great thread! I just assumed that other than regular rifle deer and bear, coyotes could be hunted with a general license if a valid tag. I usually buy my furtakers but looking back, there was probably I time I hunted coyotes without a furtakers during other big game seasons without a valid tag.
I find it odd that you could hunt small game with a gun during archery season but a coyote would be off limits. It makes absolutely no sense at all. I could be out there with a 22-250 or a 243, shooting groundhogs, but I couldn't shoot a coyote? Even with a shotgun and bird shot? Unless I had a deer tag?
Are we sure of whose interpretation is correct here?
Are we sure of whose interpretation is correct here?
There is no question about Pa-Plinker having the correct interpretation of what the law says and what it means.
But, that doesn't mean it will always be strictly enforced as it is written. If there was no intention to circumvent the law it is unlikely the WCO would site a person for shooting a coyote while small game hunting. But, if it were pretty obviously the person was really hunting deer and just using the I'm small game or any other species as an excuse to be out there with the gun then it gives the WCO the tools he/she needs to stop a serious violation before it gets worse.
Dick Bodenhorn
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