Coyote Hunting

Would someone want their family pet to get attacked by a pack of coyotes? The coyote population in Maine is getting so high, that there is an overabundance of them. Many farmers have lost their livestock due to coyotes. Other wild animals such as rabbits, turkeys and deer are being threatened. This needs to stop. That is why coyote hunting is an option in Maine. Coyote hunting is similar to hunting deer. They both require a license and have strict rules and regulations. Coyote hunting happens during the day and night. There are specific times for hunting. Day hunting begins a half an hour before sunset and lasts until a half an hour after sunset. Day hunting is an all year sport. Night hunting is the same times before and after sunset. Coyote night hunting season runs from December to August. They both carry the same rule that there is absolutely no hunting on Sundays.  It also requires getting permission by a landowner to be able to hunt on owned land. With farmers losing their cattle, they really don’t mind people hunting on their property.

When coyote hunting, it is important to blend in with your surroundings. Coyotes are very smart and have very good senses. They are very aware of their surroundings. So it is important to be as sneaky as possible. Being properly dressed and blending into their surroundings makes all the difference. If you are hunting in snow, it would help to wear snow camo. The law requires a coyote hunter to possess a hand held or electronic predator call. These calls are what attracts the coyotes to come around the area that is being hunted. Coyote hunting can be a fun sport if having the proper equipment and follow the guidelines. Not only is it a great experience, but it also helps to control the coyote population.

Although coyote are challenging and fun to hunt, they are still part of Maine’s Wildlife. While everyone wants to reduce the population, they still need some respect. For example, to utilize the coyote pelts and not just leave the coyotes dead in the woods. Also it is important to not publicize or post dead pictures of coyotes. This behavior can result in the privilege of coyote hunting being taken away. Anything that Maine hunters do reflects on all Maine’s hunters. So it is very important that everyone follows and obeys the rules. This applies to not only coyote hunting, but every other type of hunting.