Coyote regs question

[Ryan_V]

I can't find anything in the regs regarding this... Can you hunt coyotes during deer season using a rifle while in slug only territory?

[Neighbor_guy]

Easy answer= NO!!!!!

I called around the response was always the same. NO!!!

Durring the shotgun deer season you may not be in possesion of a centerfire rifle of any caliber that can legaly take deer if you are in the shotgun only zone. So anything .22 or above. Depending on the C.O, they may look at .17 and .204 as "centerfire" rifles and nail you to the wall for them too.

You may not be in possesion of "buck shot". So if you are not shooting ducks or geese with it, its buck shot...

You can not be out shooting after dark.

You have to wear blaze orange.

and if you have others on the property who are deer hunting, you will also need a deer tag. Otherwise you may be considered "Aiding in the taking of deer". (that one bothers me a bit).

You CAN use a .22 or .17 rimfire.

You CAN use a shotgun with "bird shot".

Most of the responses can be summed up as let the deer hunters have the deer season. When they are done, you can use your rifles to hunt predators.

Coyotes durring deer season are targets of opprotunity. Otherwise, consider it a loss and wait out the season.

[RBuker]

Oh boy.

First off, Ryan, call your local CO and ask him those very questions. Get it right from the horses mouth.

But, here's my thoughts. Neighbor_guy. I think you missed the mark in a couple of areas.

You actually can use up to #4 BUCKSHOT.

I'm fairly certain that you can hunt them after dark. It has nothing to do with deer season. Do you think 'coon hunters stop because it's deer season?

But, I know for a fact that you can use a .22 mag and/or a .17hmr during the time before, during and after the season when your rifle choices are limited.

Your best option is always to call your local CO. Never trust advice from the internet.

Randy

[Moose-Hunter]

Randy... I believe you nailed it! On the deatails and advice.

No matter what all us "interwebz experts" think, know or swear by... TALK TO YOUR LOCAL CO for the REAL skinny. Don't become the test case. Know the facts. Then get out there and whack'em and stack'em! Legally!

By the way... did ya happen to see the moon tonight?

[RBuker]

Did I ever see the moon! If only we had an inch or two of snow!

Randy

[Ryan_V]

Thats what i thought. I hope all is well with you! Thank you for your service!

[Neighbor_guy]

I never claimed to be an "expert", experts are called to testify.

When I said I made some calls, I should have clarified. I called 2 different C.O.'s, I feel it is always best to ask two of them because they usualy see things a little differently. I also called the Office in St. Paul. In this case they all had the same answere. NO!

My post was a summary of the notes I took durring those calls. No rifles other than rimfire, and not after dark, blaze orange, the whole bit from my first post.

If you want to hunt with your rifle in a shotgun zone after dark, be my guest. I will wait. I like my guns and my clean record.

[RBuker]

Neighbor_guy,

I certainly wasn't trying to bust your chops on your advice. I have no doubt you called and were advised as you reported. I called St. Paul ONE time and was given such a silly answer to my question, I never called them again.

Here's what I think... Read the laws yourself and understand them. If there is ANY question, call your local CO (the one that will be writing you a ticket). And, if you get an answer from your local CO that doesn't match what you believe you read, ask for clarification.

The thing we all need to understand is that in Minnesota, if the laws don't say you can't, then you can. For example, hunting coyotes at night during deer season... show me one place where it says you can't do that.. IF it doesn't say you can't, then you can.

I once had a discussion with a CO about the legality of using an electronic caller to hunt deer with. He said no way was it legal. I said, Show me anywhere it says so. HE couldn't.

The bottom line is that you really need to understand the laws yourself. The CO's are only human and no one can know all the laws.

Randy

[harvey lee]

One needs to talk to the CO in the area that you will be doing this. One can talk to St Paul, or 2-3 different Co's and get numerous answers on how they interpert the law. Not right but they are the ones writing the tickets.

Call the local CO and get it right from the horses mouth so to speak.