Bob Wise, Governor
Ed Hamrick, Director

News Release
For release: January 14, 2005

Hoy Murphy , Public Information Officer (304) 558-3380 hoymurphy@wvdnr.gov

Contact: Lt. Col William Daniel, Law Enforcement Section (304) 558-2784 law@wvdnr.gov

New Season for Coyotes in West Virginia

  Beginning January 1, 2005 , it became legal in West Virginia to hunt coyotes at night with an amber colored artificial light, according to Col. James Fields, Chief of the Law Enforcement Section of the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources. The new season runs from January 1 to July 31, 2005 . Electronic calls, mouth calls and hand-operated calls are legal during this season.

  During the open small game seasons (ending February 28, 2005 ) it is legal to hunt in the woods and fields. From March 1, 2005 through July 31, 2005 coyotes may only be hunted in open fields. Nighttime hunting for coyotes is only legal until midnight on Saturday, except in counties open to Sunday hunting.

  Legal firearms one half hour after sunset to one half hour before sunrise are shotguns with shot shells no larger than No. 4 or firearms no larger than .22 caliber rimfire.

  “This new season is an exciting opportunity for sportsmen,” said Fields. “There is no change to the current regulations for hunting raccoon, skunk and opossum at night. There is no night hunting with artificial lights for foxes or bobcats.”

  During daylight hours there remains a continuous open season for coyotes, except on Sundays in counties closed to Sunday hunting.

**DNR**