Hunting Questions (Coyote)

[sniper_tim]

I've had a disturbing experience with this issue. While big game hunting I asked a DOW officer in the field what the magazine capacity was if I was going to be hunting small game and he couldn't answer! I found an area that had several coyotes, and was planning to come back with my 223 to potentially just sit on the coyotes. Obviously, big game hunting has a magazine limitation, which would apply if you are hunting both big/small game at same time, however you are not allowed to hunt big game with 223. So, he couldn't understand why I would want to be in the field with a 223 during big game hunting. I was a little mifted, cause this guy has the power to confiscate all my stuff if I'm not following the rules, yet he didn't understand them. I even had a copy of the big/small game regulations with me and pointed out that there was no limitation in the book for small game hunting. I just decided to play safe and use my hunting rifle instead of the 223 to eliminate any possiblility of confusion/issues.

[HunterCO]

If you hunt small game during big game season you can be charged with poaching if you use a rifle caliber that is allowed for big game. If you do not have a big game tag never use a rifle for small game that is legal to use for big game. This only applies during big game season also handguns are excluded from this regulation.

[wolffo]

I personally went down to the DOW office to ask those questions. Specifically I wanted to know if I could go after coyotes with a AK-47 and a 30 round mag and they said yes.

small game or fur bearer lic required in Colorado
or an unfilled big game tag

year round season, no bag limit.

I doubt anyone would hassle you over a dead coyote unless you are being unsafe

[car-15]

If you hunt small game during big game season you can be charged with poaching if you use a rifle caliber that is allowed for big game. If you do not have a big game tag never use a rifle for small game that is legal to use for big game. This only applies during big game season also handguns are excluded from this regulation.

I dont know what side of I-25 he is on, but that only applies west of the Interstate. we had to point that out to a dow officer one time, as we told him to go away, and stop ruining our hunt.

[HunterCO]

I dont know what side of I-25 he is on, but that only applies west of the Interstate. we had to point that out to a dow officer one time, as we told him to go away, and stop ruining our hunt.

You are correct it has been a long time since I read the reg. either it has been changed or I simply did not remember that detail.

[wolffo]

there is also a landowner exemption to allow for shooting coyotes from your vehicle in colorado - a little known reg - I got in to it with my hunter ed instructor over this one

[car-15]

there is also a landowner exemption to allow for shooting coyotes from your vehicle in colorado - a little known reg - I got in to it with my hunter ed instructor over this one

iirc you have to apply for that exemption, and prove need, and it is a free 60 day permit, I have to find the copy of that reg. the dow guy gave to me, back when we looked into it.

[wolffo]

it not detailed in the regular small game booklet, its on line though in the full regs download

[sniper_tim]

Not sure I follow you hunter, the regs are quite clear:

"Any person may take coyotes with an unfilled big game license in the same unit and season and by the same manner of take."

So, it is legal to shoot coyotes with your big game rifle (anything over .24 caliber), as long as you have an unfilled big game license in the same unit.

However the point to my post was, why couldnt the DOWGM explain the rules to me instead of dismiss me! He has no business writing tickets or potentially arresting people if he doesnt know the rules. A GM wrote a ticket and confiscated meat from someone camped next to me cause they were in "wrong unit". The guy had to fight it in court and was exonerated, however it still ruined his hunt, plus he lost the elk meat!

[spqrzilla]

Specifically the law about hunting small game during big game season with a big game legal rifle applies west of I25.

From the brochure:

It is illegal to hunt game birds, small game mammals or furbearers with
a centerfire rifle larger than .23 caliber during regular rifle deer and elk seasons W of I-25, without an unfilled deer or elk license for the season. A
small game license is required.