At their meeting October 9 in Houghton on the campus of Michigan Technological University, the Natural Resources Commission unanimously adopted a draft resolution expressing their intent of adopting two separate seasons for managing Michigan coyotes during 2026. The hunting and trapping season would be from October 15 through March 1. Dates for a coyote management season are expected to be from March 2 through October 14.
At the beginning of the meeting, commissioner John Walters made a motion to amend the agenda to include the introduction of a resolution after minutes from the last meeting were approved. The motion was supported by the commission.
When the time came for introduction of the resolution, Commissioner David Nyberg read it into the record. The resolution is simply titled “Draft Coyote Resolution.” The resolution states:
“Whereas the coyote is a highly adaptable species that has expanded its range across the United States, and
“Whereas a bounty was enacted in Michigan to control coyote numbers, was found to be ineffective, and was repealed in 1979, and
“Whereas the coyote was an unprotected species in Michigan until 1989, when it was added to the game species list by the Michigan Legislature, and
“Whereas a year-round hunting season was enacted by the Natural Resources Commission in 2016, in an effort to reduce the coyote numbers, and
“Whereas concerns with year-round hunting/trapping of coyotes were expressed to the Department and NRC, and
“Whereas the Natural Resources Commission reduced the hunting/trapping seasons, but specified lethal take of coyote for specific damage on private lands, and
“Whereas the Department and NRC’s authority required either an inspection and permit or a license be issued for game animals to be legally taken,
“Therefore, be it resolved, commencing in License Year 2026, it is the intent of the Natural Resources Commission to establish a furbearer hunting/trapping season and a coyote management season. A base license will be required for each season and a fur harvester license will be required for non-residents to trap and sell pelts.
“The coyote hunting and trapping season shall run from October 15 to March 1 annually and include currently established hunting and trapping methods, non-lethal cable restraints only allowed on private lands January 1- March 1. No hunting with dogs will be permitted November 15-30.
“In addition, a coyote management season will run from March 2 to October 14 for lethal take of coyotes to address interspecies conflict and overabundance on private and public lands. The legal methods of take shall be the same as the hunting and trapping seasons, except non-lethal cable restraints shall be prohibited. Use of dogs for coyote hunting shall be prohibited from April 16 to July 7.
“Be it further resolved, all coyote carcasses must be retrieved and disposed of in a respectful manner either by burying completely or wrapping and disposing in a landfill. Private landowners may compost carcasses on their own lands, as allowed by local authority.”
There was no discussion among commissioners about the resolution before or after it was voted on and approved.
