Coyote Season in Alabama: Mating, Pups and Pet Safety

Coyotes in Alabama mate in February and March. Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries puts it this way: “Usually breeds February-March with a gestation of about 60 days.” It is the loudest stretch of the coyote year: pairs court and mark their ground, and coyotes travel farther and show up more often by day.

Coyote pups in Alabama are born in April. The Alabama Cooperative Extension System puts it this way: “In Alabama, pups are usually born in April.”

Yes. Coyote hunting is open all year in Alabama with no bag limit, under the 2026 to 2027 rules from Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries. You need a resident hunting license (Small Game or All Game); hunting at night also needs the Nighttime Feral Swine and Coyote Hunting License. On hunting at night: “COYOTE – SPECIAL NIGHTTIME SEASON ON PRIVATELY OWNED AND LEASED LANDS ONLY Begins at 12:00 am on the day after the last day of gun deer season in that zone. Ends 30 minutes prior to sunrise on the opening day of archery deer season in that zone.”

The Alabama Cooperative Extension System puts it this way: “Do not run away if you encounter wildlife, as this behavior encourages predators to give chase.”

WFF District Office for your county. Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries puts it this way: “If you are experiencing an issue with nuisance wildlife, contact your county’s corresponding WFF District Office to inquire about which species require a special permit to remove and how to obtain a permit to take protected wildlife due to nuisance issues.”

Coyote trapping is open all year in Alabama under the 2026 to 2027 rules from Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries.

Coyotes can take cats and small dogs, and can treat a larger dog as a threat while mating and raising pups. The Alabama Cooperative Extension System advises: “To reduce the opportunity for conflict between pets and wildlife, pet owners should keep cats and small dogs inside and not left unattended in open yards.”