Other Hunting > Coyote, Small Game, Varmints
Coyote hunting in Gig Harbor
brakelate:
I have a coyote problem. I live in the Gig Harbor area (not in downtown) on some acreage. They are tearing up my property and are getting aggressive with my dog. I have found their dropping within 15 yds of my house :bash:.
As best as I can tell my only legal options are to pay a licensed trapper or get an air rifle and shoot them on my own property after obtaining a small game license. Thoughts?
I do not yet own an air rifle. I am very much a novice. I see them on a daily basis and they routinely come within 50 yds of my home.
smithkl42:
A modern air rifle is certainly enough to kill a coyote, if you're close enough, and with proper shot placement (basically, for a clean kill, you want a head shot). If you're hunting them for sport, it's maybe marginal ethically, but if they're giving you grief, I think you're well within your ethical limits. From the state's perspective, all you need is a hunting license, and you're good to go.
That said, I don't know what the rules are in Gig Harbor. Nearly all municipalities have ordinances against firearms inside city limits (including subsonic .22 rounds), but the status of air rifles can vary. You'll want to call your local PD, or perhaps better yet, check the law yourself, as lots of times cops aren't really up-to-speed on what the actual law is.
smithkl42:
Actually, I spent a few minutes googling, and found this:
https://www.codepublishing.com/WA/GigHarbor/html/GigHarbor09/GigHarbor0920.html#9.20.020
Looks like you *could* use an air rifle (so long as you're not pointing it at anyone). You're not allowed to hunt, but you *are* allowed to remove nuisance animals:
"It shall be unlawful to hunt any animal by any means within the city limits. This prohibition does not apply to the removal of nuisance household animals, such as rodents and moles."
The key is whether a coyote which has been menacing your household falls into the category of a "nuisance household animal". I'm guessing you could make a good case, but you might want to check with the local PD anyway, to see if they'll have any problem with it.
brakelate:
--- Quote from: smithkl42 on February 08, 2019, 11:18:49 AM ---Actually, I spent a few minutes googling, and found this:
https://www.codepublishing.com/WA/GigHarbor/html/GigHarbor09/GigHarbor0920.html#9.20.020
Looks like you *could* use an air rifle (so long as you're not pointing it at anyone). You're not allowed to hunt, but you *are* allowed to remove nuisance animals:
"It shall be unlawful to hunt any animal by any means within the city limits. This prohibition does not apply to the removal of nuisance household animals, such as rodents and moles."
The key is whether a coyote which has been menacing your household falls into the category of a "nuisance household animal". I'm guessing you could make a good case, but you might want to check with the local PD anyway, to see if they'll have any problem with it.
--- End quote ---
Thanks for the link. I am well outside Gig Harbor proper city limits, but carry a Gig Harbor address. I will need to look more into that.
Ethically, yes I am a bit worried I would seriously injure the animal without eliminating it with an air rifle.
crowinghen:
use a bow?
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