Law check; Use of force to protect pet against coyotes?

[Mark from ?]

FWIW:

Coyote season is open and it would be a good opportunity to take a few out and remind them that they should fear man and his pets.

Coyote hunting regulations​

Before you go hunting for coyote, be sure you know the rules. This page contains regulations for hunting coyote in Massachusetts.

2025 hunting season dates
Jan. 1 – March 8, 2025
Oct. 18, 2025 – Mar. 7, 2026

All dates inclusive. Hunting on Sundays is prohibited.

https://www.mass.gov/info-details/coyote-hunting-regulations

My understanding is Worcester has a no hunting ordinance like forever. I don't think that's changed.

 

[HorizontalHunter]

My understanding is Worcester has a no hunting ordinance like forever. I don't think that's changed.

Somehow that’s not surprising.

 

[greencobra]

can't help you on the law...but here on nes some time ago, i posted about an old guy who shot a dog that was ripping his wife up in their backyard. as she was being loaded into the ambulance, he was cuffed and being loaded into a patrol car. i bumped into him a few years later and he was still going thru hell. i think this was the original post. it was a while ago but stuff im massachusetts never changes for the better.

I related a story a while back about a man who lived in the Arlington vicinity and shot a dog that was mauling his wife in their backyard. This wasn't here say, he told myself and a friend the story. He was charged with discharging a weapon in city limits, discharging a weapon within so many feet of a dwelling (I forgot the distance) and a few more charges. He was also taken into custody while his wife was being loading on the ambulance, but released later that day. Had his LTC pulled also. Fast forward to this past Feb. and he still is trying to get his LTC back plus legal expenses. I'd think long and hard before I shot an animal unless it was attacking a child. Call the animal control people. I should add he called the police and EMS himself.

 

[Snora]

I'd probably make my tax dollars do the work rather than research the laws and pray I don't get jammed up.

 

[GL2020]

Oddly enough I’ve had luck with a paintball gun. The thuuud thuud coupled with projectiles landing around has scared off a few mammals. Can be fired at distance without bothering neighbors or causing damage to anyone or anything. Would it work for something the size of a coyote? Dunno. But I’d fire a few while they’re a fair distance away.

 

[Mark from ?]

Somehow that’s not surprising.

Honestly I looked for a cite and could not find it.

But my taxidermist who was a WFD firefighter and lived in the city near the Holden Res area used to hunt it, but said technically it was not legal because the city had an ordinance, my father and others lived on the Holden/Worcester line had told me the same. They hunted the border and said they could not cross into city limits because it was no hunting there.

Im also pretty sure when you drive on 122A on the way to Indian Lake from Holden, there is a sign that says no hunting within City limits and states the ordinance.

DJBrad might know....

 

[pewpewpew]

Is this a serious question?

Dude, it's MA. Regardless of the law, some supercop and activist AG will jam your kid up real f***in good if he shoots in his neighborhood.

Also, if the coyotes are that bold, somebody in the neighborhood is probably feeding them and causing them to lose fear of people and associate people with food.

 

[pastera]

Does Worcester still operate that shot-spotter system?

It is lawful to kill an animal that is attacking/worrying you or your pet. You'll have to find the cites. The topic has come up here before.

What follows, given your son lives in such a congested area, is anybody's guess. It'll probably make the news.

I don't think you can shoot for a pet - they are personal property
You can shoot them to protect livestock

 

[alcestwo]

The aggressive behavior might be temporary because "Coyote mating season typically lasts from January to March, peaking in late February to early March. During this time, coyotes may be more active and territorial, which can lead to increased encounters with pets."

However, I would want to protect the dog.

 

[Asaltweapon]

This dog is just begging for suppressed bullet.

 

[bigben111435]

make a mix of cayenne and chili pepper in water, spray the perimeter of your yard.
or use strong perfume.
or get a dog that can kick the coyote's ass. some gnarly rescue mutt with 3 legs and an eyepatch

 

[gerrycaruso]

I'd carry pepper spray. If something bad happens it will be quick, close and animals will be moving. Too much chance of hitting the puppy if he uses a gun. If he accidently hits the puppy with pepper spray, at least the puppy will get over it.

 

[LakeTrout]

Coyotes are funny. Up here in ME, i hear huge packs of them whoopin it up every night, very close in the woods. I whoop back at them Never bother anybody. I swear my dogs go party with them. As soon as they quiet down, my dogs, a fkin pappilon and a boxer mutt, come trotting back.

I have the same experience with them, but this tends to be the experience with rural wildlife vs suburban or even urban “wildlife”. They’re a lot more ballsy where they’ve become accustomed to living alongside humans.

 

[Sparkey]

Maybe bear spray I wouldn’t be popping off rounds in Worcester.

 

[Golddiggie]

View attachment 952555
This dog is just begging for suppressed bullet.

Too bad that's verboten in the PRM...

 

[Individualist]

I don't think you can shoot for a pet - they are personal property
You can shoot them to protect livestock

So I can protect a chicken but not a dog? That is some stupid ass Law if true. I wouldn’t put it past MA to be that idiotic. What if my dog identifies as a goat?

 

[Individualist]

On a 1/8th acre lot, odds are your friend lives within 500 feet of their neighbors' dwelling. So they'd need consent from the neighbors as well as the landlord.

General Law - Part IV, Title I, Chapter 269, Section 12E

malegislature.gov

Before opening fire, I suggest they contact the Worcester Animal Control officer.

Is an air rifle/pellet gun a firearm? Does this still pertain if it isn’t?

 

[Ecocharles]

They say that you can train coyotes to stay away and if you kill them they will just reproduce and you will have untrained coyotes to deal with. While I'm not a 100% supporter of this, if they come on my property, my dog will scare them off. So, now they are sort of trained to leave our property alone. If all else fails, I have a .17 rimfire that is thirsty for blood.

 

[Individualist]

I don't think you can shoot for a pet - they are personal property
You can shoot them to protect livestock

If a pet is considered “property” then does this come into play?

Under Mass.General Law 131, Section 37, a property owner or tenant of land may hunt or take by other means, except by poison or snare, any mammal which he finds damaging his property, provided that such killing is not contrary to any federal law or regulation. Animals killed under this law, must be reported to authorities within 24 hours."

 

[Toast]

Is an air rifle/pellet gun a firearm? Does this still pertain if it isn’t?

It is not and it does not. As long as you're not shooting across a street or right of way, you're good if you're over 18.

Firearms License Frequently Asked Questions

This is a list of firearms related frequently asked questions.

www.mass.gov

Q: Is a firearms license required to possess an air gun (i.e. bb or pellet guns, so-called air rifles or air pistols, paint ball guns) or applicable ammunition (i.e. bb's, pellets, CO2 cartridges, paint balls)?​

A: No firearms license is required to possess an air gun in Massachusetts. However, air guns are regulated by M.G.L. c. 269, §12B which limits their use by minors.​

​

 

[HorizontalHunter]

Is an air rifle/pellet gun a firearm? Does this still pertain if it isn’t?

Massachusetts hunting prohibitions FWIW:

• The use of air/pellet guns is prohibited for the purposes of taking/harvesting deer, bear, turkey, crow, pheasant, quail, and migratory game birds. Air/ pellet guns may be used for all other species during their respective legal open seasons.

• Discharge of any firearm or release of any arrow upon or across any state or hard-surfaced highway, or within 150 feet of any such highway.
• Possession of a loaded firearm, discharge of a firearm, or hunting on the land of another within 500 feet of any dwelling or building in use, unless permitted by the owner or occupant. See page 21 for additional gun laws.

https://www.mass.gov/info-details/hunting-prohibitions

 

[CrackPot]

You can discharge to protect human life
You can discharge to protect livestock (cows, goats, pigs...)
You can discharge to protect fowl (chickens, turkeys, ducks...)

You cannot discharge to protect property and pets are property, not livestock or fowl.

 

[Rob Boudrie]

You would need a large pellet rifle to humanely kill coyotes.

"Under Mass.General Law 131, Section 37, a property owner or tenant of land may hunt or take by other means, except by poison or snare, any mammal which he finds damaging his property, provided that such killing is not contrary to any federal law or regulation. Animals killed under this law, must be reported to authorities within 24 hours."


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_mVtLzvzZg

This is tricky.

Does this authorization provide protection from the laws prohibiting discharge of a firearm with 150ft or a roadway or 500ft of an accupied dwelling? Both are lifetime PP status in MA as it is a "crime involving a firearm", though one would normally expect a CWOF absent any nefarious factors on the part of the malfeasor.

 

[Rob Boudrie]

You would need a large pellet rifle to humanely kill coyotes.

"Under Mass.General Law 131, Section 37, a property owner or tenant of land may hunt or take by other means, except by poison or snare, any mammal which he finds damaging his property, provided that such killing is not contrary to any federal law or regulation. Animals killed under this law, must be reported to authorities within 24 hours."


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_mVtLzvzZg

This is tricky.

Does this authorization provide protection from the laws prohibiting discharge of a firearm with 150ft or a roadway or 500ft of an accupied dwelling, or does it superceed those restrictions? Both are lifetime PP status in MA as it is a "crime involving a firearm", though one would normally expect a CWOF absent any nefarious factors on the part of the malfeasor.

 

[mibro]

This is tricky.

Does this authorization provide protection from the laws prohibiting discharge of a firearm with 150ft or a roadway or 500ft of an accupied dwelling? Both are lifetime PP status in MA as it is a "crime involving a firearm", though one would normally expect a CWOF absent any nefarious factors on the part of the malfeasor.

Airguns are not firearms in Massachusetts. The only restriction is an airgun should not be discharged across a road.

In practice, who knows?

 

[HorizontalHunter]

Airguns are not firearms in Massachusetts. The only restriction is an airgun should not be discharged across a road.

In practice, who knows?

This is Mass. There are enough laws on the books so if they want you they will get you for something.

 

[HorizontalHunter]

Honestly I looked for a cite and could not find it.

But my taxidermist who was a WFD firefighter and lived in the city near the Holden Res area used to hunt it, but said technically it was not legal because the city had an ordinance, my father and others lived on the Holden/Worcester line had told me the same. They hunted the border and said they could not cross into city limits because it was no hunting there.

Im also pretty sure when you drive on 122A on the way to Indian Lake from Holden, there is a sign that says no hunting within City limits and states the ordinance.

DJBrad might know....

I think that you’re right. The Mass Sportsmen’s council always kept a summary. I don’t know how up to date it is.

Bob

Restricted Hunting Towns

No Summary

macouncil.tripod.com

ETA:

I know that the OP @Individualist isn’t specifically looking for hunting information but the only real way to eliminate the threat is to truly eliminate it via hunting or trapping and trapping coyotes these days under the current regs is damn hard.

Bob

 

[LT5]

Keep leaving food out, so they get used to it. Then poison it.

What if somehow a neighbor’s pet got ahold of it though.
A good friend of mine just lost a dog because she got into some poison.
It’s a horrible way to go.

 

[fencer]

Chief of police in my town told me personally that he would never allow charges to be pressed against someone who shot a coyote.

One day, about ten years ago, on a warm spring day I heard BANG!! I looked out the window and there was ole Lester sitting in a folding lawn chair on the flat roof of one of his out buildings with a double barrel shotgun. I just chuckled and went about my business.
About 10 minutes later a town cop shows up, and goes to talk to Lester. Lester was 85 years old and nearly deaf. I heard every word of their conversation because the cop had to yell at the tops of his lungs. Apparently a yote got into Lester's coop and killed two of his chickens so Lester decided he was going to kill the yote. He put a big plate of dog food at the end of his field before the wood line. He claimed to have shot and missed a coyote.
The jest of the conversation was the cop was both worried that he would break his neck getting down, and amazed that at 85 he was able to climb a ladder and haul up a shotgun and a lawn chair.
I realize this does not help your son, so I would suggest buying or borrowing a bow or a crossbow and keeping his mouth shut.

 

[Asaltweapon]

Is an air rifle/pellet gun a firearm? Does this still pertain if it isn’t?

It does in Maine. Retarded? Of course it is.
I was on a committee in town over a discharge ordnance and spoke directly to the CoP and a Sgt Warden. It came up because of those super hi power air guns.