LANSING – Coyotes may need to get even wilier to make it through the summer.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is considering whether to extend coyote hunting seasons to year-round, for both day and nighttime hunting. New regulations that could be approved by the Natural Resources Commission will open up day hunting April 15 through July 15 and approximately double the night hunting season by legalizing April-Sept.

Killing coyotes on private property is already legal if the coyote is damaging domestic animals or property, or is about to do damage.

The proposed regulations appear to be driven primarily by hunters hoping to reduce coyote predation on deer, along with concerns about coyotes creating a nuisance in more urban areas. The new regulations would also increase opportunities for hunters seeking coyote’s pelts.

“I would think there are a lot of different reasons, depending on whose doing the hunting,” said Michigan DNR fur-bearer specialist Adam Bump. “For some individuals the primary purpose might be resolving nuisance issue or safety concerns, or the impact for other species.”

Bump said the DNR does not expect enough new coyote hunting to reduce numbers statewide, or to significantly affect deer populations, but dedicated hunters could impact local populations.

“With predator control, it takes a lot of effort to really be able to put a significant dent in the population.,” he said, adding that there’s no intent to eradicate coyotes.”It would allow people in localized areas to have more tools if a group of individuals or hunters say want to make a dent in coyote populations because they’re impacting deer or other species.”

Bump said the night hunting regulations also offer new tools to hunters, allowing them to hunt with lights and to use small buckshot shells when hunting with shotguns.

DNR Director Bill Moritz has already approved the new regulations, and the Natural Resources Commission discussed the regulations at a March 10 informational meeting. A vote is expected in April.