Sixteen more tagged coyotes were released statewide recently as part of the Coyote Harvest Incentive Program. The program created in 2016 by the General Assembly, directed SCDNR to develop and implement a coyote tagging and reward program.
Annually, SCDNR traps, tags and releases four coyotes per game zone, 16 total. Anyone who successfully takes and reports a tagged coyote will be rewarded with a free lifetime hunting license. The hunter reporting the tagged coyote has the option to designate anyone for the lifetime license such as a child, relative or friend.
Only hunters who harvest coyotes with an SCDNR tag are eligible for the lifetime license.
Over the last seven years, a total of 112 coyotes have been tagged and released, including the 16 that were recently released. To date, under half of the tagged coyotes have been reported taken. Coyotes tagged in any year are eligible for the lifetime license incentive.
The specially marked tags provide contact information on the tag. Only the uniquely identifiable SCDNR coyote tags are eligible for the lifetime license, as there are potentially some additional coyotes that have been tagged for research purposes with other tags. For more information on the Coyote Harvest Incentive Program, click here.