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As you stated a person could shoot a coyote anytime in defense of themselves or their property day or night. There is no closed season on coyotes so a landowner could shoot one anytime during the daytime on their property and would not need a license to do so. During the season when night hunting for coyotes is legal, January 1st through March 31st a landowner could shoot coyotes on their property legally at night without a license. If the hunting of the coyotes occurs on someone else's land, day or night, then the person would need to have a license. There are no reporting requirements.
If a person is hunting for coyotes at night they do have to get a "Night Hunting for Coyote" permit signed by the landowner on whose land they are going to be hunting and that has to be filed with the Fish and Game Department before any hunting occurs. If the person is baiting for coyote they would have to have a baiting permit signed by the landowner and filed with Fish and Game before any bait could be placed.
As far as the use of pistols is concerned there is nothing preventing a person from using a pistol to hunt coyotes day or night. If the person is hunting at night in one of the towns with firearms restrictions they would be limited to .22 caliber rimfire if using a rifle or a handgun.
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