Hello American Hunters!
If you are interested in night vision units you must first know your state’s regulations. I have looked into every state’s regulations but it is best for you to call your state’s DNR to double check that you are not breaking the law.
In most states, night vision scopes are treated the same as hunting under red light (ie: night vision is covered under the same regulations as red light night hunting), or are illegal to use with the exception of use on occasional invasive species like feral hogs and coyotes.
This information is provided as-is and without any warranties or guarantees. You should ALWAYS check with the local authorities to make sure of your specific situation as well as ensure that the information is current. That being said, please let us know if something isn’t right and we will update it as soon as we can. This compilation should not be reproduced without our express, in writing, permission and acknowledgement.
Now you’re probably wondering where you can and cannot use night vision. There are 15 states that outright banned the use of them and most of the states where it is allowed there are major restrictions. I will give you the information I found along with the website and the phone number to contact in case you want to double check on your own.
Where Can You legally hunt using night vision?
Alabama: Does not currently allow night vision hunting.Website: www.outdooralabama.com
Phone: 334-242-3486
Alaska: In some very specific situations and seasons night vision hunting scopes can be allowed. Your best bet is to check with local wildlife management to see what is and isn’t allowed.
Website: www.adfg.state.ak.us
Phone: Anchorage- 907-267-2347 or Federal- 1-800-478-1456
Arizona: Does not currently allow night vision hunting.
Website: www.azgfd.com
Phone: 602-942-3000
Arkansas: Night vision hunting is ONLY allowed while hunting feral hogs.Website: www.agfc.com
Phone: 501-223-6300
California: There are restrictions but it IS allowed. It’s illegal to use or even have on hand infrared equipment of any kind while hunting. Also the night vision equipment can NOT use circuits that amplify light. It’s best to check with DNR to make sure you’re clear on what the restrictions are for night vision equipment.
Website: www.wildlife.ca.gov
Phone: 916-653-4899
Colorado: Does not currently allow night vision hunting.
Website: https://cpw.state.co.us/aboutus/Pages/RegulationsBrochures.aspxPhone: 303-297-1192
Connecticut: It is legal to use night vision equipment.Website: https://www.ct.gov/deep/cwp/view.asp?q=323414
Phone: 860-424-3000
Delaware: Does not currently allow night vision hunting.
Website: http://www.dnrec.delaware.gov/fw/Hunting/Pages/Wildlife.aspx Phone: (800) 292-3030 or 302-739-3440
Florida: It is legal as long as it does not emit visible light.
Website: http://myfwc.com/hunting
Phone: (850) 488-4676
Georgia: It is currently allowed for night hunting.
Website: www.gohuntgeorgia.com
Phone: 770-918-6416
Hawaii: Does not currently allow night vision hunting.
Website: http://dlnr.hawaii.gov/
Phone: 808-973-9787
Idaho: It is allowed but ONLY for coyotes and raccoons at night and you MUST have the proper permits to make it legal to hunt at night
Website: https://idfg.idaho.gov/
Phone: 800-554-8685
Illinois: It is legal to use night vision equipment.
Website: https://www.dnr.illinois.gov/hunting/Pages/default.aspx
Phone: 217-782-7305
Indiana: It is legal however you must have a continuously burning light within 500 feet from the hunters.
Website: https://www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/2343.htm
Phone: 317-232-4080
Iowa: Only allowed for hunting coyotes.
Website: www.iowadnr.gov
Phone: 515-725-8200
Kansas: Does not currently allow night vision hunting.
Website: https://ksoutdoors.com/
Phone: 620-672-5911
Kentucky: From February 1st to May 31st you are allowed to use night vision, otherwise it is illegal for the rest of the year.
Website: https://fw.ky.gov/Pages/default.aspx
Phone: 800-858-1549
Louisiana: It is legal to use night vision equipment.
Website: http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/
Phone: 225-342-4500
Maine: The use of night vision is legal except for when hunting raccoons.Website: https://www.maine.gov/ifw/hunting-trapping/hunting-laws/general-laws.html
Phone: 207-287-8000
Maryland: It is legal to use night vision equipment.
Website: www.dnr.state.md.us/huntersguide
Phone: 410-260-8540
Massachusetts: Night vision can be used by hunters during legal hunting hours however no artificial light can be used. The only two exceptions to this rule are opossums and raccoons.
Website: www.mass.gov/hunting-regulations
Phone: 617-626-1500
Michigan: The use of night vision equipment is legal as long as all other night hunting rules & regulations are properly followed.
Website: www.michigan.gov/dnr
Phone: 517-373-1263
Minnesota: Does not currently allow night vision hunting.
Website: www.dnr.state.mn.us
Phone: 651-296-6157 or 888-MINNDNR (646-6367)
Mississippi: It is legal to use night vision equipment.
Website: https://www.mdwfp.com/law-enforcement/hunting-rules-regs/ Phone: 601-432-2400
Missouri: Does not currently allow night vision hunting.
Website: www.mdc.mo.gov/hunt/
Phone: 573-751-3443
Montana: The use of night vision equipment is ONLY allowed with non-game species and predator species. If it is classified as game animals the use of night vision equipment is not allowed.
Website: www.fwp.mt.gov/
Phone: 406-444-9944
Nebraska: It is legal to use night vision equipment.
Website: http://outdoornebraska.gov/regulations/
Phone: 402-471-0641
Nevada: It is legal to use night vision equipment; however, laws can change county to county from year to year so it is always best to double check with your specific county.
Website: www.ndow.org/
Phone: 775-688-1500
New Hampshire: It is legal to use night vision equipment during legal night hunting seasons.
Website: www.wildlife.state.nh.us
Phone: 603-271-3422
New Jersey: It is legal to use night vision equipment for night hunting which is limited to a special permit for fox and coyote hunting seasons (usually in the early spring). Laser sights are prohibited as are rifles (the use of shotguns are only allowed during these special hunting seasons)
Website: www.njfishandwildlife.com
Phone: 609-292-2965
New Mexico: Does not currently allow night vision hunting.
Website: www.wildlife.state.nm.us
Phone: 505-476-8000
New York: It is legal to use night vision equipment; however, there are a lot of firearms and individual scopes that are restricted when it comes to hunting at night.
Website: www.dec.ny.gov
Phone: 518-402-8845
North Carolina: It is legal to use night vision equipment.
Website: www.ncwildlife.org
Phone: 910-285-7545
North Dakota: Does not currently allow night vision hunting.
Website: www.gf.nd.gov
Phone: 701-328-6300
Ohio: It is legal to use night vision equipment.
Website: http://wildlife.ohiodnr.gov/huntingandtrappingregulations
Phone: 614-265-6300
Oklahoma: Does not currently allow night vision hunting.
Website: www.wildlifedepartment.com
Phone: 405-521-2730
Oregon: The use of night vision equipment is ONLY allowed to be used by landowners or a state-authorized landowner agent and even then it can only be used for hunting predatory animals on private land by said landowner or the landowner agent as outlined by Oregon state law. Otherwise, night vision equipment is forbidden.
Website: www.dfw.state.or.us
Phone: 503-947-6000
Pennsylvania: Does not currently allow night vision hunting.
Website: www.pgc.state.pa.us
Phone: 717-787-4250
Rhode Island: Does not currently allow night vision hunting.
Website: www.dem.ri.gov/pubs/regs/index.htm
Phone: 401-222-6647
South Carolina: It is legal to use night vision equipment but ONLY when hunting armadillos, coyotes and hogs. Any other type of game hunting in the night is strictly forbidden.
Website: www.dnr.sc.gov/
Phone: 803-734-3886
South Dakota: Does not currently allow night vision hunting.
Website: https://gfp.sd.gov/pages/regulations/
Phone: 605-223-7660
Tennessee: Does not currently allow night vision hunting.
Website: https://www.tn.gov/twra/hunting/big-game/deer.html
Phone: 615-781-6500
Texas: It is legal to use night vision equipment.
Website: www.tpwd.texas.gov
Phone: 512-389-4505
Utah: It is legal to use night vision equipment; however, some local cities or counties may have further regulations or restrictions, especially when dealing with the legal situations of hunting predators at night.
Website: https://wildlife.utah.gov/hunting/main-hunting-page/big-game.html
Phone: 801-538-4700
Vermont: It is legal to use night vision equipment.
Website: www.vtfishandwildlife.com
Phone: 802-241-3700
Virginia: It is legal to use night vision equipment as are lights, as long as the lights are not coming from a vehicle.
Website: http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/
Phone: 804-367-1000
Washington: It is legal to use night vision equipment during bobcat, raccoon and coyote seasons with those three species ONLY.
Website: www.wdfw.wa.gov
Phone: 360-902-2936
West Virginia: It is legal to use night vision equipment.
Website: www.wvdnr.gov
Phone: 304-558-2771
Wisconsin: It is legal to use night vision equipment but cannot be used with any infrared devices or other artificial lights.
Website: https://dnr.wi.gov/topic/hunt/regulations.html
Phone: 608-266-2621
Wyoming: It is legal to use night vision equipment as long as it is not used with any kind of artificial light.
Website: https://wgfd.wyo.gov/regulations
Phone: 307-777-4600