Charleston City Council has voted to expand options for urban hunting to include bears and coyotes. The ordinance allows for bears to be hunted with crossbows while coyotes may be hunted with .22 caliber rifles. Council members also expanded times for hunting coyotes to include nighttime hours on private property.
Members also passed an amendment to municipal code to prohibit hunting bears with dogs. Urban hunting in Charleston begins Sept. 7. Applications are being accepted until Aug. 16.