Rifles

Coyote Night hunting Mass laws: Need Help

I am new to guns and hunting my question is: Is it legal to use a .17 HMR to hunt coyote at night in Mass? My brother in law says no because teh .17 hmr is chambered to take larger than a .22. I guess i just dont understand. Can anyone clarify?

COYOTE & FOX
Hunting hours end at midnight. Artificial lights prohibited. Rifles chambered to take larger than .22 caliber long rifle rimfire ammunition and pistols and revolvers chambered to take ammunition larger than .38 caliber are prohibited between the hours of ½ hour after sunset and ½ hour before sunrise (night time). Shotguns are allowed (see Shotgun Ammunition). Firearms other than shotguns and bows and arrows are prohibited on WMAs stocked with pheasant or quail during the pheasant and quail season. Coyote and Fox must be tagged within four working days of the end of the season. For hunting coyotes during shotgun deer season, all shotgun deer season rules apply (hunter orange, firearms, etc.).