Raccoon: Hunting and Trapping
Artificial lights are allowed when hunting raccoons if raccoons are treed with the aid of dogs.
From August 1 through October 15 only foot-enclosing traps and cage-type traps may be used.
Extended trapping season on private land from March 1 to April 14.
Limits
Daily limit: Any number
Possession limit: Any number
Valid Permits
Special Provision for Firearms Deer Season: During the November portion and Antlerless portion in open counties, furbearer hunters must also possess an unfilled firearms deer hunting permit if hunting during daylight hours.
Allowed & Prohibited Methods
Furbearers: Hunting: Allowed Methods
Methods
Pistols, revolvers, and rifles propelling a single projectile at one discharge
Firearms powered by spring, air, or compressed gas
Shotguns not larger than 10 gauge with magazine cut off or plugged to reduce the capacity to not more than three shells in the magazine and chamber combined.
Bows, including longbows, compound bows, and recurve bows.
Crossbows
Atlatls
Slingshots
Dogs may be used (Dogs may not be used during daylight hours from Nov. 1 through the end of November portion statewide and the antlerless portion in open areas.)
Electronic calls or electronically activated calls may be used.
Additional Info
During spring turkey season, coyotes may be taken only during legal shooting hours for turkey hunting, using only methods allowed for spring turkey hunting, and hunters must have an unfilled spring turkey hunting permit and either a Resident Small Game Hunting Permit or a Nonresident Furbearer Hunting and Trapping Permit.
Additional Allowed Methods (Feb. 1 - March 31)
During this time the below equipment is allowed in conjunction with other legal hunting methods to pursue and take coyotes.
- Artificial light
- Night vision equipment
- Infrared or thermal imagery equipment
Pistols, revolvers, and rifles propelling a single projectile at one discharge
Firearms powered by spring, air, or compressed gas
Shotguns not larger than 10 gauge with magazine cut off or plugged to reduce the capacity to not more than three shells in the magazine and chamber combined.
Bows, including longbows, compound bows, and recurve bows.
Crossbows
Atlatls
Slingshots
Dogs may be used (Dogs may not be used during daylight hours from Nov. 1 through the end of November portion statewide and the antlerless portion in open areas.)
Electronic calls or electronically activated calls may be used.
During spring turkey season, coyotes may be taken only during legal shooting hours for turkey hunting, using only methods allowed for spring turkey hunting, and hunters must have an unfilled spring turkey hunting permit and either a Resident Small Game Hunting Permit or a Nonresident Furbearer Hunting and Trapping Permit.
Additional Allowed Methods (Feb. 1 - March 31)
During this time the below equipment is allowed in conjunction with other legal hunting methods to pursue and take coyotes.
- Artificial light
- Night vision equipment
- Infrared or thermal imagery equipment
Furbearers: Hunting: Prohibited Methods
Methods
Arrows containing any drug, poison, chemical, or explosive
Poisons, tranquilizing drugs, chemicals, or explosives
Motor driven conveyances may not be used to take, drive, or molest wildlife
Artificial lights to search for, harass, or disturb wildlife (see special allowed methods for coyote)
You may not take wildlife from or across a public roadway with a firearm, bow, or crossbow
Additional Info
You may not possess night vision or thermal imagery equipment while carrying a firearm, bow, or other implement used to take wildlife. (See special allowed methods for coyote.)
Arrows containing any drug, poison, chemical, or explosive
Poisons, tranquilizing drugs, chemicals, or explosives
Motor driven conveyances may not be used to take, drive, or molest wildlife
Artificial lights to search for, harass, or disturb wildlife (see special allowed methods for coyote)
You may not take wildlife from or across a public roadway with a firearm, bow, or crossbow
You may not possess night vision or thermal imagery equipment while carrying a firearm, bow, or other implement used to take wildlife. (See special allowed methods for coyote.)
Furbearers: Trapping: Allowed Methods
Methods
Traps must have smooth or rubber jaws only
Foot-hold trap
Conibear or other killing-type trap
Foot-enclosing trap
Cage-type trap
Colony traps with openings no greater than 6 inches in height and 6 inches wide
Cable restraint devices
Snares set underwater, have a loop 15 inches or less in diameter when set, have a stop device that prevents snare from closing to less than 2 1/2 inches in diameter, made with cable that is between 5/64 inch and 1/8 inch in diameter, and have a mechanical lock and anchor swivel.
From March 1 through April 14 only foot-hold traps, foot-enclosing traps, and cage-type traps may be used to trap coyote, opossum, raccoon, and striped skunk.
From August 1 through October 15 only foot-enclosing traps and cage-type traps may be used to trap opossum, raccoon,
Additional Info
Within communities having 10,000 or more inhabitants, only cage-type or foot-enclosing traps, may be set within 150 feet of any residence or occupied building.
Traps must have smooth or rubber jaws only
Foot-hold trap
Conibear or other killing-type trap
Foot-enclosing trap
Cage-type trap
Colony traps with openings no greater than 6 inches in height and 6 inches wide
Cable restraint devices
Snares set underwater, have a loop 15 inches or less in diameter when set, have a stop device that prevents snare from closing to less than 2 1/2 inches in diameter, made with cable that is between 5/64 inch and 1/8 inch in diameter, and have a mechanical lock and anchor swivel.
From March 1 through April 14 only foot-hold traps, foot-enclosing traps, and cage-type traps may be used to trap coyote, opossum, raccoon, and striped skunk.
From August 1 through October 15 only foot-enclosing traps and cage-type traps may be used to trap opossum, raccoon,
Within communities having 10,000 or more inhabitants, only cage-type or foot-enclosing traps, may be set within 150 feet of any residence or occupied building.
Furbearers: Trapping: Prohibited Methods
Methods
Dogs may not be used for aquatic furbearers (beaver, muskrat, mink, otter)
Snares on land
Pitfalls
Deadfalls
Nets
Traps may not be set in paths made or used by people or domestic animals.
Killing-type traps may not be set along public roadways.
Traps may not be placed or set before midnight of the first day of the applicable trapping season and must be removed by midnight of the last day of the applicable trapping season.
Additional Info
Dogs may not be used for aquatic furbearers (beaver, muskrat, mink, otter)
Snares on land
Pitfalls
Deadfalls
Nets
Traps may not be set in paths made or used by people or domestic animals.
Killing-type traps may not be set along public roadways.
Traps may not be placed or set before midnight of the first day of the applicable trapping season and must be removed by midnight of the last day of the applicable trapping season.
