If you’ve ever been interested in learning about how to hunt raccoons, consider your lucky star. With years of sleep deprivation in the forest in pursuit of these cunning animals, I have gathered a few tips of the trade along the way. Hunting raccoons is a little more than a shot, however. The hunt is an experience, a test of patience, a test of talent, and a test of raccoon patterns. In this article, I will teach you all there is about raccoon night hunting when raccoons can best be hunted, and in which raccoons can be found. Here are the best Air Rifles To Hunt Raccoons.
Best Time to Hunt Raccoons
The best time for raccoon hunting is nighttime. The raccoons being night animals, become active after evening and go roaming till night. My experience tells me, that raccoon hunters have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity between 9 PM and 3 AM, especially on cold, calm days. The raccoons become active on milder days of winter and the night before a storm when raccoons go on a large hunt for food.
Season-wise, fall and wintertime are best for raccoon hunting. During cold weather, raccoons start getting active, wandering here and there in quest for food in a struggle to get fat for cold weather. In this period, raccoons have perfect fur for fur trading, as well.
Where to Find Raccoons for Hunting
Knowing where to find raccoons is crucial. These creatures prefer areas with abundant food sources and easy access to water. Here are some of the best spots where I’ve consistently found raccoons:
- Creeks and Rivers: Raccoons love water sources. Creeks, ponds, and rivers are excellent places to scout because raccoons wash their food in water and often follow waterways while foraging.
- Cornfields and Farmlands: If you have access to farmland, check around cornfields, as raccoons love to raid crops at night.
- Wooded Areas and Hollow Trees: Raccoons are tree climbers and often hide in hollow logs and densely wooded areas. Look for trees with visible scratch marks or droppings around them.
- Abandoned Barns and Buildings: If you’re hunting near rural properties, abandoned structures make great hiding spots for raccoons.
- Trash Dumps and Suburban Edges: While not ideal for hunting, suburban areas and garbage dumps attract raccoons due to easy food availability.
How to Hunt Raccoons at Night
Once you’ve scouted your area, it’s time to start the hunt. Here’s a step-by-step approach based on my personal experience:
1. Use the Right Gear
Having the right hunting equipment makes a huge difference. Here’s what I recommend:
- Firearm: A .22 rifle or a shotgun (preferably loaded with #4 or #6 shot) is ideal for raccoon hunting.
- Lights: A powerful headlamp or coon-hunting light is essential. I use a red or green LED light to avoid spooking the raccoons.
- Calls: Mouth-blown or electronic raccoon calls can help lure them out. Distress calls work exceptionally well.
- Dog (Optional): Many hunters use trained coonhounds to track and tree raccoons. If you’re serious about raccoon hunting, investing in a good coonhound is worth it.
2. Find a Good Hunting Spot
Once you’ve found an active raccoon habitat, place yourself in a strategic position in which there is a clear view. I prefer a creek location or a corn location in which raccoons have a proclivity for roaming.
3. Use a Spotlight to Scan the Area
Shining a flash of light on the ground and tree can expose the raccoon’s glowing eye in return. They have a glowing, distinct sheen on the eye which is quite visible in the dark.
4. Call Them In
Using a raccoon distress call or a predator call can draw raccoons closer. They’re naturally curious animals and will often investigate unfamiliar sounds.
5. Take Your Shot
Once you have a clear shot, aim for the head or chest for a clean, ethical kill. If the raccoon is treed, ensure you have a steady aim before taking your shot.
6. Retrieve Your Catch and Process It Properly
After the shot, make sure to take your raccoon in promptly. If it is for fur, it is required that it is well-skinned and preserved. If it is for human consumption, have it well cooked and hygienically cleaned?
Final Thoughts
Hunting raccoons at night is an experience filled with excitement and satisfaction. With a little bit of knowledge, necessary gear, and a calm attitude, anyone can become a raccoon expert. For sport, fur, or raccoon population control, these steps can lead you toward a successful nighttime experience in the forest.
If you have raccoon-hunting experience or tips, let us see them in the comments. Hunting success wishes for you.