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DNR regulations 2026-27
Raccoon Hunting in Wisconsin
Resident raccoon season runs Oct 17, 2026 to Feb 15, 2027; nonresidents start two weeks later, Oct 31, 2026. The whole 2026-27 raccoon year, opener to close, from the DNR tables.
Photo: Harlequeen (CC BY 2.0)
There is no bag or possession limit, and coon hunters may hunt at night with lights at the point of kill while on foot. Nonresidents need the nonresident furbearer license; residents hunt raccoons on a small game license. Shining any wild animal from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., Sept. 15 to Dec. 31, is illegal whether or not you carry a weapon.
What the regulations say about raccoons
- Methods: Resident Oct. 17-Feb. 15; nonresident Oct. 31-Feb. 15; night hunting allowed.
- Bag in short: Unlimited.
DNR regulations page, checked October 19, 2026.
GearHeading out for a hunt? Hunting gear checklists by season →
Wisconsin raccoon season dates, 2026-27
The 2026-27 raccoon calendar, 2 rows in all, read straight from the DNR season tables.
| Season | Zone | Method | Opens | Closes | Days | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raccoon (resident) | Statewide | Hunting (night hunting allowed) | Oct 17, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | 122 | |
| Raccoon (nonresident) | Statewide | Hunting (night hunting allowed) | Oct 31, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | 108 |
Raccoon row conditions
- Unlimited bag; nonresident furbearer license.
From the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Fall 2026-Spring 2027 regulations and the season dates page, checked October 19, 2026.
Raccoon limits and license costs for 2026-27
Limits for raccoons in the DNR's own words, then every license, stamp and permit with resident and nonresident prices.
Raccoon, red fox, gray fox, coyote
Unlimited daily and possession.
What a raccoon hunter buys
| License | In-state | Out-of-state |
|---|---|---|
| Small game (resident) or furbearer (nonresident) license | $18.00 | $165.00 |
| Trapping license | $20.00 | $150.00 |
DNR regulations, Go Wild resident list and nonresident list, checked October 19, 2026. Wisconsin hunting license guide.
Raccoon hunting areas
Property game lists use broad groups, so these are the 423 properties that list furbearers; few or none name raccoons by itself. Read each property page before you go.
| Property | Kind | Counties | Acres |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest | National Forest | Ashland, Bayfield, Florence… | 1,526,925 |
| Managed Forest Law Open Lands 883,583 ac | Private Forest Land Open to Public | Adams, Ashland, Barron… | 883,583 |
| Douglas County Forest | County Forest | Douglas | 281,853 |
| Marinette County Forest | County Forest | Marinette | 229,978 |
| Bayfield County Forest | County Forest | Bayfield | 175,557 |
| Iron County Forest | County Forest | Iron | 175,343 |
| Washburn County Forest | County Forest | Washburn | 150,196 |
| Clark County Forest | County Forest | Clark | 134,742 |
| Langlade County Forest | County Forest | Langlade | 130,717 |
| Jackson County Forest | County Forest | Jackson | 122,685 |
| Sawyer County Forest | County Forest | Sawyer | 115,196 |
| Burnett County Forest | County Forest | Burnett | 111,516 |
| Lincoln County Forest | County Forest | Lincoln | 100,843 |
| Price County Forest | County Forest | Price | 92,294 |
| Rusk County Forest | County Forest | Rusk | 89,284 |
Additional raccoon properties
Oneida County Forest · Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge · Meadow Valley Wildlife Area · Kettle Moraine State Forest · Eau Claire County Forest · Brule River State Forest · Fort McCoy · Oconto County Forest · Apostle Islands National Lakeshore · Vilas County Forest · Ashland County Forest · Wood County Forest · Florence County Forest · Chippewa County Forest · George W. Mead Wildlife Area · Marathon County Forest · Crex Meadows Wildlife Area · Horicon National Wildlife Refuge · Wood County Wildlife Area · Juneau County Forest · Taylor County Forest · Polk County Forest · Barron County Forest · Forest County Forest · Navarino Wildlife Area · Hay Creek-Hoffman Lake Wildlife Area · Tiffany Wildlife Area · Fish Lake Wildlife Area · Leopold Wetland Management District · Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program Lands · White River Marsh Wildlife Area · Buena Vista Wildlife Area · Governor Earl Peshtigo River State Forest · Horicon Marsh Wildlife Area · Devil's Lake State Park · Sandhill Wildlife Area · Glacial Habitat Restoration Areas · Waterloo Wildlife Area · Upper Wolf River Fishery Area · Pershing Wildlife Area · Kimberly Clark Wildlife Area · Kickapoo Valley Reserve · St. Croix Wetland Management District · Grand River Marsh Wildlife Area · Monroe County Forest
Properties and their game lists from DNR property pages, the DNR managed lands layer and federal managers, retrieved 2026-10-19. Wisconsin public land directory · County guides.
Raccoon regulations beyond the bag
Field rules for raccoons, checked against the regulations on October 19, 2026.
GameReg
GameReg registration is not listed for raccoons; it covers deer, bear, elk, turkey, bobcat, fisher and otter.
Hours
Raccoons may be hunted day or night in Wisconsin; only bows and crossbows are held to shooting hours, and only during the bear and archery deer seasons.
Wearing orange
The blaze orange rule reaches raccoons only by day while a gun deer season is open; legal night hunting is exempt.
Baiting law
Raccoons may not be hunted over bait; the small game rule allows no exceptions.
Hunting on Sunday
Seasons for raccoons include Sundays; the state sets no weekday limit.
From the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Fall 2026-Spring 2027 regulations: registration, blaze orange, baiting, shooting hours tables, checked October 19, 2026. Shooting hours by county · Wisconsin hunting laws.
Legal weapons for raccoons in Wisconsin
Legal and prohibited equipment for raccoons, with the method rules beside it.
| Season or group | Legal | Not legal |
|---|---|---|
| Furbearers (hunting) and unprotected species | Firearms (buckshot allowed), airguns, bows, crossbows; lights at point of kill on foot for coyote, fox, raccoon and unprotected species. | Shining while possessing a weapon; night hunting for bobcat; baiting coyote or bobcat. |
Raccoon method rules from NR 10
Shining
No shining wild animals while possessing a weapon; no shining 10 p.m.-7 a.m. Sept. 15-Dec. 31 regardless; local ordinances may add limits.
Dogs
No dogs for deer or elk; dogs allowed for small game, birds, furbearers, bear, migratory birds, unprotected species and fall turkey; leashed blood-tracking dogs allowed for wounded game if trackers carry no weapon; May 1-June 30 no pursuit north of the mapped highways; dogs on DNR land leashed (8 ft) April 15-July 31 except designated areas.
Sale of game
Deer heads, skins (not spotted) and antlers (not velvet) may be sold when separated; squirrel tails/skins/skulls; rabbit/hare carcasses and skins in season; furbearer pelts any time; bobcat pelts only with DNR tag and seal; unprotected species parts.
Wisconsin hunting regulations weapons and methods pages, Wis. Stat. ch. 29 and NR 10, checked October 19, 2026.
Wisconsin raccoon questions answered
Can nonresidents hunt raccoons in Wisconsin?
Yes, from Oct 31, 2026 to Feb 15, 2027 with a nonresident furbearer license ($165.00).
Which weapons are legal for raccoons in Wisconsin?
Furbearers (hunting) and unprotected species: Firearms (buckshot allowed), airguns, bows, crossbows; lights at point of kill on foot for coyote, fox, raccoon and unprotected species.
When do Wisconsin raccoons come into season in 2026-27?
For raccoons: raccoon (resident) Oct 17, 2026 to Feb 15, 2027; raccoon (nonresident) Oct 31, 2026 to Feb 15, 2027.
What does the DNR let a hunter keep of raccoons?
Unlimited daily and possession.
How much do the licenses for raccoons cost?
Buy, as it applies to raccoons: Small game (resident) or furbearer (nonresident) license ($18.00); Trapping license ($20.00).
Can raccoons be hunted on DNR or county forest land?
Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, Managed Forest Law Open Lands and Douglas County Forest lead a list of 423. Most of them list a broader game group rather than the species itself.
Is there a sunset rule for raccoons in Wisconsin?
Raccoons may be hunted day or night in Wisconsin; only bows and crossbows are held to shooting hours, and only during the bear and archery deer seasons.
Do coon hunters wear blaze pink or orange?
The blaze orange rule reaches raccoons only by day while a gun deer season is open; legal night hunting is exempt.
How do the DNR bait rules treat raccoons?
Raccoons may not be hunted over bait; the small game rule allows no exceptions.
Is there a harvest report for raccoons?
GameReg registration is not listed for raccoons; it covers deer, bear, elk, turkey, bobcat, fisher and otter.
Is there any Sunday closure for raccoons?
Seasons for raccoons include Sundays; the state sets no weekday limit.
Heading out after raccoons
Dates and limits here match the DNR regulations as checked on October 19, 2026; the DNR can change them, so check the regulations page before a raccoon hunt.
Other photos on this page: reivax (CC BY-SA 2.0); Yellowstone National Park (Public Domain Mark 1.0); Anne Marie Peterson from Madison, WI, US (CC BY-SA 2.0); Charles Patrick Ewing (CC BY 2.0).