Home › Georgia › Species › Raccoon
Georgia furbearers
Georgia Raccoon Hunting
Private land has no closed season on raccoons, and Georgia sets no limit. Season rows, limits, legal equipment and mapped public land for raccoons.
Photo: Charles Patrick Ewing (CC BY 2.0)
On public land the coon season runs Aug 15, 2026 to Feb 28, 2027. Night hunting is legal, with the light carried on the body, a hat or helmet, or a belt; there is no voltage limit. Trapping raccoons is open all year with a Trapping License, $40.00 resident, $325.00 nonresident.
The WRD raccoon summary
- Legal methods: Hunting with small game weapons, dogs (trail dogs only on WMAs) and lights at night; trapping year-round.
- More: Private land: no closed season. Public land: Aug. 15-Feb. 28.
How many raccoons one hunter may take
The limits a ranger will check for raccoons.
Raccoon
No limit.
Georgia raccoon seasons, 2026-27
Coon hunters get 1 segment this season. Day counts include the opening and closing day.
| Season | Zone | Begins | Ends | Days | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hunting | Private lands | Open all year | Year-round | ||
| Hunting | Public lands | Aug 15, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | 198 | |
| Trapping | Statewide | Open all year | Year-round |
Notes printed with the raccoon dates
- No closed season, no limit; may be hunted at night (light carried on hunter's body, hat/helmet or belt).
From the Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division 2026-27 season page and the 2026-27 guide (PDF), checked October 13, 2026.
Georgia public areas with room for raccoons
These 145 areas list small game; no listing names raccoons on its own.
| Public land | Type | County | WRD region | Acres |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests | National Forest | Rabun, Fannin, Union | – | 869,017 |
| Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge | National Wildlife Refuge | Charlton, Ware, Clinch | Brunswick | 407,038 |
| Blue Ridge Ranger District | National Forest Ranger District | Union, Lumpkin, Fannin | Gainesville | 302,238 |
| Chattooga River Ranger District | National Forest Ranger District | Rabun, White, Habersham | Gainesville | 261,439 |
| Conasauga Ranger District | National Forest Ranger District | Murray, Fannin, Gilmer | Gainesville | 188,617 |
| Oconee Ranger District | National Forest Ranger District | Putnam, Jasper, Greene | Thomson | 116,724 |
| Cohutta WMA | Wildlife Management Area | Murray, Fannin, Gilmer | Armuchee | 92,647 |
| Cedar Creek WMA | Wildlife Management Area | Putnam, Jones, Jasper | Thomson | 41,000 |
| Redlands WMA | Wildlife Management Area | Greene, Oglethorpe, Morgan | Gainesville | 37,500 |
| Dixon Memorial WMA | Wildlife Management Area | Ware, Brantley | Brunswick | 35,247 |
| Piedmont National Wildlife Refuge | National Wildlife Refuge | Jones, Jasper | Thomson | 35,000 |
| Townsend WMA | Wildlife Management Area | Long, McIntosh | Brunswick | 34,294 |
| Altamaha WMA | Wildlife Management Area | McIntosh | Brunswick | 31,569 |
| Savannah National Wildlife Refuge | National Wildlife Refuge | Effingham, Chatham | Fitzgerald | 30,715 |
| Cooper's Creek WMA | Wildlife Management Area | Union, Fannin | Gainesville | 30,000 |
Smaller raccoon areas
Paulding Forest WMA (28,183 ac) · Chestatee WMA (27,123 ac) · Dawson Forest WMA (25,658 ac) · Chattahoochee WMA (25,150 ac) · John's Mountain WMA (23,710 ac) · Crockford-Pigeon Mountain WMA (21,895 ac) · Blue Ridge WMA (20,900 ac) · Rich Mountain WMA (20,674 ac) · Chickasawhatchee WMA (19,700 ac) · Sansavilla WMA (19,084 ac) · Swallow Creek WMA (19,000 ac) · Lake Russell WMA (17,300 ac) · Bullard Creek WMA (17,005 ac) · Little Satilla WMA (16,990 ac) · Paulks Pasture WMA (16,066 ac) · Ceylon WMA (16,000 ac) · Warwoman WMA (15,800 ac) · Berry College WMA (15,605 ac) · Ocmulgee WMA (15,475 ac) · Tuckahoe WMA (15,100 ac) · Oaky Woods WMA (13,450 ac) · B.F. Grant WMA (11,400 ac) · Penholoway Swamp WMA (11,177 ac) · Canoochee Sandhills WMA (10,224 ac) · Clarks Hill WMA – East (10,224 ac) · West Point WMA (10,000 ac) · Upatoi Ravines Natural Area (9,500 ac) · Ohoopee Dunes WMA (9,271 ac) · Silver Lake WMA (9,200 ac) · Chattahoochee Fall Line WMA: VPA Tracts (9,048 ac) · Sapelo Island WMA (9,000 ac) · Flat Tub WMA (8,748 ac) · Grand Bay WMA (8,700 ac) · Lake Seminole WMA (8,300 ac) · Di-Lane WMA (8,100 ac) · Chattahoochee Fall Line WMA: Hilliard Plantation Tract (8,089 ac) · Oconee WMA (7,930 ac) · Yuchi WMA (7,800 ac) · Bond Swamp National Wildlife Refuge (7,760 ac) · Allatoona WMA (7,589 ac) · Richmond Hill WMA (7,400 ac) · Horse Creek WMA (7,397 ac) · Big Hammock WMA (7,315 ac) · Treat Mountain WMA (7,260 ac) · Big Lazer Creek WMA (7,200 ac) · Alapaha River WMA (6,870 ac) · Chattahoochee Fall Line WMA: Almo Tract (6,700 ac) · Clybel WMA (6,700 ac) · Sprewell Bluff WMA: West (6,571 ac) · Mayhaw WMA (6,300 ac) · Griffin Ridge WMA (5,975 ac) · Rum Creek WMA (5,800 ac) · Hannahatchee Creek WMA (5,600 ac) · Sheffield WMA (5,556 ac) · Beaverdam WMA (5,500 ac) · and another 75
Areas and species lists from WRD’s 2026-27 area listings, the WRD WMA layers and federal managers, retrieved 2026-10-13. Harvest by area from WRD Game Check.
Georgia rules for raccoons: licenses, hours, orange
These cards cover the paperwork and the field rules for raccoons.
What to buy
| Item | Georgia resident | Nonresident |
|---|---|---|
| Hunting License | $15.00 | $100.00 |
| Sportsman's License | $65.00 | $400.00 |
| Trapping License | $40.00 | $325.00 |
Legal light
Raccoons are on the guide’s night list: they may be hunted after dark, with the light carried on your body, a hat or helmet, or a belt.
Blaze orange and pink
Expect to wear orange or pink for raccoons on public land during deer and bear gun hunts.
Feed and bait
Georgia’s 200-yard, 10-day bait rule applies to raccoons.
Sunday hunting
Sunday hunting for raccoons is legal statewide; check area listings for day-of-week limits.
From the Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division 2026-27 guide, licenses and fees and hunting information, checked October 13, 2026. Georgia hunting laws · License guide.
Raccoon legal equipment
From the guide’s hunting information and unlawful acts pages, the rows that apply to raccoons.
| Season | Permitted | Not permitted |
|---|---|---|
| Small game & furbearers | .22-cal. or smaller rimfire rifles/handguns; any muzzleloading firearm; any caliber air rifle/air gun; shotguns with shells 3.5 in. or shorter and No. 2 or smaller shot. Fox and bobcat: centerfire .17-cal.+ also legal (not on WMA small game dates). | Centerfire rifles for other small game; centerfire rifles on WMA small game dates day or night. |
How raccoons may be taken
Night hunting
Alligators, raccoons, opossums, foxes, coyotes, bobcats and feral hogs may be hunted at night; lights for raccoon/opossum/fox/bobcat carried on body, hat/helmet or belt. No night hunting of hogs or coyotes on WMAs/National Forests.
Dogs on WMAs
No big game, feral hog or coyote hunting with dogs unless specified; dogs marked with owner name/address/phone; raccoons with trail dogs only; rabbit trail dogs limited to beagles, bassets and dachshunds; dogs picked up by noon the day after a night hunt.
Lights
Unlawful to blind wildlife with lights.
Training dogs on private land
Hunting license required (except own/immediate family land); no closed season; unlawful to run deer with dogs except in dog-deer season or to take game while training except in season.
2026-27 guide (PDF) and the hunting information page, checked October 13, 2026.
What to pack for Raccoon country
Four picks matched to this ground and its seasons.
Amazon links are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no cost to you.
Raccoon: what hunters ask
When is raccoon season on Georgia WMAs?
Aug 15, 2026 to Feb 28, 2027 on public land, no limit. Private land has no closed season.
Can I run coon dogs on a WMA?
Yes, with trail dogs only. No big game, feral hog or coyote hunting with dogs unless specified; dogs marked with owner name/address/phone; raccoons with trail dogs only; rabbit trail dogs limited to beagles, bassets and dachshunds; dogs picked up by noon the day after a night hunt.
Must I wear orange for raccoons?
Expect to wear orange or pink for raccoons on public land during deer and bear gun hunts.
What are legal hours for raccoons in Georgia?
Raccoons are on the guide’s night list: they may be hunted after dark, with the light carried on your body, a hat or helmet, or a belt.
Can I hunt raccoons on Sunday in Georgia?
Sunday hunting for raccoons is legal statewide; check area listings for day-of-week limits.
Does Georgia allow bait for raccoons?
Georgia’s 200-yard, 10-day bait rule applies to raccoons.
What are the 2026-27 Georgia dates for raccoons?
Raccoons run hunting Aug 15, 2026 to Feb 28, 2027 (Public lands).
What does Georgia allow for raccoons?
Small game & furbearers: .22-cal. or smaller rimfire rifles/handguns; any muzzleloading firearm; any caliber air rifle/air gun; shotguns with shells 3.5 in. or shorter and No. 2 or smaller shot. Fox and bobcat: centerfire .17-cal.+ also legal (not on WMA small game dates).
Which Georgia licenses cover raccoons?
The raccoon list, resident: Hunting License ($15.00); Sportsman's License ($65.00); Trapping License ($40.00).
Is there a bag limit on raccoons in Georgia?
No limit.
Which Georgia public lands list raccoons?
Start with Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests, Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge and Blue Ridge Ranger District (Chattahoochee National Forest), the biggest of 145. Matched by the broader game heading.
Raccoon checklist
For raccoons on public ground, read the area’s own listing as well as the statewide rules.
Other photos on this page: See1,Do1,Teach1 (CC BY 2.0); USFWS/Southeast (Public domain); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (CC BY 2.0); USFWS Mountain Prairie (Public Domain Mark 1.0); Monkeystyle3000 (CC BY 2.0); ilouque (CC BY 2.0).