Furbearer
Illinois Raccoon Season and Limits, 2026-27
Raccoon dates, limits and permits for the 2026-27 IDNR seasons, from Nov 10, 2026 to Feb 15, 2027.
Photo: Charles Patrick Ewing (CC BY 2.0)
Illinois raccoon: the short version
Start with the table below: its 2 lines cover every day raccoon can be taken, Nov 10, 2026 through Feb 15, 2027. Daily and possession rules come to no limit.
Hunting runs November 10, 2026 to February 15, 2027 with no limit, hunting closes during the first and second firearm deer seasons in the counties that are open to firearm deer, and a separate trapping season uses the same dates. Raccoon appear in the allowed-game lists of 138 public sites, and 138 of those sites have pages.
From 2026-27 Illinois Hunting and Trapping Digest (Illinois Department of Natural Resources), checked November 13, 2026.
Illinois raccoon dates, row by row
Dates as printed by IDNR for raccoon, with the status checked against today.
| Season | Where | Permit | Dates | Limit | Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hunting (guns and bows) | Statewide | License |
| No limit | |
| Trapping | Statewide | Trapping |
| No limit |
From 2026-27 Illinois Hunting and Trapping Digest (Illinois Department of Natural Resources), checked November 13, 2026.
Illinois rules on raccoon: bag and gear
| Listed as | Limit |
|---|---|
| raccoon | No limit |
Boiled down, hunting with gun or bow; trapping are the lawful ways to take raccoon.
From Digest season tables and Digest equipment pages (Illinois Department of Natural Resources), checked November 13, 2026.
Illinois licenses for raccoon
| Item | Buyer | Digest base price | Fee-table price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Resident Hunting | Resident | $12.00 | $12.50 |
| Nonresident Hunting | Nonresident | $57.00 | $57.75 |
| State Habitat Stamp | Either | $5.00 | $5.50 |
| Resident Trapping | Resident | $10.50 | $10.50 |
| Nonresident trapping license | Nonresident | $175.50 | $175.50 |
Prices differ by the vendor fee between the two sources; every annual license and state stamp is valid from March 1 through the next March 31.
From Digest license pages (Illinois Department of Natural Resources), checked November 13, 2026.
Field rules for raccoon hunters in Illinois
| Subject | Rule text |
|---|---|
| Sale of wildlife | May not buy, sell or offer to sell or barter game birds, migratory game birds or parts (including feathers, nests, eggs and wild turkey parts) or the edible parts of game mammals except under specific permits. |
| Hunting hours | Hunting only during the hours specified for each species relative to official sunrise-sunset times; some IDNR sites are more restrictive. |
| Live wildlife possession | May not release captive wildlife except as authorized, bring in live protected wildlife taken outside Illinois without IDNR permission, or retain wildlife alive except as provided in 17 Ill. Adm. Code 970. |
Always compare these statewide rules with the posted rules of the site where you hunt raccoon.
From Digest general rules and Digest hunter orange page (Illinois Department of Natural Resources), checked November 13, 2026.
Public land for raccoon in Illinois
Among the 138 sites that list raccoon are 44 state fish and wildlife areas, 29 state parks and 15 state natural areas; here are the largest that have a page of their own.
| Name | Classification | County | Acres |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cypress Creek | Wildlife refuge | Pulaski and Union | 16,758 |
| Jim Edgar Panther Creek | Fish and wildlife area | Cass | 16,400 |
| Cache River | Natural area | Johnson and Pulaski | 15,425 |
| Kaskaskia River | Fish and wildlife area | St. Clair and Randolph | 14,000 |
| Horseshoe Lake | Fish and wildlife area | Alexander | 11,690 |
| Mississippi River Pool 24 | Fish and wildlife area | Pike and Calhoun | 10,211 |
| Carlyle Lake | Fish and wildlife area | Fayette and Clinton | 9,868 |
| Mississippi River Pool 21 | Fish and wildlife area | Adams | 8,536 |
Site pages show which permits and seasons apply to raccoon; acreage is from IDNR fact sheets, not a map measurement.
From IDNR site records (Illinois Department of Natural Resources), checked November 13, 2026.
Clock rules for raccoon in Illinois
Night hunting rules for raccoon are as follows: Raccoon, opossum, red fox, bobcat: open 24 hours, beginning 1/2 hour before sunrise on opening day and closing 1/2 hour after sunset on closing day, except during archery deer season, when hours are 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset.
From Digest hours rules (Illinois Department of Natural Resources), checked November 13, 2026.
Load the truck for Raccoon
Built around prairie, farm and river country.
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Raccoon in the woodsPhoto: Juliana Chong (CC BY 2.0)
Snow on the bank of the Ohio River at Locks and Dam 53 near Grand ChainPhoto: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Louisville District (CC BY 2.0)
Morning light reflecting on the Ohio River at Paducah, across from Massac CountyPhoto: jjmusgrove (CC BY 2.0)
What hunters ask about raccoon
Which days is raccoon open in Illinois?
In the IDNR table: hunting (guns and bows) statewide: November 10, 2026 to February 15, 2027; trapping statewide: November 10, 2026 to February 15, 2027.
What is the daily limit for raccoon in Illinois?
The posted limit is No limit.
Which permits and stamps does raccoon hunting require?
Buy a trapping license ($10.50 resident, Digest-listed or fee-table price) or, for hunting, a hunting license and the State Habitat Stamp.
Can I use a rifle, bow or shotgun for raccoon?
Methods named for raccoon: hunting with gun or bow; trapping.
Do I need a permit to trap raccoon?
Resident trapping licenses are $10.50 and nonresident ones $175.50 with reciprocity; trapper education is required for first-timers born on or after January 1, 1998.
How do I find out where raccoon may be trapped on public sites?
Start with the trapping page, then the site pages for any extra permit.
Is there a Sunday rule for raccoon?
No Sunday rule appears in the Digest or on the IDNR pages we read, and this page does not add one.
Can a new hunter go after raccoon without a course?
Illinois asks younger hunters, those born on or after January 1, 1980, for a hunter safety certificate or a prior-year license. The apprentice route needs no course but needs a licensed hunter 21 or older at your side.
Where can I hunt raccoon on public land in Illinois?
Look at the land directory; 138 sites list raccoon, 138 with pages, and site rules can be stricter than the statewide ones.
Other photos on this page: Juliana Chong (CC BY 2.0); U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Louisville District (CC BY 2.0); jjmusgrove (CC BY 2.0).