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Furbearers, hunted and trapped · 2026-27
Raccoon Hunting in Michigan, 2026-27
Raccoon hunting and trapping are open Oct 1, 2026 to Mar 31, 2027, and a management season runs Apr 1 to Sep 30, 2026. Dates, limits, land and rules for raccoons, all from the DNR 2026 summaries.
Photo: Juliana Chong (CC BY 2.0)
There is no bag limit, and raccoons are one of the six species Michigan allows to be hunted at night. A fur harvester license ($15) is required with the base license. In the management season, hunting (public and private); trapping private land only; no dogs april 16-july 7.
The DNR line on raccoons
- Methods and dates: Hunting and trapping Oct. 1-March 31 (night hunting allowed); management season April 1-Sept. 30.
- Bag: No limit.
- Other points: Fur harvester license.
DNR source page, checked October 22, 2026.
GearHeading out for a hunt? Hunting gear checklists by season →
Raccoon seasons by zone and unit
Each bar is one raccoon segment. Fall dates are 2026; January to April dates are 2027.
| Segment | Unit | Methods | Opening | Closing | Days | Right now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Management season | Statewide | Hunting (public and private); trapping private land only | Apr 1, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | 183 | |
| Hunting | Statewide | Hunting (firearm, bow, crossbow; dogs) | Oct 1, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | 182 | |
| Trapping | Statewide | Trapping | Oct 1, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | 182 |
Notes on the raccoon segments
- No dogs April 16-July 7.
- Nighttime hunting allowed; fur harvester license required.
From the Michigan Department of Natural Resources 2026 regulation summary, checked October 22, 2026.
Raccoon bag limits and licenses
These raccoon limits are statewide unless a unit, a property or a hunt sets its own.
Raccoon
Residents: no limit per season; nonresidents: no limit
Raccoon license costs
| Product | Res. adult | Res. senior | Youth | Nonres. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Base license | $11 | $5 | $6 | $151 |
| Fur harvester license | $15 | $6 | $15 | $15 |
| Incidental tag | Free | Free | Free | Free |
DNR regulation summary and fee tables, DNR eLicense, checked October 22, 2026. Michigan hunting license guide.
The DNR rulebook for raccoons
Before going after raccoons, check these reporting, hours and bait rules.
Harvest report
Nothing is reported or registered for raccoons.
Hunting hours
Michigan gives raccoons the standard window, a half hour either side of sunrise and sunset, with the zone offsets from the DNR map. Raccoons can be hunted at night too, within the WCO 2.5(2) weapon list.
Orange rule
Wear hunter orange for raccoons by day from Aug. 15 through April 30; the statute lets the Natural Resources Commission authorize pink too.
Sundays
Neither the 2026 summaries nor the Wildlife Conservation Order closes Sunday hunting for raccoons.
Night hunting weapons
WCO 2.5(2): skunk, weasel, raccoon, opossum, coyote and fox may be hunted at night by a person on foot with a bow, crossbow, pneumatic gun, rimfire .22 or smaller, centerfire rifle/pistol .269 caliber or smaller, or shotgun with loads no larger than No. 3 buckshot; loaded/cocked only at point of kill with dogs, or when using a call or bait. No centerfire rifle/pistol at night in state parks/recreation areas.
Raccoon hours on key days
| Day | Opener or close | In A | In B | In C | In D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1, 2026 | Hunting opens | 6:59 a.m. to 7:46 p.m. | 7:05 a.m. to 7:52 p.m. | 7:11 a.m. to 7:58 p.m. | 7:17 a.m. to 8:04 p.m. |
| Mar 31, 2027 | Hunting closes | 6:47 a.m. to 8:27 p.m. | 6:53 a.m. to 8:33 p.m. | 6:59 a.m. to 8:39 p.m. | 7:05 a.m. to 8:45 p.m. |
From the Michigan Department of Natural Resources 2026 regulation summaries: harvest reporting, MCL 324.40116 hunter orange, baiting, hunting hours tables, checked October 22, 2026. Hunting hours by zone · Michigan hunting laws.
Raccoon ground: harvest and public land
Listed: 5 properties with furbearers or the species on their game list.
| Public area | Kind | County | Acres |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan State Forest System | State Forest | Alcona, Alger, Alpena… | 3,954,811 |
| Ottawa National Forest | National Forest | Baraga, Gogebic, Houghton… | 1,000,750 |
| Huron-Manistee National Forest | National Forest | Alcona, Crawford, Iosco… | 979,067 |
| Hiawatha National Forest | National Forest | Alger, Chippewa, Delta… | 899,499 |
| Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge | National Wildlife Refuge | Saginaw | 10,000 |
Properties and their game lists from DNR, USFS, FWS and NPS pages and the DNR land layers, retrieved 2026-10-22. Michigan public land directory · County guides.
What gear is legal for raccoons
Allowed and banned equipment for raccoons, side by side.
| Group | What is legal | What is not |
|---|---|---|
| Night hunting (raccoon, opossum, coyote, fox, skunk, weasel) | Bow, crossbow, pneumatic gun, rimfire .22 or smaller, centerfire rifle/pistol .269 caliber or smaller, shotgun with loads no larger than No. 3 buckshot (WCO 2.5(2)). | Centerfire rifle/pistol at night in state parks/recreation areas; buckshot larger than No. 3, slugs, cut shells. |
| Trapping | Foothold, body-gripping/conibear, cage traps for all furbearers; snares for beaver only; colony traps for muskrat only; nonlethal cable restraints for coyote/fox Jan. 1-March 1. | Setting traps before the season opens; see trap-type table and trap-check rules. |
Method limits for raccoons
Artificial lights
No lights to locate animals in November, or 11 p.m.-6 a.m. the rest of the year; no lights with a weapon in possession; Nov. 1-30 on own/family land without a weapon; deer hunters may use lights 1 hour before/after hours with an unloaded weapon while walking to/from the stand.
Afield outside hunting hours
Firearms unloaded in the barrel and arrows in a quiver (WCO 2.5(7)); may load only at the point of kill of a downed big-game animal.
Buying and selling game
Game may not be bought or sold except as allowed by WCO 4.3.
Michigan regulation summaries, the Wildlife Conservation Order and MCL part 401, checked October 22, 2026.
Common Michigan raccoon questions
Can I hunt raccoons at night in Michigan?
WCO 2.5(2): skunk, weasel, raccoon, opossum, coyote and fox may be hunted at night by a person on foot with a bow, crossbow, pneumatic gun, rimfire .22 or smaller, centerfire rifle/pistol .269 caliber or smaller, or shotgun with loads no larger than No. 3 buckshot; loaded/cocked only at point of kill with dogs, or when using a call or bait. No centerfire rifle/pistol at night in state parks/recreation areas.
Do I need a fur harvester license for raccoons?
Yes: $15 plus the base license.
Which game areas and forests carry raccoons?
Of 5 public properties that qualify, the largest are Michigan State Forest System, Ottawa National Forest and Huron-Manistee National Forest. A group heading in the property record put some of these on the list.
How long after sunset can raccoons be taken?
Michigan gives raccoons the standard window, a half hour either side of sunrise and sunset, with the zone offsets from the DNR map. Raccoons can be hunted at night too, within the WCO 2.5(2) weapon list.
Does the orange law cover raccoons?
Wear hunter orange for raccoons by day from Aug. 15 through April 30; the statute lets the Natural Resources Commission authorize pink too.
Do I have to report raccoons in Michigan?
Nothing is reported or registered for raccoons.
Does Michigan close Sunday hunting for raccoons?
Neither the 2026 summaries nor the Wildlife Conservation Order closes Sunday hunting for raccoons.
Which guns, bows and loads work for raccoons?
Night hunting (raccoon, opossum, coyote, fox, skunk, weasel): Bow, crossbow, pneumatic gun, rimfire .22 or smaller, centerfire rifle/pistol .269 caliber or smaller, shotgun with loads no larger than No. 3 buckshot (WCO 2.5(2)).
When is the opener for raccoons under the 2026 DNR rules?
The DNR sets raccoons at management season Apr 1 to Sep 30, 2026; hunting Oct 1, 2026 to Mar 31, 2027; trapping Oct 1, 2026 to Mar 31, 2027.
How many raccoons may go in the bag under DNR rules?
Residents: no limit per season; nonresidents: no limit.
What must I buy before going after raccoons in Michigan?
Required or relevant, at resident prices: Base license ($11); Fur harvester license ($15); Incidental tag (Free).
Final notes on raccoons
Before the raccoon trip, confirm your license, the property rules and the hunter orange rule for the dates you hunt.
Other photos on this page: Alabama Extension (CC0 1.0); ZionNPS (CC BY 2.0); U.S. Geological Survey (CC0 1.0); GregGilbert1 (CC BY 2.0).