Furbearers
Raccoon hunting in Minnesota, 2026-27
2026-27 dates, limits, licenses and public land for raccoons, from the DNR booklet.
Photo: Charles Patrick Ewing (CC BY 2.0)
Raccoons in Minnesota: 4 season rows between Oct 17, 2026 and Mar 15, 2027, plus bag limits, license prices and the public land that lists them.
Raccoon rules in one list
- Limit: No limit.
- Seasons in short: North zone Oct. 17-Mar. 15, south Oct. 24-Mar. 15; hunting day or night (rules at night) or trapping.
- Also: Nonresidents need a $183 raccoon/bobcat license.
DNR source page (as of Sep 15, 2026), checked October 28, 2026.
GearHeading out for a hunt? Hunting gear checklists by season →
Raccoon calendar by unit and zone
4 season lines for raccoons, opening to closing.
| Hunt | Applies to | Limit | Start | End | Days | Open now? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hunting (north): Raccoon | North Furbearer Zone | No limit | Oct 17, 2026 | Mar 15, 2027 | 150 | |
| Hunting (south): Raccoon | South Furbearer Zone | No limit | Oct 24, 2026 | Mar 15, 2027 | 143 | |
| Trapping (north zone): Raccoon | North Furbearer Zone | No limit | Oct 17, 2026 | Mar 15, 2027 | 150 | |
| Trapping (south zone): Raccoon | South Furbearer Zone | No limit | Oct 24, 2026 | Mar 15, 2027 | 143 |
What the raccoon rows add
- Day or night except not before 9 a.m. on opening day; raccoon at night on foot with dogs/lights rules; fox night lights Jan. 1-Mar. 15
- Trap setting/tending 5 a.m.-10 p.m.; not before 9 a.m. on opening day for fox, badger, opossum, raccoon
From booklet p. 65, booklet p. 66, checked October 28, 2026.
Raccoon: north and south zone dates
North Furbearer Zone is north of the I-94/US 10 line (Moorhead-St. Paul-Hastings); South Furbearer Zone is south of it.
DNR booklet furbearer page, booklet WMA trapping rules, checked October 28, 2026.
Limits and fees for raccoons
Licenses for raccoons
| License | Residency | Who | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small game license | resident | Adult 18-64 | $22 |
| Junior trapping | resident | Age 13-17 | $5 |
| Adult trapping | resident | Age 18-64 | $23 |
| Senior trapping | resident | Age 65+ | $11.50 |
| Small game license | nonresident | Adult 18+ | $102 |
| Trapping, landowner only | nonresident | Landowners | $84 |
| Raccoon or bobcat license | nonresident | Hunters/trappers | $183 |
Residents must have lived in Minnesota 60 days before buying a resident license.
booklet p. 18, booklet p. 20, booklet p. 22, checked October 28, 2026.
Raccoon: hours, blaze and registration
There is no closing hour for raccoons, only the 9 a.m. start on opening day.
Minnesota exempts raccoon and predator hunters from the one-article blaze rule; the deer-season rule (cap and above the waist) still covers anyone afield from Nov. 7 on.
Sundays are open for raccoons: the booklet and chapter 97B set no day-of-week limits.
booklet shooting hours, blaze rules, validation and registration, checked October 28, 2026.
What the law allows for raccoons
| Weapons | Legal | Not legal |
|---|---|---|
| Raccoon at night | .17 or .22 rimfire rifles/handguns (incl. .22 magnum) or shotguns with No. 4 shot or smaller; lights only once treed or bayed by dogs. | Taking a raccoon in a den or hollow tree or by cutting a tree. |
Other rules for raccoon hunters
| Topic | Rule |
|---|---|
| Trap checks | Non-drowning traps tended every calendar day; drowning and body-grip traps every third day; no trap in place after season close; traps identified with DL number, ID number, name/address or MDNR number. |
| Artificial lights (shining) | No shining while possessing a weapon; no shining from 2 hours after sunset to sunrise; no shining posted land or fenced agricultural land, residences or building sites from a vehicle. |
| Night vision and thermal | Banned while taking wild animals except fox and coyote hunting (not during firearms deer season) or with weapons cased in a trunk. |
| Sale of game | Hides, bones, antlers, teeth, claws, sinew may be sold (not migratory birds); flesh of beaver, muskrat, raccoon, rabbits and hares may be sold; no sale of bear meat or gall bladders; bear paws only on the hide. |
booklet p. 36, booklet p. 37, booklet p. 65, booklet p. 69, checked October 28, 2026.
What hunters ask about raccoons
Is Sunday hunting allowed for raccoons?
No day of the week closes the raccoon season in Minnesota.
Who needs a Minnesota trapping license?
For raccoons: trapping license plus small game license (16+); residents under 13 need no trapping license; nonresidents may trap only their own land.
Is there a daily limit on raccoons?
The booklet says: No limit.
What is the raccoon opener in Minnesota?
From Oct 17, 2026 to Mar 15, 2027. Detail: North zone Oct. 17-Mar. 15, south Oct. 24-Mar. 15; hunting day or night (rules at night) or trapping.
What hours apply to raccoon hunting?
There is no closing hour for raccoons, only the 9 a.m. start on opening day.
What does it cost to hunt raccoons?
Small game license (resident, Adult 18-64): $22; Junior trapping (resident, Age 13-17): $5; Adult trapping (resident, Age 18-64): $23; Senior trapping (resident, Age 65+): $11.50; Small game license (nonresident, Adult 18+): $102; all are electronic, with no paper tags.
Which firearms are allowed for raccoons?
Legal: .17 or .22 rimfire rifles/handguns (incl. .22 magnum) or shotguns with No. 4 shot or smaller; lights only once treed or bayed by dogs.
Can I wear camo for raccoons?
Minnesota exempts raccoon and predator hunters from the one-article blaze rule; the deer-season rule (cap and above the waist) still covers anyone afield from Nov. 7 on.
Do raccoon dates differ north and south?
North Furbearer Zone is north of the I-94/US 10 line (Moorhead-St. Paul-Hastings); South Furbearer Zone is south of it. It is a highway line, not a county line.
Other photos on this page: ilouque (CC BY 2.0); jcantroot (CC BY 2.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0).