Can You Kill Raccoons in Missouri? What State Law Actually Allows
May 13, 2026
Raccoons are one of the most common wildlife conflicts Missouri property owners face. Whether one is tearing up your garden, raiding a chicken coop, or setting up a den in your attic, the first question you probably ask is whether you can legally do something about it — including killing it.
The answer is yes, but with important conditions. Missouri law gives property owners more flexibility than many people realize, and understanding those rules keeps you on the right side of the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) before you act. This guide breaks down exactly what the state permits, what methods are legal, and when you need outside help.
Are Raccoons Protected in Missouri?
The Wildlife Code of Missouri classifies the raccoon as a furbearer and game mammal that may be taken during prescribed hunting and trapping seasons. That classification means raccoons do carry a degree of legal protection — you cannot simply shoot or trap one at any time for any reason without consequence.
That said, raccoons are not endangered or specially protected in the way that migratory birds or threatened species are. Missouri’s raccoon population has increased significantly over the past decade, a trend that has been particularly noticeable in urban and suburban areas of the state, where natural predators are few, artificial foods are abundant, and hunting and trapping are more restricted.
Because of this population growth, the MDC has actually expanded harvest opportunities for raccoons in recent years rather than restricting them. You can read more about raccoon behavior and biology to better understand why they are so adaptable and why conflicts with humans are so frequent.
Key Insight: Raccoons are classified as both a furbearer and a game mammal in Missouri, meaning they are regulated — but not off-limits. Both hunting and lethal control outside of season are permitted under specific conditions.
When Can You Legally Kill a Raccoon in Missouri?
There are two main legal windows for killing a raccoon in Missouri: during the established hunting and trapping seasons, and outside of season when a raccoon is actively damaging your property.
During open season: The Missouri raccoon hunting and trapping season runs August 1 through October 15, and November 15 through February 28. During these periods, anyone with the appropriate permit can legally hunt or trap raccoons with no daily or possession limit. The daily limit is any number, and the possession limit is also any number.
Outside of season — property damage exception: The Wildlife Code also specifies that you may shoot or trap damage-causing raccoons out of season without a permit, under 3 CSR 10-4.130 (Owner May Protect Property; Public Safety). This is a significant provision that gives property owners meaningful options year-round.
Subject to federal regulations governing the protection of property from migratory birds, any wildlife except deer, turkey, black bears, and any endangered species that beyond reasonable doubt is damaging property may be captured or killed by the owner of the property being damaged, or by his or her representative, at any time and without permit, but only by shooting or trapping except by written authorization of the director.
Important Note: The out-of-season property damage provision applies only on your own property. You cannot pursue or kill a raccoon on a neighbor’s land or in a public area under this rule, even if it caused damage to your property.
If you are curious about the broader landscape of wildlife laws in Missouri, the roadkill laws in Missouri article covers related regulations around wildlife and property that may also be relevant to your situation.
Legal Methods for Killing Raccoons in Missouri
Missouri law specifies which methods are permitted and which are strictly off the table. Using a prohibited method — even when lethal control is otherwise legal — can result in violations.
Firearms: Raccoons can be shot with conventional firearms, usually a rimfire. You should check with local authorities regarding firearms use. This is particularly important in incorporated areas, where city or county ordinances may prohibit discharging a firearm. Without the owner’s consent, or in the absence of the owner, it is illegal to discharge a firearm or muzzleloader within 100 yards of a building.
Trapping: Cage-type traps, foot-enclosing traps, and body-gripping traps are all options under the right conditions. Each comes with specific placement rules covered in the trapping section below.
Prohibited methods: Poisons, tranquilizing drugs, chemicals, and explosives may not be used to take wildlife. This is a hard prohibition with no exceptions for property owners. If you see a pest control company advertising poison-based raccoon removal, that approach is illegal under Missouri law.
- Conventional firearms (rimfire most common) — legal with local ordinance check
- Cage-type traps — legal with size and placement rules
- Foot-enclosing traps — legal with restrictions
- Body-gripping traps — restricted to elevated sets (6 feet or more above ground on dry land)
- Poisons, chemicals, explosives — strictly prohibited
- Drones or motor-driven conveyances to pursue wildlife — prohibited
Understanding what natural predators of raccoons look like in the wild can also give you context for why lethal control is sometimes the most practical solution when natural population checks are absent in urban settings.
Trapping Raccoons in Missouri: Rules and Restrictions
Trapping is often the most practical method for homeowners dealing with a problem raccoon. Missouri has detailed rules governing trap types, placement, and check frequency that you must follow.
Trap size and type: Cage-type traps should be sturdy and at least 10 by 12 by 32 inches in size. Body-gripping traps are not allowed for dry-land sets in Missouri, but in locations such as an attic you may set them 6 feet or more above ground.
Trap placement: Trappers must not place traps in paths used by people or domestic animals, and they may not put them on private land unless the landowner gives explicit permission. Killing-style traps are prohibited near public roads unless fully submerged in permanent water. Traps in populated areas must be at least 150 feet from occupied buildings and limited to cage-type or foot-enclosing traps.
Trap check frequency: Except for colony and killing-type traps, which need to be examined every 48 hours, wildlife must be taken out of or released from traps every day.
Seasonal trap restrictions: From August 1 through October 15, only foot-enclosing traps and cage-type traps may be used. An extended trapping season on private land runs from March 1 to April 14.
Pro Tip: Bait cage traps with cat food, sardines, or sweets like bread with jelly or marshmallows. The sweeter baits have the added advantage of being less likely to attract neighborhood cats into the trap.
Young raccoons: Young may be present April to August, so before trapping adults and making repairs, make sure no young are present. Trapping a nursing mother without addressing the dependent young creates a separate welfare and odor problem inside your structure.
You should also be aware of the different types of raccoons that may be present in Missouri — while only one species (the common raccoon, Procyon lotor) is native to the state, knowing what you are dealing with helps you assess the scope of the problem.
Can You Relocate a Raccoon Instead of Killing It in Missouri?
Many property owners prefer the idea of releasing a trapped raccoon somewhere far from their home rather than killing it. Missouri’s official guidance, however, strongly discourages this approach — and there are practical and legal reasons behind that position.
Although relocation may seem like a good idea, the MDC does not recommend it. Moving an animal can spread disease. Also, a strange animal coming into an established local population of the same species can upset the local group’s social order and possibly its health.
There is growing opposition to relocating raccoons and other wildlife because of the possibility of disease spreading from one population to another. In addition, research indicates that a relocated raccoon may be forced out of the new area by the other raccoons already present. Because raccoons that are trapped and relocated may not have a good chance of survival, it is better to dispose of them.
The disease concern is not trivial. Raccoons may carry fleas, ticks, lice, distemper, mange, and canine and feline parvovirus. Raccoons may also carry rabies, which is a different strain from other rabies in Missouri. Raccoon rabies is extremely virulent and spreads very quickly, and it is more dangerous to wildlife and people than the type that currently affects skunks and other animals in Missouri.
From a regulatory standpoint, wildlife you take under the property damage provision may not be used in any way, and you must report it to the Department within 24 hours, then dispose of it in accordance with Department instructions. Unauthorized relocation — particularly across county lines — may violate state wildlife regulations.
Common Mistake: Many people assume that releasing a raccoon a few miles away is a humane and legal solution. In Missouri, the MDC actively discourages relocation due to disease transmission risks and poor survival outcomes for relocated animals. Lethal disposal is the recommended outcome after capture.
If raccoons are a recurring problem on your property, addressing the attractants is just as important as removal. Learn about plants that repel raccoons as a long-term deterrent strategy.
Hiring a Licensed Wildlife Control Operator in Missouri
If you are not comfortable handling a raccoon problem yourself — or if the situation involves a den of animals, a rabies concern, or a complex structural intrusion — hiring a professional is a practical option that keeps you fully within the law.
Nuisance wildlife control operators in Missouri do not need a license or permit to deal with nuisance animals. Instead, they must sign an agreement with the Department of Conservation allowing their company name, number, and address to be made public. This means the barrier to entry for operators is relatively low, so you should vet any company you hire carefully.
Operators must keep a record of all animals caught. The record must include the number of animals caught, the location at which they were caught, the name of the customer, and where the animals were released or the method by which the animals were euthanized.
The MDC maintains a searchable directory of authorized nuisance wildlife control operators. You can find a business that will help you with your nuisance wildlife issue through the MDC’s operator lookup, which lists over 200 registered operators statewide. You can also contact your local county conservation agent, who can likely provide the name of a local trapper who can assist you.
When evaluating a wildlife control company, ask specifically about their disposal methods. Never hire a pest control company that uses poisons to address the problem. Contact a dedicated wildlife professional and ask the appropriate questions before you hire.
| What to Ask a Wildlife Control Operator | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Are you registered with the MDC? | Confirms they have signed the required MDC agreement |
| Do you use poisons or chemicals? | Poison use is illegal in Missouri — a red flag if they say yes |
| How do you dispose of captured animals? | MDC requires proper disposal, not unauthorized relocation |
| Do you check traps daily? | Required by law for most trap types |
| Do you address entry points after removal? | Prevents re-infestation; a sign of a thorough operator |
You may also find it helpful to review information about what animals eat raccoons — understanding the ecological role of raccoons in Missouri’s food web can inform how you think about long-term population management on your property.
Local Ordinances That May Override State Law in Missouri
State law sets the floor for what is allowed, but Missouri cities and counties can impose stricter rules within their jurisdictions. This is one of the most commonly overlooked aspects of raccoon control, and ignoring local ordinances can result in fines or other penalties even when you are acting within state law.
Check with local city or county authorities regarding the use of traps and firearms in local jurisdictions. This is not optional advice — it is a step you should take before discharging any firearm or setting any trap in an incorporated area.
Common local restrictions that may apply include:
- Discharge of firearms prohibited within city limits or within a set distance of structures
- Trap placement restrictions more stringent than the state’s 150-foot rule
- Requirements to notify animal control before trapping wildlife on residential property
- Restrictions on trap types beyond what state law specifies
- Local ordinances requiring a permit even for nuisance wildlife control
Individuals found guilty of unlawfully trapping, relocating, or harming nuisance wildlife may face fines ranging from $100 to $1,000, depending on the severity of the offense. In some cases, intentional harm to protected species can lead to criminal charges, higher fines, and even jail time.
Urban areas like Kansas City and St. Louis are particularly likely to have additional ordinances that restrict firearms discharge or require notification before trapping. If you live within city limits, a quick call to your local animal control or city clerk’s office will confirm what is and is not allowed in your specific jurisdiction.
Pro Tip: Even in rural Missouri, check with your county conservation agent before acting. The MDC’s local contacts directory makes it easy to find the right person, and a five-minute call can save you from an inadvertent violation.
For context on how other states handle similar wildlife conflicts, you may find it useful to compare rules in neighboring states. The roadkill laws in Tennessee and roadkill laws in Wisconsin articles illustrate how wildlife regulations vary significantly across state lines, reinforcing why verifying Missouri-specific rules matters.
What You Should Do Before Taking Any Action
Killing a raccoon in Missouri is legal under the right circumstances, but the rules are specific enough that a quick review before acting is always worth the time. Here is a practical summary of the key steps:
- Confirm the raccoon is causing damage — the out-of-season property protection provision requires that the animal is “beyond reasonable doubt” damaging your property.
- Check whether you are in an open season — if so, a valid hunting permit covers you for lethal methods without needing to invoke the damage provision.
- Verify local ordinances — especially regarding firearms discharge and trap placement before you act.
- Choose a legal method — cage trap, foot-enclosing trap, or firearm. Never use poison or chemicals.
- Check traps daily — required by state law for most trap types.
- Report and dispose properly — if acting under the out-of-season damage provision, report to the MDC within 24 hours and follow their disposal instructions.
- Consider a licensed operator — if the situation is complex, a registered MDC nuisance wildlife control operator handles all of the above on your behalf.
Missouri’s framework gives property owners real tools to deal with raccoon problems. Knowing exactly which tools are available — and how to use them legally — is the difference between resolving the issue cleanly and creating a bigger problem for yourself.