Raccoons are one of Georgia’s most common wildlife conflicts — raiding garbage cans, tearing into attics, and causing thousands of dollars in property damage each year. If you’re dealing with a persistent problem, your first question is probably whether you can legally kill one.
The short answer is yes, but only under specific circumstances and with the right approach. Georgia’s wildlife laws draw a clear line between what’s permitted and what could land you in legal trouble. Understanding where that line sits — and how it changes depending on your land, the season, and the method you use — is essential before you take any action.
Are Raccoons Protected in Georgia?
Raccoons in Georgia occupy a somewhat unique regulatory category. Georgia classifies raccoons as both a furbearer and a non-game species, meaning they fall under specific regulations enforced by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Wildlife Resources Division (WRD). Under O.C.G.A. 27-1-2, raccoons are considered “wild animals,” making their handling and ownership subject to strict oversight.
That classification matters because it means raccoons are not freely available to kill at will, the way you might handle a common household pest. Georgia wildlife laws encompass a range of regulations designed to manage and protect the state’s diverse animal populations, and these laws are implemented by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and include statutes and guidelines that balance ecological integrity with human activities.
At the same time, raccoons are not federally protected in the way that migratory birds or endangered species are. Raccoons, classified as furbearers, are subject to specific legal protections and management practices, and the regulations address various aspects such as hunting seasons, permissible methods of capture, and requirements for humane dispatching.
Key Insight: Raccoons in Georgia are not on the state’s protected wildlife list, but they are regulated furbearers — meaning you cannot kill them freely outside of defined legal pathways.
It’s also worth noting that most U.S. states prohibit keeping raccoons as pets, typically classifying them as native wildlife or restricting their possession under wildlife laws, and Georgia is among those states. Owning one as a pet is simply not a legal option in this state.
When Can You Legally Kill a Raccoon in Georgia?
Georgia law provides several distinct windows during which killing a raccoon is lawful. The rules differ significantly depending on whether you’re on private or public land, and whether you’re acting as a hunter, a property owner, or someone with a nuisance permit.
On private land: There is no closed season for the trapping of beaver, coyote, raccoon, or opossum on private lands. This means private landowners have the broadest flexibility — you can hunt or trap raccoons year-round on your own property without worrying about seasonal restrictions. The private lands year-round season was intended to manage raccoon populations, which can damage wild turkey and quail by consuming their eggs.
On public land: On public lands, the August-to-February season coincides with colder months when raccoons are most active and easy to track, particularly at night. Hunting season on National Forest lands and on most Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) runs from August 15 through the last day of February, with no bag limit for raccoon.
Outside of season with a nuisance permit: If it is not trapping or hunting season and raccoons are causing property damage, you can obtain a nuisance wildlife control permit from Georgia DNR. This is the pathway most homeowners use when raccoons are actively damaging their property outside of open seasons.
Important Note: Even on private land where no closed season applies, you still need to follow all other state regulations — including licensing requirements, lawful methods, and local ordinances on firearm discharge. “No closed season” does not mean “no rules.”
Violating Georgia’s raccoon laws can result in fines or even jail time, and the Georgia DNR and local law enforcement agencies enforce regulations on hunting, trapping, transport, and captivity. Under O.C.G.A. 27-1-38, unlawfully possessing or transporting a raccoon without the required permit is a misdemeanor, punishable by fines up to $1,000 per violation.
Legal Methods for Killing Raccoons in Georgia
Georgia law approves several methods for killing raccoons, but each comes with its own set of conditions. Choosing the wrong method — or using a legal method in the wrong context — can still result in a violation.
Firearms: Hunting with firearms such as .22-caliber rifles or shotguns is a legal method. However, firearm usage must follow local ordinances to guarantee public safety. In many Georgia cities and counties, discharging a firearm within city limits or in densely populated areas is prohibited regardless of the target animal. Always check your local ordinances before using a gun on a raccoon, even on your own property.
Archery and crossbows: Archery and crossbows are also legal methods, and coonhounds in particular are legal and commonly utilized for tracking. Archery can be a practical alternative in suburban areas where firearm discharge is restricted.
Trapping followed by dispatch: Live trapping is widely used, but if your goal is lethal removal, Georgia law has specific requirements for how trapped raccoons must be dispatched. It is unlawful to fail to carry a weapon of .22 cal. rimfire while tending traps and to use that weapon to dispatch any animal caught. This means you cannot simply leave a trapped raccoon to die — lawful dispatch is required.
Poison: Poison is not a legally approved method for killing raccoons in Georgia. Poisons that can harm or kill raccoons are also dangerous to the well-being of humans and other wildlife, and using humane raccoon repellent instead of poisons can ensure the safety of your kids and pets who may unknowingly ingest these toxic substances.
Common Mistake: Assuming that because you can kill a raccoon, any method is acceptable. Poison, drowning, and inhumane killing methods can all expose you to animal cruelty or wildlife violation charges under Georgia law.
For more context on how Georgia handles wildlife-related laws, including what happens when animals are found on roadways, see our guide on roadkill laws in Georgia.
Trapping Raccoons in Georgia: Rules and Restrictions
Trapping is one of the most common approaches to raccoon control in Georgia, and the state has a detailed regulatory framework governing how it must be done.
Licensing requirements: A trapping license — either a commercial trapping license or a no-cost landowner trapping license — is required for trapping, and the license also allows for the selling of furs, hides, and pelts. Resident Commercial Trapping, Non-Resident Commercial Trapping, and Landowner Trapping licenses are available online at Go Outdoors Georgia. Private property owners may hunt or trap raccoons on their land without a license, provided they follow state regulations.
Trap inspection: It is unlawful to fail to inspect traps at least once each 24-hour period and remove any animals caught in the traps. Leaving a trapped raccoon unattended for extended periods is a violation, regardless of your intent.
Trap placement: It is unlawful to trap any wildlife upon the right-of-way of any public road or highway of this state. Additionally, it is unlawful to trap any wildlife upon the lands or in the waters of any other person except with written consent of the owner, which must be on the person setting or using the traps.
Trap size restrictions: Body gripping traps in excess of 9.5 inches square may be used only in water or within 10 feet of water. It is unlawful to set on land any trap with a jaw opening any larger than 5.75 inches. These size restrictions exist to minimize the risk of capturing non-target animals, including pets.
Seasonal trapping on public land: The trapping season for furbearers on public land runs from December 1 through February 28. Outside of this window, trapping on public land requires a nuisance permit or other specific authorization.
Bait selection matters too. Cage traps using bait such as cat food, fruit, or marshmallows are commonly used. Effective bait placement increases the likelihood of capturing the target animal rather than neighborhood cats or other wildlife. For additional strategies on deterring raccoons before you reach the trapping stage, see our article on plants that repel raccoons.
Pro Tip: Check all traps at the same time each day — ideally early morning — to minimize the time any captured animal spends in the trap. This keeps you compliant with the 24-hour inspection rule and reduces stress on non-target animals you may need to release.
Can You Relocate a Raccoon Instead of Killing It in Georgia?
Many homeowners assume that live-trapping and releasing a raccoon somewhere else is the safest, most humane option. In Georgia, however, relocation is heavily restricted — and in many cases, it is effectively illegal for private individuals to do on their own.
Moving raccoons within Georgia is tightly controlled due to concerns about disease transmission and ecological impact. O.C.G.A. 27-2-10 makes it illegal to transport live raccoons without a permit from the Georgia DNR. This regulation primarily prevents the spread of rabies and other zoonotic diseases, and permits are generally granted only to licensed wildlife rehabilitators, research institutions, or government agencies involved in population management.
Individuals who capture raccoons on their property cannot release them elsewhere without authorization, and unauthorized relocation disrupts ecosystems and poses health risks. Even if your intentions are good, driving a trapped raccoon to a nearby park or forest and releasing it there could expose you to a misdemeanor charge.
There are additional practical problems with DIY relocation. Once trapped, you face relocation challenges — you must have landowner permission to release raccoons on someone else’s property, and improper relocation can result in legal consequences. Wildlife released on state property is also prohibited under Georgia’s nuisance wildlife control framework.
Relocating nuisance wildlife generally is discouraged and may be illegal. Check with local wildlife conservation officers and health department officials before moving any wildlife off your property.
Raccoons are also primary carriers of rabies. Raccoons are the greatest source of rabies infection in North America and the most frequent cause of post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) administrations on the continent. Moving a potentially infected animal to a new area puts other wildlife, pets, and people at risk — which is precisely why Georgia’s transport restrictions exist. Learn more about what animals naturally keep raccoon populations in check in our overview of predators of raccoons.
Hiring a Licensed Wildlife Control Operator in Georgia
If you’re not comfortable handling raccoon removal yourself — or if you’re outside of a legal season and don’t have a nuisance permit — hiring a licensed Nuisance Wildlife Control Operator (NWCO) is often the most practical and legally sound option.
The NWCO is authorized to live-trap, possess, transport, and release in suitable habitat certain nuisance wildlife. In addition, the permittee is authorized, at his discretion, to euthanize certain nuisance animals and to transport non-endangered injured, sick, or orphaned wildlife to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator.
NWCOs operate under a specific permit issued by Georgia DNR. To apply for a Nuisance Wildlife Control permit, you must take an exam and score at least 80% on the Nuisance Wildlife Control Exam administered by the Department of Natural Resources, and persons intending to take the examination should review the animal damage control literature and applicable regulations.
Licensed operators are also bound by strict record-keeping requirements. The permittee must maintain records of all wildlife trapped, including county, species, number, disposition, and relocation site, and must submit an annual report of such records by January 31 of the following year to DNR’s Special Permit Unit.
At any time when nuisance animals with dependent young are encountered, the permittee is required to make all reasonable efforts to remove young with the adult(s). This is an important detail — the timing of removal is particularly important during spring months when female raccoons have dependent young. Removing a nursing mother raccoon without addressing her babies leaves them orphaned, and they will die in your walls or attic, creating odor problems and attracting insects.
Pro Tip: A list of licensed NWCOs in Georgia is available through the DNR’s Special Permits page at gadnrle.org. Always verify that the operator you hire holds a current, valid permit before allowing them to work on your property.
For a broader look at how raccoons interact with other wildlife, including what animals prey on them in the wild, visit our page on what animals eat raccoons.
Local Ordinances That May Override State Law in Georgia
State law sets the floor for raccoon management in Georgia, but local governments can — and frequently do — impose additional restrictions that are stricter than what the state allows. Before taking any action, you need to check both layers of regulation.
Firearm discharge bans: This is the most common local restriction that affects raccoon control. Check local ordinances regarding the discharge of firearms. Many Georgia cities and suburban counties prohibit firing a gun within city limits or within a certain distance of structures, roads, or neighboring properties. Even if state law permits you to shoot a raccoon on your private land, your city or county may make that impossible in practice.
Feeding bans: Feeding raccoons in public or residential areas is discouraged and, in some cases, illegal. While there is no statewide ban, many municipalities prohibit the intentional feeding of wildlife, particularly in urban and suburban areas. These rules help prevent human-wildlife conflicts, as raccoons accustomed to human-provided food can become aggressive and pose safety risks. Violators of local feeding bans may face fines ranging from $50 to $500, depending on the jurisdiction.
WMA-specific rules: On public land, hunters and trappers must adhere to DNR rules, which may include seasonal restrictions and designated hunting zones. Certain Wildlife Management Areas impose additional limitations, such as requiring special permits or restricting specific trapping methods.
Trap placement near roads: Beyond the state-level prohibition on trapping on road rights-of-way, some counties have additional setback requirements for traps near public infrastructure. Always confirm local rules with your county’s animal control office or sheriff’s department before setting traps near property boundaries.
The safest approach is to contact your local city or county government, your county extension office, or the Georgia DNR’s Wildlife Resources Division directly before taking any lethal or trapping action. You can reach the DNR’s nuisance wildlife line at 1-800-366-2661 for guidance specific to your situation.
For reference on how neighboring states handle similar wildlife and roadkill laws, see our guides on roadkill laws in Tennessee and roadkill laws in Virginia. You can also explore our main raccoon resource page for a deeper look at raccoon behavior and biology, or learn about the different types of raccoons found across North America.
Final Thoughts
Yes, you can kill raccoons in Georgia — but the law is more layered than a simple yes or no. Your rights depend on whether you’re on private or public land, what time of year it is, what method you use, and what your local ordinances allow on top of state law.
Private landowners have the broadest flexibility, with no closed season and a range of legal methods available. Homeowners dealing with property damage outside of hunting season can pursue a nuisance wildlife control permit through Georgia DNR. And for situations that feel complicated or involve large numbers of animals, a licensed NWCO is almost always the smartest call.
What you should avoid at all costs: using poison, relocating raccoons without a permit, setting traps without checking them daily, or discharging a firearm in an area where local ordinances prohibit it. Those shortcuts can turn a wildlife problem into a legal one.
When in doubt, call the Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division at 1-800-366-2661 before taking action. A five-minute phone call can save you from a costly violation — and help you resolve the problem the right way.