Can You Kill Raccoons in Illinois? What the Law Actually Allows
June 16, 2026
Raccoons are one of the most adaptable, persistent, and frequently complained-about wild animals in Illinois. Whether one has taken up residence in your attic, is raiding your garden nightly, or has become a genuine safety concern, your first instinct might be to deal with it permanently. But before you reach for a firearm or set a trap, you need to understand exactly where the law stands — because getting it wrong can result in fines, permit violations, or criminal charges.
Illinois does allow raccoons to be killed under specific circumstances, but the rules depend heavily on where you live, what time of year it is, and whether you have the right permits. This guide breaks down every scenario so you know precisely what you can and cannot do.
Are Raccoons Protected in Illinois?
Raccoons are not classified as endangered or threatened in Illinois, but that does not mean they are unprotected. Many of the mammals in Illinois are legally protected by the Illinois Wildlife Code. Raccoons fall under the category of fur-bearing mammals, which means the state regulates when, how, and by whom they can be taken.
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) is responsible for regulating hunting and trapping, and many kinds of wildlife — such as skunks, opossums, and raccoons — are very good at adapting to habitat changes. They are often culprits that cause property damage or pose health risks to humans.
The raccoon may be legally hunted and trapped in Illinois following all relevant laws and regulations. However, that legality is conditional. Outside of open hunting and trapping seasons, or without the appropriate nuisance permit, killing a raccoon is generally unlawful. The state treats raccoons as a managed wildlife resource, not a pest you can eliminate at will.
Important Note: Raccoons are a known carrier of rabies in Illinois. If you encounter a raccoon behaving erratically or aggressively during daylight hours, contact your local animal control or the Illinois Department of Public Health before attempting any removal.
You can learn more about raccoon behavior, biology, and the challenges they pose by visiting our raccoon species overview, which covers everything from diet to habitat preferences.
When Can You Legally Kill a Raccoon in Illinois?
There are two primary legal pathways for killing a raccoon in Illinois: during the regulated hunting and trapping season, or under a nuisance animal removal permit issued outside of season. Each comes with its own set of conditions.
During Open Season
It shall be unlawful for any person to trap or to hunt with gun, dog, dog and gun, or bow and arrow, gray fox, red fox, raccoon, weasel, mink, muskrat, badger, bobcat, and opossum except during the open season, which will be set annually by the Director between 12:01 a.m., November 1 to 12:00 midnight, February 15, both inclusive. In practice, this means the statewide raccoon hunting season runs from mid-November through mid-February each year.
In rural areas, a hunting or trapping license is needed to harvest a raccoon. In rural areas, there is no limit to the number of raccoons that an individual with a hunting or trapping license may take. That is a notable point — there is no bag limit for raccoons in Illinois during open season, which reflects how abundant the population is statewide.
Outside of Open Season (Nuisance Permit)
By Illinois law, a property owner needs a permit — it is free — from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources in order to trap raccoons. Permits are issued in cases where the animal is causing property damage or is causing a public health or safety concern.
By Illinois law, property owners or tenants need a Nuisance Animal Removal Permit to trap and remove most species of wildlife. You can request one through the IDNR’s online WILD portal or by contacting your local IDNR District Wildlife Biologist. The permit is free of charge and is the standard route for homeowners dealing with raccoon problems outside of hunting season.
Pro Tip: Even if you qualify for a nuisance permit, the IDNR strongly recommends exhausting non-lethal deterrents first — things like securing garbage cans, removing food sources, and using exclusion methods. Check out our guide on plants that repel raccoons for natural deterrent options.
Legal Methods for Killing Raccoons in Illinois
The method you use to kill a raccoon in Illinois must comply with state law. Not every approach is permitted, and the rules differ depending on whether you are hunting during open season or operating under a nuisance permit.
Hunting Season Methods
During the open season, licensed hunters may use guns, dogs, dog-and-gun combinations, and bow and arrow to take raccoons. A .22 caliber or smaller rimfire firearm is permitted from sunset to sunrise unless otherwise specified; use of a shotgun with slugs to take furbearing mammals is prohibited except as provided in specific site regulations.
On IDNR-managed public lands, additional site-specific restrictions may apply. More than 75 state, federal, and international laws apply to the hunting and trapping of furbearers in Illinois. Such laws set standards for animal welfare and place limits on hunting and trapping so that animals are not endangered by these activities.
Trapping Methods
Statewide trap specifications include: leghold set on land must have jaw spread of 6.5 inches or less; leghold set in water must have jaw spread of 7.5 inches or less; body-gripping trap on land must have jaw spread of 7 inches or less on a side if square, or 8 inches if round; body-gripping trap in water must have jaw spread of 10 inches or less on a side if square, or 12 inches if round.
Nuisance Permit Methods
A permittee’s method of taking fauna must be approved by the IDNR. Approved methods include, but are not limited to, trapping and shooting. The use of guns shall be subject to all state restrictions. This means local firearm discharge ordinances still apply — if you live in a municipality that prohibits firearm discharge, you cannot shoot a raccoon even with a valid nuisance permit.
Common Mistake: Many homeowners assume that because they have a nuisance permit, they can use any method they choose. In reality, all methods must be IDNR-approved, and local firearm ordinances override state permission to shoot. Always verify your municipality’s rules before using a firearm.
Understanding the broader predator ecosystem around raccoons can also help you make informed management decisions. Our article on predators of raccoons and what animals eat raccoons provides useful context on natural population control.
Trapping Raccoons in Illinois: Rules and Restrictions
Trapping is the most commonly used method for dealing with nuisance raccoons in Illinois, and it comes with a detailed set of rules you must follow regardless of whether you are trapping during open season or under a nuisance permit.
Season and Licensing
The statewide raccoon hunting season is from mid-November through mid-February. Raccoons may be trapped from mid-November through mid-February. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources offers a lengthy trapping season — three months, in some cases four and a half months.
Distance from Dwellings
Legal trapping can occur 100 yards from an occupied dwelling without permission of the occupants, closer with permission, as long as there are no municipal ordinances that prohibit it. This is a critical rule for suburban and urban trappers — always get written permission if you need to trap closer than 100 yards to a neighbor’s home.
Daily Trap Checks Required
It is unlawful to fail to visit and remove all animals from traps staked out, set, used, tended, placed, or maintained at least once each calendar day. This is a firm legal requirement. Leaving a trapped animal unattended for more than 24 hours is a violation of Illinois law, regardless of your permit status.
Permitted Trap Types
- Leghold traps (within jaw-spread size limits)
- Body-gripping traps (within jaw-spread size limits)
- Snares (must be 15 inches or less in diameter when set, constructed of cable between 5/64 to 1/8 inch diameter, and equipped with a mechanical lock, anchor swivel, and stop device)
- Live/cage traps (most commonly used for nuisance situations)
The IDNR Division of Wildlife recognizes that regulated trapping is a versatile, safe, effective, and ecologically sound means of capturing individual animals without impairing the survival of furbearer populations or damaging the environment.
Key Insight: Illinois law requires that you check your traps every single calendar day. This applies to both hunting-season trappers and nuisance permit holders. Failing to do so is a violation that can result in fines and permit revocation.
Can You Relocate a Raccoon Instead of Killing It in Illinois?
Relocation sounds like the humane middle ground, but Illinois law places significant restrictions on it — and for raccoons specifically, the rules are especially strict. In many cases, relocation is not a realistic legal option.
The 100-Yard Rule for Raccoons
Raccoons must be euthanized or released on the same property and within 100 yards of where they are captured, or surrendered to a licensed veterinarian who is a licensed wildlife rehabilitator for euthanasia or treatment and release. This is a hard rule under Illinois Administrative Code, and it applies to both private citizens and nuisance permit holders dealing with raccoons.
In other words, you generally cannot load a trapped raccoon into your car and drive it to a forest preserve miles away. That is illegal in Illinois without specific IDNR authorization.
Why Such Strict Rules on Raccoon Relocation?
The primary reason is disease — particularly rabies and canine distemper. Raccoons are a primary rabies vector species in Illinois, and transporting them to new areas risks spreading disease to previously unaffected wildlife populations. The IDNR’s relocation restrictions are designed to contain disease spread, not just manage animal numbers.
General Relocation Rules for Other Species
For wildlife species other than raccoons, all animals released alive must be relocated into suitable habitat in the State of Illinois within 24 hours after capture. The release site must be located at least 10 but not more than 40 miles from the capture site unless the Department grants specific authority to release animals greater than 40 miles from the capture site and the animals are certified disease-free. Raccoons are explicitly excluded from this general relocation framework due to the 100-yard rule.
Raccoons must be euthanized or released on the same property within 100 yards of where they were captured. If releasing on the same property is not a viable option — because the animal will simply return to causing problems — euthanasia is often the only legal outcome for a trapped raccoon.
Important Note: Releasing a raccoon more than 100 yards from its capture site without IDNR authorization is a violation of Illinois Administrative Code. Do not assume that dropping a raccoon off at a nearby park or forest preserve is a legal solution — it is not.
Hiring a Licensed Wildlife Control Operator in Illinois
If navigating permits, trap regulations, and disposal rules feels overwhelming — or if you simply do not want to handle it yourself — hiring a licensed Nuisance Wildlife Control Operator (NWCO) is the recommended route, especially in urban and suburban settings.
If wildlife are causing damage to your home or property and all non-lethal methods of control have been unsuccessful, you may want to hire a licensed nuisance wildlife control operator (NWCO) to trap and remove the animal or bird.
What NWCOs Are Licensed to Do
Class A NWCOs are licensed to remove most game mammals, furbearing mammals, other mammals, and game birds covered by the Wildlife Code in Illinois. Common species include bats, beaver, coyotes, muskrats, opossums, rabbits, raccoons, skunks, squirrels, and woodchucks.
Any individual desiring to control protected species that are causing damage to property or a risk to human health or safety on the land of another, for a fee, must first obtain a valid Class A Nuisance Wildlife Control Permit from the Department. This means anyone charging you money to remove raccoons must hold a valid Class A NWCO permit — you can verify this through the IDNR’s permit holder list.
What NWCOs Must Do
- The Nuisance Wildlife Control Permit must be carried on the person at all times when taking or transporting fauna and be presented, upon request, to any authorized employee of the Department or any peace officer.
- Written permission is required from the landowner before any methods are enacted. Permittees shall describe to the persons seeking services the estimated cost and type of control methods to be used to relieve the nuisance problem.
- Check all traps at least once per calendar day.
- Dispose of dead animals in accordance with the Illinois Dead Animal Disposal Act.
NWCOs are licensed through IDNR and must follow strict guidelines for capturing, handling, and transporting the wildlife. Any NWCO personnel are independent and will charge a fee for their services.
In urban or suburban areas, the IDNR recommends hiring a Nuisance Wildlife Control Operator to remove wildlife that are damaging property. You can find a licensed Class A NWCO near you through the Wildlife Illinois website’s interactive map or permit holder list at wildlifeillinois.org.
Pro Tip: Before hiring any wildlife removal company, verify their Class A NWCO permit status directly with the IDNR. Operating without a valid permit is illegal, and using an unlicensed operator could expose you to liability.
Local Ordinances That May Override State Law in Illinois
State law sets the floor for raccoon management in Illinois, but local ordinances can — and frequently do — impose additional restrictions. This is one of the most commonly overlooked aspects of dealing with nuisance raccoons, particularly for homeowners in cities and suburbs.
The Interplay Between State and Local Law
Illinois state law governs the taking of wildlife, and on that front, home rule is explicitly limited. The regulation and licensing of the taking of wildlife in Illinois are exclusive powers and functions of the state. A home rule unit may not regulate or license the taking of wildlife. This means a city cannot tell you that raccoons are off-limits to trap during the state’s open season.
However, municipalities can and do regulate adjacent matters that directly affect your practical ability to deal with raccoons, including:
- Firearm discharge ordinances — Most Illinois cities and many suburbs prohibit discharging firearms within city limits. Even if state law permits shooting a raccoon with a nuisance permit, a local ordinance banning firearm discharge would override that in practice.
- Trap placement rules — Some municipalities have additional setback requirements for traps beyond the state’s 100-yard rule.
- Animal disposal rules — Local health codes may dictate how and where carcasses can be disposed of.
- Permit requirements — Some municipalities require notification or additional permits before trapping wildlife on private property.
Cook County and Urban-Area Considerations
Cook County — which includes Chicago — has some of the most dense raccoon populations in the state and also some of the most restrictive local rules on firearm use. In Chicago and most incorporated suburbs, shooting a raccoon is effectively off the table due to local firearm ordinances, even when state law would otherwise permit it. Trapping with cage traps and hiring a licensed NWCO are the practical options for urban residents.
Recreational fur-trapping — and hunting when and where allowed — is the preferred method to deal with nuisance furbearer issues. But in dense urban environments, that preference shifts almost entirely toward live trapping and professional removal.
Key Insight: Always check with your city or village clerk’s office before taking any action against a raccoon. Even if you have a valid state nuisance permit, a local ordinance could make your intended method illegal at the municipal level.
What to Do If You Are Unsure
If you are unsure whether your local ordinances permit a specific removal method, take these steps before acting:
- Contact your city or village hall and ask about firearm discharge ordinances and wildlife trapping rules.
- Call your IDNR District Wildlife Biologist to confirm your nuisance permit covers your intended method.
- Consider hiring a licensed Class A NWCO who already knows the local rules and carries the appropriate permits.
- Document all property damage caused by the raccoon — this strengthens your case for a nuisance permit if one is required.
Illinois law also intersects with roadkill and animal carcass rules in ways that can surprise property owners. Our guide on roadkill laws in Illinois covers what you can legally do with a raccoon that has been killed by a vehicle, which is a separate situation from nuisance removal. For broader context on how other states handle similar wildlife situations, see our coverage of roadkill laws in Wisconsin and roadkill laws in Tennessee.
Understanding the full picture of raccoon law in Illinois means recognizing that state regulations, nuisance permits, trap specifications, relocation restrictions, and local ordinances all operate simultaneously. The safest approach is always to verify your specific situation with the IDNR before taking action — and when in doubt, hire a licensed professional who already knows the rules. For a deeper look at raccoon biology and the different species found across North America, visit our guide on different types of raccoons.