Can You Kill Raccoons in New Hampshire? What State Law Actually Allows

Raccoons are one of the most common wildlife conflicts homeowners, farmers, and hunters face in New Hampshire. Whether one is raiding your chicken coop, tearing through your attic insulation, or you simply want to hunt them during the fall season, you need to know exactly where state law draws the line before you act.

The short answer is yes — you can legally kill raccoons in New Hampshire, but the circumstances, methods, and paperwork involved depend heavily on why and how you plan to do it. Getting this wrong can result in fines, loss of your hunting license, or worse. This guide walks through every relevant rule so you can stay on the right side of New Hampshire Fish and Game law.

Are Raccoons Protected in New Hampshire?

Raccoons (Procyon lotor) are classified as furbearers under New Hampshire law, not as a protected or threatened species. That classification is important because it means the state allows both hunting and trapping of raccoons under regulated conditions.

Furbearer species for which there is a hunting season in New Hampshire include coyote, fisher, fox (red and gray), opossum, skunk, raccoon, mink, muskrat, and weasel. Because raccoons fall into this category, they are subject to the rules set by the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department rather than any blanket protection.

State statutes allow a person to kill any unprotected bird or wild animal doing damage to poultry, crops, or domestic animals on the person’s property. Raccoons fit squarely within that provision when they are actively causing damage, which opens a separate legal pathway beyond the standard hunting season. However, simply disliking a raccoon that wanders through your yard is not enough justification to kill it outside of regulated seasons.

Important Note: Raccoons are a primary rabies vector species in New Hampshire. The NH Fish and Game Department advises that any raccoon displaying unusual daytime behavior or signs of neurological distress should be reported to local authorities rather than handled directly.

When Can You Legally Kill a Raccoon in New Hampshire?

There are two main legal windows that allow you to kill a raccoon in New Hampshire: during the established hunting or trapping season, and outside of season when a raccoon is actively damaging your property.

The fox, raccoon, and skunk hunting season runs from September 1, 2025, through March 31, 2026. During this period, any licensed hunter can pursue and kill raccoons following all applicable weapon and licensing rules. There is no daily bag limit for coyote, red fox, gray fox, opossum, skunk, weasel, mink, muskrat, or raccoon. That means you are not capped on how many raccoons you can take in a single outing during the open season.

Outside of the hunting season, the property damage provision under N.H. Rev. Stat. § 207:22 to 207:30 gives landowners a separate legal basis. The statutes allow a person to kill any unprotected bird or wild animal doing damage to poultry, crops, or domestic animals on the person’s property. If a raccoon is actively killing your chickens or destroying your crops, you have legal standing to act — but you should document the damage and, when in doubt, contact NH Fish and Game before taking lethal action.

Any furbearing animal taken by hunting must be registered within 24 hours of take through the completion of all required fields in an online registration report. This is a newer requirement that took effect for the 2025 season, so make sure you complete that step before you leave the field.

Legal Methods for Killing Raccoons in New Hampshire

New Hampshire specifies which weapons and methods are lawful when taking raccoons. Hunters must pay close attention to these rules, particularly for night hunting, which is where most raccoon hunting takes place.

Raccoons may be hunted at night. It is illegal to use a rifle or pistol larger than .22 caliber, or shot size larger than number 4 birdshot. It is also illegal to take raccoons using a light from a motor vehicle or OHRV. Most experienced New Hampshire coon hunters use a .22 rifle or pistol once a dog has treed the animal — a method that satisfies both the caliber restriction and the night hunting rules.

Furbearers shall not be taken with an air rifle. This applies to raccoons specifically, even though air rifles are permitted for other small game species under separate rules. Additionally, taking wildlife by the use of a spring gun or set gun is prohibited, as is using an unmanned aerial vehicle such as a drone to locate or assist in the taking of wildlife, and using “smart rifles” that are electronically controlled or have a computer-linked trigger.

For hunters pursuing raccoons, you must have a current regular New Hampshire Hunting, Combination, or Archery License to hunt furbearers. A Small Game License does not allow for the hunting of furbearers. Pick up the right license before the season opens to avoid any compliance issues.

Pro Tip: Dogs are a traditional and legal tool for raccoon hunting in New Hampshire. Running hounds to tree raccoons is permitted under state regulations, and many hunters consider it the most effective and sporting approach to night hunting.

Method	Legal for Raccoons?	Key Restriction
.22 caliber rifle or pistol	Yes	Maximum caliber allowed at night
Shotgun with #4 birdshot or smaller	Yes	No shot larger than #4 birdshot
Air rifle	No	Prohibited for all furbearers
Light from motor vehicle or OHRV	No	Expressly prohibited by state law
Drone-assisted hunting	No	Prohibited for all wildlife
Spring gun or set gun	No	Prohibited for all wildlife
Dogs (hounds)	Yes	Must follow all state dog-hunting rules

Trapping Raccoons in New Hampshire: Rules and Restrictions

Trapping is a separate legal avenue from hunting, and New Hampshire has a detailed set of rules that govern who can trap, where, and under what conditions. If you plan to trap raccoons — whether for sport or nuisance control — you need to understand these requirements before setting a single trap.

Any person, regardless of age, except resident landowners while upon their own land or children under 16 years of age when accompanied by a licensee 18 years of age or over, must have a license to trap fur-bearing animals. No person shall be issued a license to trap unless he or she presents proof that he or she has completed a trapper education course or has previously held a New Hampshire license to trap within the last three years.

No person may set, arrange, or tend any trap or snare upon any land or from the shores of any waters of which he is not the owner or occupant unless he has signed, written permission, and until a copy is filed with the conservation officer in whose district said person is going to trap, together with a description of the land on which trapping is to be done. This written-permission requirement is strictly enforced, and failing to file with the local conservation officer can expose you to significant penalties.

When set, all traps must be securely attached to the ground, to a fixed object, to a drag, or to a slide wire. Using deadfalls for trapping is against the law. Trapping licenses expire on June 30 of each year, so plan your renewal accordingly.

If you want to trap on state-managed lands, the process is more involved. Permits to trap on state-managed lands are issued by lottery every two years, in even years only, and are valid for two years. The next lottery will be in September 2026. You can get permit forms and property maps from the NH Fish and Game Wildlife Division in Concord.

For those trapping raccoons as nuisance animals outside of the regular season, a Wildlife Control Operator license is required — covered in detail in the section below.

Can You Relocate a Raccoon Instead of Killing It in New Hampshire?

Many homeowners instinctively reach for a live trap when they have a raccoon problem, assuming they can simply drive it a few miles away and release it. In New Hampshire, that approach comes with legal strings attached and may not be as humane as it sounds.

In New Hampshire, you can relocate wildlife only if you have the written permission of the property owner, whether that’s a private citizen or a public agency. That means you cannot simply release a trapped raccoon on public land or a neighbor’s property without first getting written approval from whoever owns or manages that land.

Beyond the legal hurdle, wildlife biologists caution against relocation on biological grounds. According to Patrick Tate, a wildlife biologist with the NH Fish and Game Department, most wildlife species are territorial — they learn the ins and outs of their home ranges so they know where food sources are and where to hide from predators. When you release an animal in an unfamiliar place, it is most likely going to try to get back home, causing it to be out in the open, crossing more roads, and vulnerable to predators and vehicle collisions, resulting in a lower annual survival rate for relocated animals.

Because raccoons often carry rabies, they should not be relocated when live-trapped. Raccoons should be released on your property following repair of openings, but if releasing the raccoon nearby is not an option, humanely euthanize it with a .22-caliber rifle or pistol, or by placing it in a carbon dioxide chamber. Note that discharging firearms in developed areas is often prohibited by local safety ordinances and state hunting laws.

Key Insight: If you trap a raccoon and cannot legally or safely release it on your own property, your best options are humane euthanasia (following local discharge ordinances) or calling a licensed Wildlife Control Operator to handle disposal. NH Fish and Game personnel are generally not available to come remove trapped animals for you.

Hiring a Licensed Wildlife Control Operator in New Hampshire

If you are dealing with a nuisance raccoon outside of hunting or trapping season, or you simply do not want to handle the situation yourself, hiring a licensed Wildlife Control Operator (WCO) is often the most practical and legally sound option.

Anyone trapping wildlife outside of the regular season in New Hampshire must be licensed as a Wildlife Control Operator by the NH Fish and Game Department. There are two types of WCO licenses, Level I and Level II. Level II operators are engaged in the commercial practice of trapping nuisance animals. In addition to the fee, every Level II WCO must complete a 6-hour workshop, or be certified by the National Wildlife Control Operators Association (NWCOA) or have held a previous Level II WCO license.

Wildlife control operators may trap, in the performance of their licensed activities, nuisance wildlife outside the regular trapping seasons. Any person trapping under a wildlife control operator license shall be exempt from the written landowner permission required under RSA 210:11, but shall be restricted to the property of that landowner for whom they are working. This exemption makes WCOs significantly more flexible than private trappers when it comes to paperwork.

To find a licensed WCO in your area, contact NH Fish and Game’s Wildlife Control Operators page or call USDA Wildlife Services at (603) 223-6832. If Wildlife Services is not able to resolve your problem, they can refer you to a licensed Wildlife Control Operator who can resolve the problem for a fee. Some WCOs will pick up trapped animals for a fee, so make arrangements in advance before you set a trap.

Hiring a WCO is especially advisable if a raccoon has entered a structure, if there may be young present, or if you suspect the animal could be rabid. Wildlife control operators know when it is not breeding season and can remove animals by installing one-way doors. They can also tell if an animal is diseased and needs to be euthanized for the safety of humans and other wildlife.

For context on how other states handle similar situations, see how the rules compare in neighboring states like Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Maryland.

Local Ordinances That May Override State Law in New Hampshire

State law sets the floor for raccoon management in New Hampshire, but local municipalities can layer additional restrictions on top of it — and those local rules can catch you off guard if you are not paying attention.

The most common area where local ordinances intersect with raccoon control is firearm discharge. The discharge of firearms is illegal within “compact zones” defined by RSA 644:13 as any place where six or more residences are each within 300 feet of another, including a 300-foot perimeter around all of the buildings. If you live in a denser neighborhood or suburban area, you may be inside a compact zone without realizing it, making it illegal to shoot even a nuisance raccoon on your own property.

Hunters and property owners are advised to check with city or town officials regarding local ordinances that may govern the discharge of firearms. Many towns across New Hampshire — particularly in the southern tier and in communities like Nashua, Manchester, and Concord — have their own ordinances that restrict or outright prohibit firearm discharge within town limits regardless of hunting season status.

Beyond firearm rules, some municipalities regulate trap placement, baiting near public spaces, and the handling of wildlife carcasses. Discharging firearms in developed areas is often prohibited by local safety ordinances and state hunting laws. Before setting a trap or reaching for a firearm, a quick call to your town office or police department can save you from an expensive mistake.

• Check whether your property falls within a compact zone under RSA 644:13 before discharging any firearm.
• Contact your town or city clerk to ask about local ordinances on trapping, baiting, and carcass disposal.
• If you are in a densely populated area, a licensed WCO using non-lethal removal methods may be your only practical legal option.
• Local animal control officers can also provide guidance on what is permitted within your specific municipality.

For a broader look at how raccoon laws vary across the region, you can also review the rules in states like New Jersey, Ohio, and Michigan to see how New Hampshire’s approach compares. You may also find it useful to review roadkill laws in New Hampshire if you encounter a raccoon that has been struck by a vehicle and want to know your legal options there.

What You Need to Know Before You Act

New Hampshire gives residents meaningful legal options for dealing with raccoons — whether through hunting, trapping, or property protection provisions — but each pathway comes with its own set of rules that you must follow precisely. The state’s open season with no bag limit makes it one of the more permissive environments in the Northeast for raccoon hunters, while the property damage provision gives landowners a legal basis to act even outside of season.

The most common mistakes are using the wrong firearm caliber at night, failing to register a harvested furbearer within 24 hours, trapping on someone else’s land without written permission, and assuming you can freely relocate a trapped raccoon. Avoid those errors by consulting the NH Fish and Game furbearer hunting and trapping regulations directly before each season, and contact a licensed Wildlife Control Operator or USDA Wildlife Services when the situation falls outside what you can legally handle on your own.

For additional state-by-state context, see how raccoon regulations work in Illinois, Georgia, Florida, and North Carolina.