Hunting is one of the most invigorating ways to enjoy the outdoors. But to be a hunter with sharpened senses and well-rounded skills, you have to mix things up: different conditions, weapons, companions, and especially prey. Don’t dismiss an animal because it’s not something you’d mount on the wall. Try these top tips for successfully hunting raccoons and you’ll soon learn that they are worthy opponents.
Check Regulations
Raccoons are more than annoyances. Without hunters to check their population growth, their numbers will grow, rabies will spread, and crops will be lost. The government wants to help you hunt, as long as you follow the rules. Brush up on the raccoon-hunting basics and consult your local resources to make sure you’re hunting in season.
Go Out at Night
The cover of night is your secret weapon. Raccoons are nocturnal, so your chances against them are fair if you use lights that can illuminate them without alerting them. Lights can shine farther than a dog can smell. You can adjust most hunting lights for intensity and take advantage of raccoons’ color blindness.
Use the Right Gun
A .22 caliber pistol or rifle is enough to take down a good-sized raccoon. A scope isn’t required since it’s hard to see through one at night, but it might help if you’re shooting from a distance or trying a tricky shot.
Find Them Quickly
If you’re looking for raccoons, you can be sure that they’re looking for food. Your best bet is to hunt in a forest or an area with fruit or nut trees, especially if there’s a water source nearby. You can also find raccoons near farms, in abandoned buildings, in hollowed-out trees, and in underground burrows.
Use Fragrant Bait
If you’ve witnessed the aftermath of overturned garbage bins, you know that raccoons will eat anything. To get their attention, you can try wet cat food or something similar. Hard-boiled eggs will do the job, too. Some hunters even say that marshmallows are irresistible to raccoons.
Save the Pelt
One of the top tips for successfully hunting raccoons is to take the time to get a clean shot. You may not be intending to make a meal of the meat or practice your taxidermy, but raccoons are great for learning how to skin animals. Kids still get a kick out of coonskin caps, and who knows? Full-length raccoon fur coats might come back in style.
