Yes, you can kill raccoons in Alabama, but only under specific legal conditions. Raccoons are not protected year-round in the way many game animals are, and Alabama explicitly allows hunting and trapping of raccoons with no closed season.
However, the law does not give anyone unlimited freedom to kill raccoons whenever and however they want. There are clear rules about where, when, what weapons you can use, and how you must handle captured animals.
Raccoons Are Legal Game with No Closed Season
In Alabama, raccoons have no closed season, meaning they may be hunted during both daytime and nighttime hours. On private owned or leased lands, there is no bag limit, so a hunter may take as many raccoons as legally caught.
On public land that requires an open permit, the limit is five raccoons per party. This open-season status makes raccoons one of the more flexible species to pursue for hunters dealing with nuisance problems or seeking fur.
Night hunting for raccoons, including using dogs and lights, is explicitly allowed under Alabama law. The state code permits hunting and taking raccoons at night by catching or killing with the use of dogs, a light, and specific weapons: a .22-caliber rimfire rifle using short ammunition, or a shotgun using number six shot or smaller. These rules are designed to permit traditional coon-hunting methods while limiting weapon power and minimizing unsafe practices.
Property Owners Have Limited “Nuisance” Exceptions
Alabama also provides a limited exception for property owners or tenants dealing with raccoons that are actively damaging property. Under Alabama Administrative Code 220-2-.27, a property owner or tenant is allowed to take one raccoon per incident that is causing damage to their property without obtaining a permit.
This means if a raccoon is tearing up your garden, raiding trash, or denning in your attic, you can remove one animal in that incident without special paperwork.
However, this exception is narrow. It applies only to one raccoon per damaging incident, it assumes the animal is actually causing damage, and it still requires that you follow all other state and local laws, including firearm ordinances in cities and towns. You cannot use this exception to justify random killing of raccoons on a whim or to harvest large numbers.
Relocation and Translocation Are Heavily Restricted
Even if you legally trap or capture a raccoon, you cannot simply drive it to another county and release it. Alabama law prohibits relocating raccoons across county lines or across river drainages because of rabies and other disease risks. Translocation of raccoons is not recommended and is effectively illegal beyond your own property or within limited boundaries due to public health concerns.
If you trap a raccoon and decide not to keep it, the lawful options are generally euthanasia using approved methods like carbon dioxide or allowing a licensed wildlife control professional to handle disposal according to state guidelines.
Local Ordinances and Safety Rules Still Apply
Alabama state law may allow night hunting and shooting of raccoons, but many cities and towns have their own ordinances that ban discharging firearms within city limits.
This means even if the state permits killing raccoons, your local municipality might prohibit shooting them in your backyard or neighborhood. Responsible hunters and property owners must check both state regulations and local laws before using firearms or traps.
SOURCES:
- https://law.justia.com/codes/alabama/title-45/chapter-7/article-22/section-45-7-220/
- https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/alabama/Ala-Admin-Code-r-220-X-2-.27
