Hunting for Raccoons: Tips for Night Hunting

Hunting for Raccoons: Tips for Safe & Successful Night Hunting

Raccoon hunting is a classic nighttime pursuit enjoyed across much of North America. Whether you’re running hounds, calling predators in thick timber, or easing through creek bottoms with a headlamp, coon hunting blends woodsmanship, patience, and action-packed encounters.

This guide breaks down essential gear, nighttime tactics, calling tips, and safety considerations to help you hunt raccoons ethically and effectively. If you’re interested in exploring more small-game or predator hunts—or want to compare guided opportunities—browse vetted outfitters through Find A Hunt for your next adventure.

Understanding Raccoon Behavior at Night

Raccoons are highly adaptable and opportunistic. Knowing how they behave after dark helps you predict where to find them.

Key Nighttime Behaviors

• Highly active: Majority of feeding and movement occurs from dusk through early morning.

• Travel corridors: Creek bottoms, field edges, hardwood flats, and fence lines.

• Feeding patterns: Acorns, cornfields, berries, insects, frogs, and anything scavenged.

• Treeing instinct: When pressured, raccoons quickly climb to evade predators or hounds.

• Seasonal changes:

  • Fall: Heavy feeding near mast and crop fields

  • Winter: Reduced movement during extreme cold

  • Breeding season (late winter): Increased boar movement

Understanding these rhythms helps you choose the right terrain at the right time.

Essential Gear for Nighttime Raccoon Hunting

Lights & Illumination

Reliable lighting is the foundation of coon hunting.

• Headlamp with adjustable brightness

• Handheld spotlight for scanning canopies

• Red or green filters to reduce animal spooking

• Backup batteries or power bank

Firearms

Choose options suited for short- to mid-range shots.

• .22 LR rifle – ideal for treed raccoons

• Shotgun (20 or 12 gauge) with #4–#6 shot for brushy terrain

• Thermal or night vision (where legal) enhances spot-and-stalk or calling setups

Clothing

• Quiet, breathable layers

• Waterproof boots

• Gloves and face covering for cold, damp nights

• Blaze orange requirements vary—check regulations

Additional Gear

• GPS tracker for hounds (if running dogs)

• Small game bag or pack

• Knife and game shears

• Calls (mouth calls or electronic predator calls where legal)

• Portable climbing stick if retrieving raccoons treed in awkward spots (optional and safety-dependent)

Hunting Raccoons with Hounds

Running hounds is the traditional and most effective method for raccoon hunting.

Best Breeds

• Treeing Walker Coonhound

• Black and Tan Coonhound

• Redbone Coonhound

• Bluetick

• Plott Hound

What Makes a Good Coonhound

• Strong nose for cold and hot trails

• Good track voice (bawl) and distinctive tree bark

• Endurance for long nights

• Ability to work independently yet check back with the handler

Hound-Hunting Strategy

• Cast dogs into creek bottoms or hardwood ridges

• Allow them to work scent and strike a trail

• Follow GPS signals and barks to the tree

• Identify raccoon with a spotlight and make a safe shot

Hound hunting is social, fast-paced, and deeply rooted in tradition.

Calling Raccoons at Night

Calling is effective—especially in crop country, timber edges, and farmsteads.

Types of Calls

• Distress calls: raccoon pup distress is highly effective

• Rodent squeaks: attract curious coons

• Aggression calls: challenge vocalizations draw territorial boars

How to Call

1. Set up near thick cover or along travel corridors.

2. Start with soft coaxing sounds.

3. Increase volume gradually.

4. Scan continuously—raccoons often appear fast and close.

Electronic callers are highly effective in many states, but check local rules on placement and use.

Spot-and-Stalk Night Hunting

For hunters without hounds or calls:

Best Techniques

• Walk slowly along creek bottoms and field edges

• Scan trees and understory with a headlamp

• Look for eye shine at low to mid-level heights

• Move with the wind to avoid scent detection

Quiet, slow movement is key—raccoons hear exceptionally well at night.

Identifying Prime Raccoon Habitat

High-Value Areas

• Oak flats loaded with acorns

• Cornfields and grain storage areas

• Creek bottoms with hollow trees

• Overgrown pastures and hedgerows

• Barns, old sheds, and abandoned structures (where legal to hunt nearby)

Raccoons often follow predictable feeding circuits—find their food, and you’ll find the raccoons.

Safety Considerations for Night Hunting

Night hunting requires heightened attention.

Critical Safety Tips

• Confirm positive target identification before shooting

• Be aware of livestock, property lines, and surrounding homes

• Use GPS and mark your truck—night navigation can be tricky

• Watch for frozen creek crossings, steep banks, and fences

• Communicate clearly when hunting with partners

• Keep dogs visible with LED collars

Your safety—and the safety of your dogs—comes first.

Field Care & Meat Handling

Raccoons can be harvested for fur, meat, or predator management.

Field Care

• Wear gloves when handling carcasses

• Cool quickly in warm conditions

• Skin promptly if keeping the hide

• Double-bag if transporting in warm weather

Cooking Notes

Raccoon meat is surprisingly good when prepared properly.

• Slow-cooked BBQ

• Braised leg quarters

• Stews and chili

• Always fully cook meat (no medium-rare)

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the best time of night to hunt raccoons?

Just after dark and the few hours before dawn are often most productive.

Do raccoons travel far?

Most stay within a well-defined home range but may travel farther during warm weather or breeding season.

Are calls or hounds more effective?

Hounds produce the most consistent results, but calling is excellent where legal and effective.

Can you hunt raccoons year-round?

Regulations vary widely—always confirm seasons and methods in your state.

Do raccoons spook easily from lights?

Bright white lights can spook them; red or green filters help reduce alarm.

Plan Your Next Predator Hunt

Night hunting raccoons is exciting, accessible, and a great way to sharpen your nighttime outdoor skills. With the right gear, dog work, calling strategy, and habitat knowledge, you can enjoy action-packed nights in the timber.

If you’re exploring raccoon hunts, predator calling trips, or other guided adventures, start comparing trusted outfitters today through our hunt marketplace.