(Des Moines) Changes are coming to how Iowans can hunt and trap raccoons and how farmers can deal with raccoon depredation issues.
Iowa DNR Biologist Bryan Hayes tells KSOM/KS95 News Raccoons were the focus of a bill approved during the 2023 Iowa legislative session allowing landowners or tenants to dispatch raccoons causing damage to their agricultural property outside city limits.
Hayes says the other related change relaxes the rules for hunting and trapping raccoons for everyone. The new rules, developed by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and approved by the Natural Resource Commission of the Iowa DNR, allow for year-round hunting and trapping of raccoons on private land.
While the raccoon’s season will be continuously open, during the time of year outside of the fur harvester season, only firearms, cage traps, or dog-proof traps are legal methods of take. During the fur harvester season, trappers may use other lawful traps generally allowed during the trapping season. Hunters or trappers pursuing raccoons on private land they do not own must have a valid fur harvester license.
The new raccoon rules are currently in effect.
