Experience expert-guided raccoon hunting on Vancouver Island with licensed professional outfitters and experienced local guides.
Raccoons have historically been harvested for meat, fur, and other usable parts, and they may also be hunted where legal as part of property-protection or wildlife-management activities. Today, hunters pursue raccoons for several different reasons: Meat (properly handled and cooked), Fur (classified as furbearing animals in B.C. for clothing and hats), Use of Harvested Parts (practical use rather than waste), and Property Protection (Schedule B wildlife exception on private land). Responsible raccoon hunting should always be based on legal access, safe hunting practices, and compliance with current regulations.
Raccoons occupy a wide range of habitats and are often found where food, water, and protective cover are readily available. Hunters may look for suitable raccoon habitat around forested areas and woodland edges, creeks, rivers, ponds, and wetlands, riparian areas with dense vegetation, agricultural land and field edges, and areas with mature trees, hollow logs, and other natural denning cover.
Signs such as tracks, droppings, feeding activity, and well-used travel routes can help hunters identify areas with recent raccoon activity. Although raccoons are common around towns, these locations are generally not appropriate hunting areas because of municipal bylaws and public-safety concerns.
The general raccoon hunting season applies in MUs 1-1 to 1-15. Before hunting on Vancouver Island, hunters must confirm all applicable private-land permissions, municipal bylaws, park boundaries, access restrictions, and firearm-discharge rules.
Raccoons are primarily nocturnal animals and often become more active around dusk and overnight. However, hunters must remain within legal hunting hours: raccoons may not be hunted from one hour after sunset to one hour before sunrise, and the use of lights is prohibited. Raccoon hunting has no closed season in MUs 1-1 to 1-15, providing year-round opportunities. During fall, raccoons may spend more time feeding, making areas near agricultural fields and wetlands worth scouting. During colder winter conditions, raccoons may reduce activity and shelter in dens.
Vancouver Island includes many protected areas where hunting is prohibited or restricted. Hunters should always confirm whether hunting is permitted in a specific park or protected area before entering the field. Always check the current regulations and applicable park boundaries before planning a hunt.
Given you're in a wooded area, you can probably find the raccoon's den in hollow trees. In places without many trees, the den is likely to be abandoned beaver lodges, abandoned buildings, or small caves around an embankment along a road or stream.
Understanding these signs can significantly increase your chances of a successful and legal hunt.
Raccoon hunting has no closed season in MUs 1-1 to 1-15, subject to all applicable local closures and hunting-hour restrictions.
The season bag limit is 10 raccoons.
A separate species licence is not required for raccoon, but recreational hunters must hold the applicable B.C. hunting licence.
Raccoon is Schedule B wildlife. On private land, it may be captured or killed without a licence or open season only for protecting property.
Raccoons may not be hunted from one hour after sunset to one hour before sunrise.
Wildlife may not be hunted with the use or aid of a light or illuminating device, and infrared optics may not be used.
Raccoon trapping is regulated separately. The Region 1 raccoon trapping season runs from October 1 to March 31.
Hunters must follow all applicable Management Unit, park, private-land, municipal, access, and firearm-discharge restrictions.
Raccoon hunting costs depend on different factors and primary expectations. Services such as meals, hunting guides, and transportation provided during your hunting journey will influence the price. Our raccoon hunting prices start at $600.
Working with an experienced guide outfitter can provide useful local knowledge, scouting assistance, equipment support, and help identifying suitable raccoon habitat and legal hunting areas. Guides may assist with access planning, tracking, transportation, and field logistics.
Research seasons, requirements, and logistics well ahead of time.
Select appropriate Management Units (MUs 1-1 to 1-15) and verify local boundaries.
Acquire your applicable B.C. hunting licence prior to your trip.
Partner with certified guides who prioritize safety, legality, and sustainability.
Look for reliable food sources: Raccoons repeatedly return to areas where food is easy to find, including agricultural land, orchards, and wetlands.
Scout for fresh signs of activity: Tracks, droppings, disturbed vegetation, and well-used travel routes help identify active areas.
Expect cautious behaviour: Raccoons are intelligent and may quickly retreat to dense cover, trees, or denning areas when disturbed.
Respect private property: Obtain permission before hunting on private land and follow all local firearm-discharge restrictions.
Stay within legal hunting hours: Raccoons may not be hunted from one hour after sunset to one hour before sunrise, and lights are prohibited.
Understand trapping rules: Raccoon trapping is regulated separately from hunting. Anyone using traps must comply with applicable trapping licences and approved-trap requirements.
Raccoon hunting is permitted only where hunting and firearm or bow discharge are legally allowed. Several legal methods may be used, and hunters should always confirm their chosen method is legal in the area and follow all safety requirements.
Both rimfire and centrefire rifles may be used where legally permitted. Choose appropriate ammunition and confirm a safe backstop.
Shotguns may be used where firearm discharge is legal. Pump, repeating, and autoloading shotguns must comply with magazine-plug requirements.
Air rifles and qualifying archery equipment (crossbows, compound, longbows, recurve) may be used when meeting applicable equipment requirements.
Unleashed dogs may be used to hunt raccoons as small game where legally permitted. (Note: This rule applies to hunting, not trapping).
Before and after embarking on a raccoon hunt, proper handling and preparation are key. Here's what you need to know:
Proper preparation and ethical handling ensure a rewarding and legal hunting experience.
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A raccoon can eat almost anything. Understanding their diet and behaviour helps in successful scouting and hunting.
Plant-Based Foods: They like nuts, seeds, and fruit found in forests and orchards.
Protein Sources: Their diet also includes insects, slugs, bird eggs, and even birds themselves if they can catch them.
Human Food Sources: Accessing human food (garbage, pet food) has decreased their fear of people, so secure your attractants.
Danger Level: Raccoons are not inherently dangerous to humans, but they may get aggressive toward food or if they feel injured/cornered.
Raccoon trapping is regulated separately from raccoon hunting. Anyone trapping raccoons must comply with specific rules.
Must comply with applicable trapping licence or authorization requirements.
The Region 1 raccoon trapping season runs strictly from October 1 to March 31.
Where certified killing traps are required, only traps approved under humane trapping standards may be used.
It is unlawful to cause or allow dogs to pursue furbearing animals under the authority of a trapping licence.
Stay informed with the latest updates and official regulations before heading into the field:
Find answers to the most common questions regarding regulations, methods, seasons, and field best practices for raccoon hunting in British Columbia.
Yes. Raccoon hunting is legal in MUs 1-1 to 1-15 with no closed season, subject to a season bag limit of 10, the applicable hunting licence, legal hunting methods, legal hunting hours, and all local access and firearm-discharge restrictions. A separate Schedule B exception applies on private land when a raccoon is captured or killed specifically to protect property.
A raccoon can eat almost anything. It likes plant-based foods, such as nuts, seeds, and fruit. Their diet also includes insects, slugs, bird eggs, and even the birds themselves if they can catch them.
Recreational hunters may use legal rifles, shotguns, air rifles, archery equipment, and dogs where permitted. Trapping is regulated separately and requires compliance with applicable trapping licences or authorizations, seasons, and approved trapping methods. Poison may not be used to hunt, trap, take, or kill wildlife.
Raccoons are primarily nocturnal and often become active around dusk and overnight. Hunters must remain within legal hunting hours, however: raccoons may not be hunted from one hour after sunset to one hour before sunrise.
For raccoon hunting, one or two dogs are enough. Have a strong leash and collar for each dog. A coupler will help you manage both with one hand if you are hunting with two dogs.
Raccoons are not dangerous to humans. However, accessing human food (garbage, pet food, or intentional feeding) has decreased their fear of people, and they may get aggressive toward food or injured pets.