Is It Legal to Trap and Kill Raccoons in Kansas [New Guide]

In Kansas, raccoons are widespread, fur-bearing animals throughout the State. People usually trap them to get their furs. Apart from their benefits, raccoons may destroy your home and property. To use them productively or to protect your belongings, it is great to know: Is it legal to trap and kill raccoons in Kansas?

No matter why you want to trap raccoons, this article will grant you all the necessary information regarding trapping or hunting raccoons in Kansas.

Is It Legal to Trap and Relocate Raccoons in Kansas?

Yes, it is legal to trap and relocate raccoons in Kansas. A fur-harvester license is required to trap raccoons legally. Instead of relocating raccoons, you can run raccoons during the running season if you have a legal permit. To trap and relocate raccoons in Kansas, you must consider the following points:

• If you want to trap raccoons on your land, you don’t need a fur-harvester license.
• You can trap raccoons without a license if you rent the land for agricultural purposes.
• If you are younger than 13 years old, you can trap, run or relocate raccoons without a license.
• You can purchase a fur-harvester license at a low price if you are a 15-year-old resident of Kansas.
• If you are a non-resident of Kansas, you need a legal permit from KDWPT to trap raccoons.
• You can run or relocate raccoons from March 1 to Nov 8 for 24 hours daily during the running season.

Is It Legal to Hunt Raccoons in Kansas?

Yes, you can hunt raccoons in Kansas with a valid hunting license. According to KDWP, you can hunt raccoons in Kansas if you follow the below guidelines:

• First, you must have a resident or non-resident hunting license for the legal hunting of raccoons in Kansas.
• If you are a 16 to 74 years old resident of Kansas, you must have a resident hunting license unless you are exempt.
• You need to renew your hunting license after one year.
• Remember that you can hunt raccoons at a specific time that begins at 12:01 on an opening day and close at midnight on the closing day.
• You can hunt raccoons at night, but don’t use artificial light to track them.
• If you want to hunt raccoons on private land, you must have written permission from the land owner.
• During the hunting season, you can hunt raccoons with no limit.

Laws Governing About Raccoon Trapping in Kansas

In Kansas, raccoons are non-territorial animals and can survive in very high populations. Despite the high density, raccoons love to live alone. Raccoons are vital for economic purposes in urban areas. To get these advantages, Kansas has rules regarding the trapping of raccoons. Some of them are here:

• After getting a fur-harvester license, you can trap raccoons from Nov 16 to Feb 28 with no limit.
• If you are a native American Kansas resident, you can buy a fur-harvester license for free.
• After finishing the fur harvester education course, those who were born after July 1966 can obtain the license.
• Further, you can use a smooth-jawed foothold trap and a body-gripping trap to trap raccoons.
• If you are a landowner, you can use a snare to trap raccoons on your land.
• Moreover, the trap you use to trap raccoons must have a tag with your name and address. 

Laws Governing About Raccoon Shootings in Kansas

In Kansas, raccoons are the most significant furbearers in terms of the value and quantity of pelts harvested. In addition to their importance, they cause a nuisance by destroying your lawns and property. If you want to throw them off by hunting or shooting, you must obey the below laws of Kansas:

• With a hunting license, you can kill raccoons in Kansas.
• You cannot shoot a raccoon on private land without written permission from the landowner.
• While shooting a raccoon, You cannot use artificial light that projects light.
• You can shoot raccoons by dogs with rimfire and rifles having 0.17 and 0.22 caliber shots.
• If you want to shoot raccoons at night, you need a special night vision permit from KDWP.
• Furthermore, if you are a disabled person, you can shoot raccoons from a motor vehicle after getting a license.

How Can You Trap Raccoons in Kansas?

As fur-bearing mammals, raccoons are favorable economically for their furs. However, if they find a way to your home, they may annoy you by damaging your lawns and furniture. Sometimes, raccoons become fatal by carrying a vector of the deadly disease with them. You must trap raccoons if you want to protect yourself from them.

Here are some legal ways that may help you in trapping raccoons:

• To trap raccoons, you must first obtain a valid permit. After that, you can proceed further.
• You can accompany a licensed person in trapping raccoons without a fur-harvester license.
• While trapping a raccoon, you can take a dog with you to track them.
• Further, you can set a body-gripping trap, foothold trap, box trap, and colony trap for capturing a raccoon.
• While trapping a raccoon in water, you can use a body-gripping trap with an inside jaw spread of 8 inches.
• Although you can use a snare to trap a raccoon, using them on public lands is not permitted.

How Can You Shoot and Hunt Raccoons in Kansa?

Raccoon is a well-known species of wildlife in Kansas. You can find them in attics and anywhere in your homes and yards. You should remove raccoons immediately to avoid their harmful consequences. After getting a hunting license, you can hunt or shoot them by the below tips:

• You must complete a hunting education course if you were born after Jan 1975.
• If you are under 27 years, you must hold your hunting license while hunting or shooting a raccoon.
• You cannot use poison or drugs as a part of archery equipment to shoot a raccoon.
• While sitting in an airplane or motor vehicle, you cannot hunt or shoot a raccoon unless you are disabled.
• Besides having a firearm, you can use artificial light for hunting or shooting raccoons.
• KDWP claims: you can use a laser light to chase a raccoon while walking with your dog.

Conclusion

Even though raccoons are important fur-bearing animals in Kansas, their annoying or destructive behavior tempts you to trap them. There are various ways of trapping or hunting raccoons, but Kansas has its own rules and regulations.

If you are anxious about raccoons sneaking into your home and yard, the above guidelines will assist you in tracking them.  Furthermore, you should trap or remove raccoons only if you are well aware of their risks.

So, don’t be in a hurry to trap or hunt raccoons, call a professional wildlife control company and save yourself.