Is It Legal to Trap and Kill Raccoons in Mississippi [Yes]

Raccoons are widespread in Mississippi State. They usually prefer hardwood forests to live in, but you can also find them in farms and urban areas. Raccoons are irritant creatures and cause nuisance by breaking up trash cans and other things. Do you want to get rid of them, but wonder? Is it legal to trap and kill raccoons in Mississippi State?

Are you struggling to eliminate raccoons from your property? If so, this article will give you all the essential information about trapping or hunting raccoons legally in Mississippi State.

Is It Legal to Trap and Relocate Raccoons in Mississippi?

Yes, you can trap raccoons legally without any license if they cause damage to your property or you are a landowner. According to the National Wildlife Control Training Program (NWCO) of Mississippi, you can relocate furbearers or raccoons only if you have a nuisance wildlife control permit. You can trap and relocate raccoons under the following laws:

• If you are 16 years old, you need a trapping license to trap a raccoon.
• If you are a landowner, you do not need a permit to trap a raccoon.
• Your traps must have a tag of the registered number of MDWFP for trapping.
• You need the permission of landowners to trap raccoons on their land.
• If you are 16 years old and have a trapping license, you can trap raccoons only during the trapping season.

Is It Legal to Hunt Raccoons in Mississippi?

Yes, you can hunt raccoons in Mississippi without a license, only if you are a landowner. But you need a hunting license to hunt raccoons on other land or property. According to MDWFP, you need to follow the below rules to hunt a raccoon:

• If you are a resident of Mississippi State and your age is between 16 to 64 years, you can hunt raccoons without a license only on your land.
• If you are a resident of Mississippi, you need a resident hunting license to hunt raccoons freely.
• If you are a non-inhabitant of Mississippi State, you must have a non-resident hunting license to hunt raccoons, except if you are less than 16 years old.
• Above all, you can hunt raccoons legally at night with or without the help of artificial light or a dog.

Laws Governing About Raccoon Trapping in Mississippi

Raccoons are cunning creatures that typically have the main den and a few extra dens within their range. They live in attics, chimneys, and anywhere in your buildings. You can remove them from your property by knowing some of the given laws of trapping in Mississippi State:

• Apart from a trapping license, you must have an identification number given by MDWFP to trap raccoons.
• You do not need a trapping license to catch raccoons if you are a resident and landowner of Mississippi State.
• You can purchase a resident or non-resident trapping license from any MDWFP office or State Park.
• Any conservation officer can remove your traps if they are not tagged correctly.
• You must check your traps after every 36 hours.

Laws Governing About Raccoon Shootings in Mississippi

In Mississippi State, shooting laws are a little more complex. Raccoons are furbearers and annoying animals. They may be beneficial and harmful for you. To get benefits and prevent yourself from the dangers of raccoons, you need to hunt or shoot them. Here are the shooting rules that you must follow to shoot raccoons in Mississippi:

• First, you must have a resident or non-resident hunting or shooting license to shoot raccoons, except if you are a landowner.
• According to Mississippi Lawyers, your hunting license may cancel if you use a fake license. You may also lock in prison.
• You can shoot raccoons with the help of a shotgun or firearm having a caliber of 0.22.
• You can hunt or shoot raccoons only 30 minutes before and after sunrise and sunset.

How Can You Trap Raccoons in South Mississippi?

Raccoons enjoy rambling throughout the Mississippi State. If you do not bother them, they may enter your yards or buildings and start destroying them. To keep raccoons away from your property, you may need to trap them. You can trap or catch raccoons legally with the help of below steps:

• As discussed above, you can trap raccoons on your land without having a trapping license.
• You may trap a raccoon with the assistance of body-gripping traps, live traps, and foothold traps.
• Make sure that these traps must be within 100 feet of any road.
• You must submerge snare traps, body-gripping traps partially in the water, and foothold traps fully in the water.
• You can trap raccoons with the help of bait or attraction, but it must be positioned within  20 feet of a trap.
• You must complete and reinstate the Trapper Harvest Survey to MDWFP yearly to continue your trapping license. 

How Can You Shoot and Hunt Raccoons in Mississippi?

Mississippi hunting organization MDWFP has various hunting or shooting laws depending on the type of animal. In MDWFP, Raccoons fall in the category of furbearer animals. According to the organization, you can hunt or shoot raccoons by adhering to the following rules:

• First, you must meet the license criteria of the Mississippi Department of wildlife control, fisheries, and parks.
• If you were born on and after January 1, 1972, you must complete a hunter education course by MDWFP.
• If you are disabled, you can hunt or shoot raccoons without obtaining a hunting license.
• You can hunt raccoons at night, excluding the spring turkey season.
• You can hunt or shoot raccoons with the help of a shotgun that has a bullet not bigger than No.6.
• You can not hunt or shoot raccoons in public places, streets, and parkways.

Conclusion

Raccoons are wild animals. Although they are friendly toward humans, they may become aggressive sometimes. Due to their annoying nature, they can ruin your property. It is vital to trap and hunt raccoons for the safety of your property and belongings.

Mississippi’s hunting laws contain several intricate restrictions and regulations. However, the above article will surely make you aware of all the legal ways of hunting and trapping raccoons in Mississippi.

Lastly, if you are not skilled enough, do not try to remove or trap raccoons from your own. Call a professional wildlife control service of Mississippi State to keep yourself out of any harm.

References

• Mississippi Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks