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

Raccoons live all over the United States in forests, buildings, attics, parks, and anywhere there is meat and vegetables. Raccoons become aggressive, especially when you provoke them. Due to the irritant behavior of raccoons, it is necessary to trap them. Now, the question in your mind would be: Is it legal to trap and kill raccoons in New Mexico?

Every state has its trapping or hunting laws so does New Mexico. This article will give you all the legal ways to trap and hunt raccoons in New Mexico. Let’s get started.

Is It Legal to Trap and Relocate Raccoons in New Mexico?

Yes, you can trap a raccoon in New Mexico only if you have a trapping license. Once a raccoon is trapped, it must be relocated with the help of a wildlife control company. You can trap raccoons using different methods, but the key is to pick the one, that is most effective for your situation.

Here are the must-follow rules in New Mexico:

• If you have a Mexican trapping license, you can trap a raccoon over a long period.
• There are different types of trapping strategies, but you can use only cage traps and foot-encased traps to trap a raccoon during the trapping season.
• If you are a licensed trapper, you may hire an agent to analyze traps on alternating days.
• Furthermore, a pouch or release device must be attached to a trap to relocate a raccoon with the help of assistance.

Is It Legal to Hunt Raccoons in New Mexico?

Yes, you can hunt a raccoon in New Mexico during the night only if you have a legal permit. Mexico is the only state that allows night hunting of raccoons. Following these guidelines will allow you to hunt a raccoon if you have a valid hunting license:

• If you have a hunting license, you can hunt a raccoon at night during the hunting period.
• You can not hunt a raccoon a half hour before sunrise and a half hour after sunset unless you have a legal permit from the wildlife control department.
• At night you may use artificial light like a headlight or a handheld flashlight to hunt raccoons.

Laws Governing About Raccoon Trapping in New Mexico

Raccoons are furbearer mammals in New Mexico. You can trap or hunt them only for an extended period. New Mexico gives authority to its landholders to trap raccoons that damage their belongings under the following laws:

• If you are less than 12 years old resident of New Mexico, you can not trap raccoons without a trapping license. 
• If you are under eighteen, you should have a junior trapping license.
• If you are a non-inhabitant of New Mexico, you must need a non-resident trapping license to trap raccoons.
• If you trap a raccoon during the closed period of trapping, you must release it.
• If you are on official business from the wildlife service, you do not need to buy a trapping license.
• After getting the trapping license, you can use only those traps to catch the raccoons that have a tag of a wildlife organization.

Laws Governing About Raccoon Shootings in New Mexico

Raccoons are notorious for destroying your yards and buildings, so keeping them out is critical. Trapping raccoons is simple, but shooting requires some skills besides a shooting or hunting license.

Here are the laws that you must know before shooting a raccoon in New Mexico:

• If you have a shooting license, you can shoot a raccoon using a 0.22 caliber rifle to kill a raccoon during shooting hours.
• You may use a dog to hunt a raccoon during the open period.
• It is illegal to hunt or shoot a raccoon in New Mexico without completing the New Mexico hunting and species identification course.
• To hunt or shoot a raccoon, you must have a Habitat Management Access Validation stamp (HMAV), written permission from an organization, and a trapping license.

How Can You Trap Raccoons in New Mexico?

Raccoons are irritant and dangerous animals. They not only destroy your belongings but also cause serious life-threatening diseases.

The best method of determining how to keep raccoons out is to identify the possible causes of them wandering into your area. If you want to trap them legally, here are some ways to follow:

• First, you must have either a resident or non-resident trapping license.
• The trap you are using must have a tag containing: your identification number, name, and address.
• You can use either a body-grip trapper or a foot-encased trapper to catch a raccoon, but beware of the size of the inside jaw spread.
• You should take the permission of a trap or snare owner before using it to trap a raccoon.
• Moreover, it is illegal to set a trap without dogs or chains to trap a raccoon.

How Can You Shoot and Hunt Raccoons in New Mexico?

There are different ways to shoot and hunt raccoons, but New Mexico has rules and laws that you must follow before hunting them.  According to the New Mexico administrative code, you must obey the below given Mexican hunting rules:

• First, you must have a hunting license or HMAV stamp.
• You can shoot a raccoon at night only during the open or specified period of the year.
• You can hunt or shoot a raccoon in the presence of a dog.
• You can use legal arms like a rifle or shotgun having 0.22 caliber to kill a raccoon.
• You can not shoot raccoons using an airline or drone.
• You may also use any cellular or Wi-Fi cameras for remote hunting.

Conclusion

Trapping or hunting raccoons is not the suggestive way, but it may be the only method to get rid of them. You can do it only if you have a Mexican trapping license, or you may hire a wildlife control person to trap a raccoon.

Even though night hunting is highly exclusive for raccoons in Maine, you can do it during the daytime by obeying Mexican laws. Hopefully, the above article will clear your doubts regarding trapping or hunting raccoons in New Mexico.

Lastly, if you are untrained and unsure how to handle raccoons, call a Mexican wildlife control agency and keep yourself safe.

References

• Michigan State University