Field Guide · Furbearers
Can you hunt raccoons and foxes with an air rifle?
Researched by James · Updated September 26, 2026 · Editorial policy
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The state examples below come from Florida's and Missouri's published furbearer and raccoon regulations, linked in Sources. Furbearer law varies significantly by state, so treat these as examples of how the rules work, not a national answer. Full methodology & editorial policy →
Is it legal? Two real state examples
Furbearer law is genuinely inconsistent state to state, more so than small-game rules. Two examples show the range:
| Florida | Missouri | |
|---|---|---|
| Air guns for raccoons | Explicitly legal — "furbearers may be taken with guns (including air guns)" | Explicitly legal — "firearms powered by spring, air, or compressed gas" are permitted |
| License | Hunting license required unless trapping | Small Game Hunting Permit, Resident Trapping Permit, or equivalent |
| Season | Trapping year-round, no limit; hunting by other methods follows general rules | Aug 1-Oct 15 and Nov 15-Feb 28, plus extended trapping to Apr 14 on private land |
| Bag limit | No limit | No limit, daily or in possession |
| Night hunting | Restricted to .22 rimfire or single-shot .410 shotgun — air guns excluded at night | Allowed with dogs and artificial light for treed raccoons; method rules still apply |
The takeaway isn't "raccoons are legal air rifle game" or "they aren't" — it's that you have to read your own state's furbearer regulations, not assume they mirror rabbit or squirrel rules. Many states also carve out separate nuisance-wildlife provisions for raccoons causing property damage, which can have different permission requirements than recreational hunting. The broader legal landscape for airgun hunting by state is in airgun laws in the U.S..
Why raccoons need more power than small game
A raccoon is a dense, muscular animal built to survive real fights with dogs and other predators — nothing like the thin-skinned small game most airgun hunters are used to. The energy floor reflects that: 20-40 FPE at the animal, roughly double the 9-12+ FPE that handles rabbits and squirrels cleanly. That number sits in the same tier this site uses for other raccoon-sized game like opossums, and it's well above what a typical rabbit-hunting PCP produces. See the full quarry comparison on the airgun FPE chart, and confirm your own rifle's real output with the FPE calculator and a chronograph before hunting anything this size.
Caliber and rifle choice
.25 caliber is the practical floor, and many hunters step up to a genuine big-bore air rifle — .30 caliber and larger — for a comfortable margin rather than running a rifle at the very top of its power band. A .22 can technically reach raccoon-level energy in some slug-tuned setups, but that leaves little room for a chronograph reading that's lower than expected in the field. If you're building toward big-bore capability, big bore air rifles covers the calibers, energy, and what they can realistically hunt.
Shot placement
Head shots are the default, the same rule that governs every other quarry on this site. A raccoon's skull is tougher than a rabbit's or squirrel's, which is exactly why the energy floor is higher — a marginal-power hit that would drop a rabbit can just wound a raccoon. Where the angle doesn't offer a clean head shot, a heart-lung hold at close range (25-30 yards or less) with a caliber that clears the energy floor is the acceptable fallback. The general placement principles across quarry are in airgun shot placement.
Night hunting and the trap most people miss
Raccoons are largely nocturnal, which means a lot of raccoon hunting happens after dark — and that's exactly where the rules can flip on you. Florida's example above is the clearest case: air guns are legal for furbearers generally, but the state's night-hunting method list only names .22 rimfire firearms and single-shot .410 shotguns, which excludes air rifles from legal night hunting even though they're fine in daylight. Never assume a daytime legal method carries over to a night hunt without checking that state's specific night-hunting rule. Night optics and the broader legal questions around hunting after dark are covered in night hunting with an airgun.
Handling raccoons safely
Raccoons are one of the primary wildlife reservoirs for rabies in the United States, alongside bats, skunks, and foxes, per the CDC. Wear gloves when handling one, avoid bare-hand contact, and never approach or attempt to take a raccoon that's behaving abnormally — stumbling, unusually tame, or active in full daylight when it shouldn't be. That's a different animal than one taken cleanly at night doing normal raccoon things, and it's not worth the risk to find out which.
When a firearm is the better tool
Given the higher energy requirement, the night-hunting restrictions many states place on air guns, and how widely furbearer law varies, a rimfire firearm is often the more practical choice for raccoons specifically — it clears the energy bar easily and avoids the air-gun-specific night restrictions some states apply. A big-bore air rifle earns its place when you already own one for hog or coyote-class hunting and the extra capability comes along for free.
Verdict
Raccoons are legal air rifle game in some states, Florida and Missouri among them, but the power requirement is real and the rules — especially around night hunting — don't automatically mirror your state's small-game regulations. Confirm the specifics before you build a setup around it, and don't underestimate how much more energy this quarry needs than rabbits or squirrels.
FAQ
Can you hunt raccoons with an air rifle?
In some states, yes. Florida's furbearer regulations explicitly allow air guns for raccoons, and Missouri's regulations permit 'firearms powered by spring, air, or compressed gas' for raccoon hunting. Other states restrict methods more tightly, so check your state's furbearer or small-game regulations before you go.
How much FPE do you need to kill a raccoon?
Plan on 20-40 FPE delivered at the animal with a head shot, roughly double the floor for rabbits and squirrels. Raccoons are dense, muscular animals for their size, and a marginal hit is far more likely to wound than kill.
What caliber is best for raccoons with an air rifle?
.25 caliber or larger is the practical minimum, and many hunters step up to big-bore air rifles (.30 and up) for a comfortable energy margin. A .22 tuned to the high end of its range can work at very close, controlled range, but it leaves little room for error.
Do you need a license to hunt raccoons?
Usually yes, unless you're trapping under a separate trapping license. Florida requires a hunting license to take furbearers by methods other than trapping, and Missouri requires a small game hunting permit or equivalent. Some states carve out a nuisance-wildlife exception for landowners, so check yours specifically.
Can you hunt raccoons at night with an air rifle?
Not always, even where daytime air-gun hunting is legal. Florida, for example, restricts night hunting for furbearers to .22 rimfire firearms or single-shot .410 shotguns, which would exclude an air rifle despite air guns being a legal method generally. Confirm your state's night-hunting method rules separately from its daytime rules.
Are raccoons dangerous to handle after the shot?
Raccoons are one of the main wildlife reservoirs for rabies in the United States, alongside bats, skunks, and foxes, according to the CDC. Wear gloves, avoid bare-hand contact, and don't attempt to handle or eat any raccoon that was behaving abnormally before you took the shot.
Is an air rifle or a firearm better for raccoons?
A firearm is usually the more practical tool for raccoons specifically, since rimfire rounds like .22 LR carry the energy margin comfortably and firearm methods are legal in more states without the night-hunting restrictions some states place on air guns. A big-bore air rifle is a legitimate option where it's legal and you already own one for other hunting.
Can you hunt foxes with an air rifle the same way as raccoons?
The same energy logic applies — foxes are a similar size class and need comparable power — but fox hunting regulations are their own category in most states, often tied to trapping seasons or predator-control rules rather than general furbearer law. Check your state's fox-specific regulations rather than assuming the raccoon rule carries over.
