The Iowa Natural Resources Commission has given final approval for a continuous open season for hunting and trapping raccoons on private lands. The DNR says there has been a steady increase in the raccoon population in the last 20 years, and they get many reports of the animals being a nuisance in attics, barns, and farm equipment. The DNR’s Chris Ensminger says they had two public hearings on the issue.
He says there were concerns about having an open season for public lands, so that was removed.
Ensminger says trappers didn’t seem to have a concern with the change.
Ensminger says you can hunt on your own land without a license, but you need a license if you hunt raccoons on someone else’s land.
The Iowa House passed a bill on a continuous raccoon hunting season, but there has not been any action on it in the Iowa Senate.
