If you live here, you know that it’s a hunter’s paradise: mule deer, elk, antelope, and other majestic challenges. So it’s easy to overlook raccoons, pests so annoying that they’ve earned the nickname “trash pandas.” But don’t pass up the chance to sharpen your skills and help thin out the varmint population. These are just a few of the reasons why you should be hunting raccoons.

They’re a Growing Problem

While you may enjoy hunting as a sport, there’s also a public need for it. Invasive species like coyotes and feral pigs are adapting to new environments and spreading at an alarming rate. Raccoons seem not to have very discerning tastes and will eat just about anything. They upturn garbage cans, infest homes, and are a major source of rabies. If hunters don’t take on the civic duty of thinning their population, we’ll soon have a real issue on our hands.

They’re Worthy Opponents

They may not seem like criminal masterminds, but raccoons have enough specialized skills to put up a fight. Their fingers are so dexterous that they can open jars (something that even humans can have trouble with, after all). They band together in communities of 4–5 adults for protection and communicate with more than 200 sounds and 12 different calls. They’re fast, they can climb, and they can plot against you.

It’s a New Experience

One of the top reasons why you should be hunting raccoons is that it’s an entirely new discipline and calls for new skills and strategies. Not only will you be honing your aim on much smaller targets, but you’ll be hunting them at night when they’re active. Use a spotlight to find them in trees, or try partnering with a dog for traditional raccoon hunting. You could even try mastering a fresh approach like bowhunting at the same time. Varmints and predators are adapting and growing—so should you.