Coon hunting is the practice of hunting raccoons, most often for their meat and fur. It is almost always done with specially bred dogs called coonhounds, of which there are six breeds, and is most commonly associated with rural life in the Southern United States. Coon hunting is also popular in the rural Midwest. Most coon hunts take place at night, with the dogs being turned loose, trailing and putting the raccoon up a tree without human assistance. Once the raccoon is in the tree, with the dog at the base, it is referred to as "treed", with "treeing" being the active verb form.
Coon hunters in Virginia, circa 1907
A Treeing Walker Coonhound puppy
A Redbone Coonhound treeing a raccoon at night
The Bluetick Coonhound is one of six breeds of scenthound specifically bred to hunt raccoons
A coonhound, colloquially a coon dog, is a type of scenthound, a member of the hound group. They are an American type of hunting dog developed for the hunting of raccoons and also for feral pigs, bobcats, cougars, and bears. There are six distinct breeds of coonhound.
A female Redbone Coonhound
Coonhounds were bred for treeing behavior, as exhibited by this Redbone Coonhound.