Parsons hosts 51st annual World’s Largest Raccoon Hunt, aiding St. Jude

Parsons' biggest spring crowd was not there for a parade or a ballgame. It was at the Decatur County Fairgrounds, where the 51st annual World’s Largest Raccoon Hunt drew hunters, hounds, volunteers and visitors and kept a half-century charity tradition tied to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

The no-kill event ran April 9 through April 11 and brought more than competition to town. Campgrounds near the fairgrounds filled up, and Parsons and nearby Decaturville saw the added traffic that comes with a weekend event drawing families and outdoors enthusiasts from outside the county. Local coverage also pointed to live entertainment and food as part of the draw, turning the hunt into a countywide gathering as much as a field trial.

That mix of sport and fundraiser has defined the event since 1976. Decatur County officials say it has long been staged on the second full weekend of April, and the Decatur County Chamber of Commerce says it is still worked solely by volunteers. Dogs compete in judged field trials, treeing raccoons but not harming them, a format supporters say keeps the hunt rooted in family tradition rather than harvest.

The location has also become part of the event’s identity. The United Kennel Club listed the 2026 edition as the Decatur County World’s Largest Coon Hunt Benefit for St. Jude in Parsons, with directions to the Decatur County Fairgrounds on Hwy. 69 & 641 South between Parsons and Decaturville. That familiar setting has helped make the hunt one of the county’s most recognizable annual traditions.

The draw stretches across generations. A local report from the 2026 hunt noted Springfield teen Addison Harp among those in Parsons for the St. Jude event, a reminder that the hunt continues to reach beyond Decatur County even as it reinforces local pride at home.

The fundraising record remains the biggest measure of its impact. Decatur County’s annual-events page says the hunt has raised more than $4.5 million for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital over its history. Older chamber materials had placed the total above $2.3 million years earlier, showing how the charitable haul has grown as the event has endured.

For Decatur County, the raccoon hunt is more than a novelty. It is a signature spring event that brings visitors, supports local businesses and keeps Parsons in the spotlight through a tradition that has lasted for generations.