In Illinois, raccoons are protected as furbearers, but if they are damaging property/killing livestock you have some options. If the raccoon is killing livestock, you can likely get a free animal removal permit from the local IDNR district wildlife biologist. In your case, that would be Scott Schaeffer at (815) 273-2733. In rural areas, a hunting or trapping license is needed to legally kill a raccoon (unless you have the permit mentioned above). There is no limit to the number of raccoons that an individual with a hunting or trapping license may take. The statewide raccoon hunting season is from early November through mid-February, except during the firearm deer season. Raccoons may be trapped from November through January.
