Rabbit hunting season in Vermont is one of the longest on the calendar, running from late September into mid-March, and in two Wildlife Management Units it stretches all the way to March 31. That makes it one of the few seasons where you can hunt over fall color, early snow, and late-winter tracks in the same year.
You can chase rabbits behind a beagle, stalk them with a .22, or work thick cover with a shotgun. This guide walks you through the dates, species, limits, licenses, legal methods, hours, and land rules so you head into the woods with everything squared away.
Important Note: Seasons and limits can change from year to year. Always confirm the details with the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department before you go.
Rabbit Hunting Season Dates in Vermont
Your 2026-27 season opens on September 26, 2026. Vermont Fish & Wildlife lists the hare and rabbit season as September 26, 2026 through March 14, 2027 for all Wildlife Management Units (WMUs) except D and E. In those two units, the season stays open through March 31, 2027.
The department describes the opener as the last Saturday in September and the close as the second Sunday in March, which is why the calendar dates shift slightly each year.
| Area | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|
| All WMUs except D and E | September 26, 2026 | March 14, 2027 |
| WMUs D and E | September 26, 2026 | March 31, 2027 |
If you train a rabbit dog before the opener, state law allows it. According to the Vermont Statutes, you can train dogs on rabbits from June 1 to the last Saturday in September, but only from sunrise to sunset.
Pro Tip: Fresh snow is your friend. Rabbits and hares move most in early morning and late afternoon, and tracks in new snow show you exactly where they are feeding.
If you also hunt big game here, our guides to deer hunting season in Vermont and bear hunting season in Vermont help you plan around overlapping dates.
Which Rabbit and Hare Species You Can Hunt in Vermont
Vermont gives you two legal targets: the eastern cottontail and the snowshoe hare. Both fall under the same season and bag limit, so one license and one set of rules cover them.
The eastern cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus) is not native to Vermont. A Vermont Fish & Wildlife biologist told WCAX that it arrived in the late 1800s and displaced the native New England cottontail. According to the state, cottontails are found mostly in the Southwestern Foothills and Champlain Valley, in hedgerows, overgrown fields, briar thickets, and shrubby creek bottoms.
The snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus) is the bigger, longer-legged animal with a coat that turns white in winter. The Vermont small game regulations say hare are found statewide but are most abundant in the Green Mountains and Northeast Kingdom, in cedar swamps, spruce bogs, and cut-over areas with young spruce and fir.
| Feature | Eastern Cottontail | Snowshoe Hare |
|---|---|---|
| Best region | Southwestern Foothills, Champlain Valley | Green Mountains, Northeast Kingdom |
| Preferred cover | Hedgerows, briar thickets, overgrown fields | Conifer swamps, young spruce and fir |
| Winter look | Brown | White coat, large hind feet |
Rabbit Hunting Bag and Possession Limits in Vermont
The statewide limit is 3 rabbits or hares per day, with 6 in possession. HuntWise, citing Vermont Fish & Wildlife, lists the same numbers, and the small game regulations match them.
The limit is combined, so three cottontails, three snowshoe hares, or a mix totaling three all count toward your daily bag. Possession means everything you have on hand, including animals in your freezer or at camp.
Important Note: A few third-party sites list higher rabbit limits for Vermont. The official small game regulations show 3 daily and 6 in possession, so treat that as your number.
You also cannot sell what you shoot. The state regulations say it is illegal to buy or sell a wild bird, rabbit, hare, or gray squirrel at any time.
Licenses and Permits Required to Hunt Rabbits in Vermont
You need a valid Vermont hunting license to take rabbits or hares. Both residents and nonresidents must carry one, and no special rabbit tag or harvest report is required for these species.
Vermont licenses run on a calendar year, January 1 through December 31, according to Hunting Locator. That matters for a rabbit season that crosses two calendar years: if you hunt in September 2026 and again in February 2027, you will need a 2026 license first and then a 2027 license.
You can buy licenses online through Vermont Fish & Wildlife or from dealers statewide. Fees change, so check the department’s license page for current prices. For a full breakdown of costs and who needs what, see our Vermont hunting license requirements guide.
- Residents and nonresidents both need a hunting license for rabbits and hares.
- Buy online or at a license agent before you hunt.
- Hunters on federal refuges also need the signed refuge hunt brochure in their possession.
That last point comes from federal rules. 50 CFR 32.64 requires a state license plus a signed refuge brochure on Vermont’s national wildlife refuge, and it closes hunting there from the end of state rabbit season until September 1.
Legal Hunting Methods and Weapons for Rabbits in Vermont
Most Vermont rabbit hunters use one of three approaches: a shotgun, a .22 rimfire rifle, or archery gear. The state’s own description mentions chasing cottontails with a beagle and shotgun or stalking them with a .22.
Dogs are legal and popular, though not required. The biologist who spoke with WCAX said you do not need a dog, but beagles and similar breeds are bred to push rabbits through tough cover.
Choosing Your Approach
- Beagle and shotgun: Best in thick briars and brush where rabbits circle back to the hunter.
- Still-hunting with a .22: Works well on quiet mornings along field edges and hedgerows.
- Tracking in snow: Follow fresh tracks to feeding areas and bedding cover, especially for snowshoe hare.
Vermont’s regulations on firearm type, ammunition, and archery equipment are detailed, and they can differ from big game rules. Read the current small game section of the state hunting guide before you pick your gun or load.
Shooting Hours and Sunday Hunting Rules for Rabbit Hunting in Vermont
Legal shooting hours in Vermont generally run from one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset, unless a species rule says otherwise, according to AskHunting. Confirm this in the official guide, since hours can vary by species.
Sunday hunting is generally legal in Vermont, which gives you a weekend advantage over many Northeast states. The same source notes the species must still be in season and every equipment, access, and hour rule still applies.
Pro Tip: Sundays in January and February are a good bet. Fewer hunters are out, and snow cover makes tracking easier.
Keep in mind that dog training has its own sunrise-to-sunset limit before the season opens, as covered above.
Hunter Orange and Public Land Rules for Rabbit Hunting in Vermont
Vermont has an “open unless posted” tradition: according to Hunting Locator, private land is open to hunting unless the owner posts against it, and permission is not required except during Youth Hunting Weekends. Even so, asking a landowner first is good manners and often gets you better access.
Hunter orange is the rule you should verify before each season. Requirements in Vermont are tied to specific seasons, such as deer firearms seasons, and I did not find a verified statement that applies to rabbit hunting alone. Wearing orange during any overlapping big game season is smart, and many rabbit hunters wear it year-round for safety.
Important Note: Check the current Vermont hunting guide for hunter orange requirements that apply on your hunting dates, especially from late fall when deer seasons overlap rabbit season.
For public land, Vermont has more than 800,000 acres of state public land, according to Kalkal. State Wildlife Management Areas such as Little Otter Creek in Ferrisburgh, where the WCAX cottontail hunt took place, offer solid small game cover.
Before you head out in warm early-season weather, read up on tick season in Vermont, since September and October brush hunting is prime tick territory.
Plan your trip around the September 26 opener, pick the right WMU for cottontail or hare, and keep your license and limits straight. Do that, and Vermont’s long rabbit season gives you months of productive, low-pressure hunting.