Rabbit hunting season in Nebraska runs almost six months, which makes it one of the longest small game windows on the Great Plains. That is a lot of days in the field, and it is also a lot of dates, limits, and area rules to keep straight.
This article walks you through the 2026-27 season dates, which species you can take, how many you can bag, what you need in your pocket before you step into a fencerow, and the shooting-hour and public land rules that trip up new and returning hunters alike.
Rules change, so treat this as a planning guide and confirm final details with the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission before you head out. If you also chase other Nebraska game, our guides to pheasant hunting season in Nebraska and dove hunting season in Nebraska pair well with a rabbit trip.
Rabbit Hunting Season Dates in Nebraska
For the 2026-27 season, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission lists cottontail and jackrabbit seasons as running September 1, 2026 through February 28, 2027. Squirrel season opens earlier, on August 1, 2026.
The Nebraska Administrative Code defines the cottontail season as September 1 through the last day of February, which is why the end date shifts to February 29 in leap years. The code also provides a cottontail running season that is open year-round, which lets you train hounds but not take game.
Rabbits are usually the last small game season to close in the Midwest, so February hunts are a real option once pheasant and quail wrap up on January 31. Pheasant season, for comparison, opens on the last Saturday of October.
| Species | Season Opens | Season Closes | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cottontail | September 1, 2026 | February 28, 2027 | Statewide |
| Jackrabbit | September 1, 2026 | February 28, 2027 | West of U.S. 81 only |
| Cottontail running (no harvest) | Year-round | Year-round | Statewide |
Pro Tip: Several third-party sites still list 2025-26 dates (September 1, 2025 to February 28, 2026). Always check the year before you plan around a date.
Which Rabbit and Hare Species You Can Hunt in Nebraska
Nebraska’s regulations cover two groups: cottontails and jackrabbits. The state’s small game guide says the cottontail category includes both eastern and desert cottontails, and the jackrabbit category includes black-tailed and white-tailed jackrabbits.
The eastern cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus) is the bread-and-butter quarry for most hunters. Outdoor retailer Divebomb Industries notes that cottontails hold tight in brushy fencerows, creek bottoms, and abandoned farmsteads.
The white-tailed jackrabbit (Lepus townsendii) is a prairie animal. Western Nebraska’s grasslands are prime habitat for it, and the legal range is limited to the area west of U.S. Highway 81.
Technically, jackrabbits are hares rather than rabbits, which is why the outline of this article pairs the two terms. In Nebraska’s regulations, both fall under the same small game framework and the same season window.
Rabbit Hunting Bag and Possession Limits in Nebraska
Cottontail limits are generous. The Nebraska Game and Parks small game guide for 2025-26 lists a daily bag limit of 7 and a possession limit of 28 in aggregate. The Nebraska Administrative Code carries the same 7-per-day figure for cottontails.
Jackrabbits have a tighter limit. The same state guide lists 4 per day and 16 in possession, in aggregate.
“Aggregate” matters if you hunt both species in one day. Under the Commission’s guide, the aggregate daily bag limit is equal to the largest limit set for any one species and cannot exceed it.
| Species | Daily Bag Limit | Possession Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Cottontail | 7 | 28 |
| Jackrabbit | 4 | 16 |
Important Note: The limits above come from the 2025-26 Nebraska small game guide and the Nebraska Administrative Code. One third-party guide lists a different cottontail possession figure, and some sites describe limits as varying by area. Confirm the 2026-27 numbers in the current Commission guide before you hunt.
A practical example: if you take 5 cottontails and 2 jackrabbits west of Highway 81 in one outing, you have hit 7 animals total. Under the aggregate rule, that is the most you can take in a day when you pursue both.
Licenses and Permits Required to Hunt Rabbits in Nebraska
You need a valid Nebraska hunting license to take rabbits, and the state’s small game rules also reference a small game hunting permit. Both residents and nonresidents can hunt with the appropriate license.
Hunter education is part of the picture too. Divebomb Industries calls a hunter education course essential for complying with state regulations, and the Commission’s guide includes an age and accompaniment chart that shows where youth hunters can and cannot hunt. It lists a “no open season, may not hunt” category for the youngest ages.
Rabbit hunting alone does not require a migratory bird registration. The Harvest Information Program (HIP) applies to migratory game birds, such as doves, ducks, and geese, so you only need it if you plan to mix in those hunts. If you do, the 2025-26 Commission guide says hunters 16 and older must register for HIP.
License fees and exact permit names change from year to year. Check the Commission’s current guide or licensing pages for 2026-27 pricing instead of relying on older figures.
Legal Hunting Methods and Weapons for Rabbits in Nebraska
Nebraska allows hunting with a shotgun, and bow and crossbow hunting also appear in outfitter listings for rabbit and squirrel hunts in the state. For the exact list of legal firearms, minimum draw weights, and ammunition rules, read the weapons section of the Commission’s small game guide, because those details are not spelled out in the sources reviewed for this article.
Hounds are a legal tool in a limited way. The Commission’s guide says cottontail rabbits may be pursued or chased with hounds during the running season, but not killed. Because the cottontail running season is open year-round, you can run beagles in the off-season without taking game.
Trapping is a separate activity. A 2019-20 Commission guide notes that trapping is legal for furbearers, cottontails, and jackrabbits, with its own rules and seasons, so read the trapping section before setting anything.
- Shotguns: The standard choice for flushing cottontails from brush.
- Bows and crossbows: Listed in outfitter offerings; verify legal equipment in the current guide.
- Hounds: Allowed for pursuit during the running season, with no harvest.
- Trapping: Governed by separate rules and seasons.
Shooting Hours and Sunday Hunting Rules for Rabbit Hunting in Nebraska
Cottontail shooting hours run from 30 minutes before sunrise to sunset, according to the Nebraska Administrative Code. That means you can start hunting in the gray light before sunup but need to stop at sunset, not half an hour after.
One source of confusion is that some general summaries mention 30 minutes after sunset. A summary on statehunting.org says big game and most small game hunting is restricted to 30 minutes before sunrise until 30 minutes after sunset. For rabbits, follow the stricter language in the state code, and use the sunrise and sunset tables in the Commission’s small game guide to set your alarm.
Early mornings and late afternoons are the best times to find rabbits moving, which fits neatly inside these hours.
The sources I reviewed did not address Sunday hunting for rabbits, and I did not find a Sunday restriction on cottontail or jackrabbit hunting in them. Confirm this point directly in the Commission’s small game guide or by calling the hunting information line listed in it before you plan a Sunday trip.
Hunter Orange and Public Land Rules for Rabbit Hunting in Nebraska
Nebraska has plenty of public ground for rabbit hunters. HuntWise says the state offers 1.3 million acres of public land for hunting, and the Public Access Atlas maps federal, state, and conservation partner lands.
State Wildlife Management Areas allow hunting and trapping in season unless posted or restricted by special area regulations, according to the Commission’s guide. The Open Fields and Waters program also opens private acreage to public hunting, and many of those parcels hold strong rabbit numbers.
Rules on national wildlife refuges differ from state areas. Under 50 CFR 32.46, some Nebraska refuges allow cottontail and jackrabbit hunting on designated areas, with shooting hours from half an hour before legal sunrise to half an hour after legal sunset. The same rule sets conditions on blinds and dogs, and some units close to public entry for part of the winter.
Hunter orange is not covered in the sources I reviewed, so I can’t state whether it is required for rabbit hunting. Wearing blaze orange is cheap insurance in a state where deer and upland seasons overlap with your rabbit trips. If you hunt in late fall, check our guide to deer hunting season in Nebraska so you know when other hunters are in the same fields.
Pro Tip: Scout brushy field edges, shelterbelts, and creek bottoms on public land first. Cottontails concentrate where cover meets crops, and those spots are easy to find on a Public Access Atlas map.
Ready to plan more Nebraska hunts around your rabbit trips? Our turkey hunting season in Nebraska guide covers the spring side of the calendar. Between the September 1 opener and the February 28 close, you have plenty of time to put what you read here into practice.