Rabbit Hunting Season in Arizona: Dates, Limits, and Rules for Cottontails and Jackrabbits
October 22, 2026
Rabbit hunting season in Arizona is open nearly all year, which makes it one of the most forgiving small game seasons in the country. Most states close the woods for months at a time, but the Grand Canyon State lets you chase cottontails and jackrabbits from one July to the next.
That generous calendar comes with some fine print, though. Bag limits dropped in 2023, wildlife refuges run on their own dates, and a rabbit virus is changing how hunters handle harvested animals.
This guide walks you through the dates, species, limits, licenses, methods, and land rules you need before you head into the desert. If you also hunt other game in the state, our guides to dove hunting in Arizona and deer hunting in Arizona cover the rest of your calendar.
Rabbit Hunting Season Dates in Arizona
You can hunt rabbits almost any day of the year in Arizona. The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) lists the 2026-2027 season as July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027 for cottontail rabbits and black-tailed or antelope jackrabbits. The season resets every July 1, so you never face a true closed period.
Wildlife refuges are the exception. Under the department’s March 2026 commission recommendation, open areas statewide (excluding National Wildlife Refuges) run July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027, while the Bill Williams River and San Bernardino National Wildlife Refuges run September 1, 2026 to February 7, 2027. That same document lists Leslie Canyon National Wildlife Refuge from August 21, 2026 to February 25, 2027, and Havasu National Wildlife Refuge from September 1, 2026 to March 15, 2027.
| Area | 2026-2027 Cottontail Dates |
|---|---|
| Statewide open areas (not refuges) | July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027 |
| Bill Williams River and San Bernardino NWRs | September 1, 2026 to February 7, 2027 |
| Leslie Canyon NWR | August 21, 2026 to February 25, 2027 |
| Havasu NWR | September 1, 2026 to March 15, 2027 |
Summer hunting is legal, but it isn’t always smart. Hunter Ed advises aiming for the cooler months between October and March for the best success and safest conditions, and says to avoid midday outings in the hotter months, when rabbits bed down amid dangerous heat.
Important Note: Some older websites still list outdated Arizona rabbit dates or limits, including October-through-June seasons and “no bag limit.” Trust the AZGFD small game forecast and the current regulations booklet over third-party summaries.
Which Rabbit and Hare Species You Can Hunt in Arizona
Arizona gives you five legal targets. Three species of cottontails and two species of jackrabbits can be hunted in the state. Knowing which one you are looking at matters because the limits differ.
Cottontails include the mountain cottontail, eastern cottontail, and desert cottontail. According to AZGFD’s cottontail species page, the mountain cottontail is the smallest at 22 to 30 ounces and is largely restricted to elevations above 7,500 feet from the Mogollon Rim northward. The department adds that the larger eastern cottontail, at 28 to 52 ounces, lives in the mountains of southeastern and central Arizona. The desert cottontail (Sylvilagus audubonii) is the one most lowland hunters meet, and it turns up around washes, brush, and field edges.
The two hares are the black-tailed jackrabbit (Lepus californicus) and the antelope jackrabbit (Lepus alleni). One hunting retailer’s guide says they thrive in low desert flats, mesquite scrub, and grassy basins, and they rely on speed in open ground. Cottontails, by contrast, favor thicker cover such as brush-lined washes, foothill slopes, and agricultural field edges.
Rabbit Hunting Bag and Possession Limits in Arizona
Limits are the part of the rules that changed most recently. The Arizona Game and Fish Commission lowered the cottontail bag limit from 10 to five per day, and the possession limit from 30 to 15, in response to Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus Type 2 (RHDV-2). Those changes took effect July 1, 2023.
The same decision put a cap on hares. Jackrabbits are not designated as game animals, but hunters may harvest only two per day, with a possession limit of six. Per the AZGFD small game forecast for the 2026-2027 season, the numbers still stand.
| Species | Daily Bag Limit | Possession Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Cottontail rabbit | 5 | 15 (no more than 5 taken in one day) |
| Black-tailed or antelope jackrabbit | 2 combined | 6 combined (no more than 2 taken in one day) |
Plenty of older articles still say 10 cottontails per day. That was true for many years, but it is no longer the rule. AZGFD’s small game program manager has also asked hunters to remove and dispose of harvested lagomorph remains in a landfill to limit the spread of RHDV-2.
Pro Tip: Count jackrabbits as one combined pool. If you take one black-tailed and one antelope jackrabbit, you have reached your daily limit of two.
Licenses and Permits Required to Hunt Rabbits in Arizona
You need a valid license, but you do not need a draw tag. AZGFD states that a valid Arizona hunting or combination hunt and fish license is required for all hunters 10 and older. Hunter Ed notes that no species-specific tags are needed for rabbits, and you must carry your license on your person or on your phone at all times.
Younger kids have a path in, too. Hunters under 10 must either hold a valid hunting or combination license or be accompanied by an adult who has one. If you plan to add dove, quail, or waterfowl, check for extra stamps. One state summary lists a $5 Arizona Migratory Bird Stamp for ages 18 and up and a Federal Duck Stamp for ages 16 and up, though those apply to migratory birds, not rabbits.
Hunter education rules are separate. Hunters under 14 must complete hunter education before taking big game in Arizona, so most rabbit hunters will not need it, but it is a smart course for beginners anyway. If your trip also includes turkey or bear, see our guides to turkey hunting in Arizona and bear hunting in Arizona for those permit systems.
Legal Hunting Methods and Weapons for Rabbits in Arizona
Arizona keeps rabbit gear simple. Hunter Ed lists a shotgun or small-caliber rifle as the usual firearm choices. AZGFD notes that some hunters consider cottontail hunting with a .22 rifle their primary sport, though cottontails have traditionally been taken alongside dove and quail hunting.
The department’s season recommendation also lists a “limited weapon” category, with a shotgun-shooting-shot option, and a falconry-only category for cottontails. These categories are set by Commission Order, so read the current order for details on your hunt.
Refuges often write their own weapon rules. Under federal regulations at 50 CFR 32.22, one Arizona refuge allows only shotgun, archery, handgun, rifle, and muzzleloader for cottontail, and another adds crossbow to that list. The same regulation says some refuges allow the use of dogs when hunting while another prohibits falconry. Confirm the exact refuge before you load the truck.
Shooting Hours and Sunday Hunting Rules for Rabbit Hunting in Arizona
The research behind this guide did not turn up an official AZGFD statement on legal shooting hours for rabbits, and it found no Sunday restriction. Many eastern states ban Sunday hunting, but nothing found for Arizona suggests that applies to rabbits. Verify the current rule in the AZGFD regulations booklet before you go.
What the sources do agree on is timing for success. Early morning and late afternoon are best, since rabbits are most active when temperatures are low and shadows are long. Hunter Ed also says rabbits often emerge to feed shortly after a rain, when moisture brings out green shoots.
Important Note: Refuges can limit entry hours. One federal refuge rule, for example, opens a marsh area only from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. from October 1 through March 14. Always check refuge-specific hours.
Hunter Orange and Public Land Rules for Rabbit Hunting in Arizona
Hunter Ed recommends that you wear blaze orange, especially during overlapping big-game seasons. The sources reviewed for this guide describe it as a safety recommendation, not a stated rabbit-hunting requirement, so treat it as a smart habit and check the regulations booklet for any mandate in your unit.
Public land is plentiful. A hunting retailer’s Arizona guide says the state offers extensive access through BLM, state trust lands, and national forests, managed by AZGFD. Another guide names Robbins Butte Wildlife Area as a good small game spot because it mixes food plots with thick cover and river habitat.
The statewide open-area season has limits of its own. The commission document specifies that open areas do not include municipal parks and preserves, county parks and preserves, airports, golf courses, or posted areas. If you hunt near town, that line matters.
Planning a trip across state lines? Our guides to California deer season and Utah turkey season cover neighboring-state rules. For your Arizona rabbit season, buy your license, confirm refuge dates, and keep your bag within the 5-and-2 daily limits.