Rabbit hunting season in Delaware runs through the coldest stretch of the year, and it closes on a Saturday some years because Sunday hunting for rabbits is off the table. That one detail trips up more hunters than any bag limit does.
Delaware keeps its rabbit rules short and simple, but a few of them (hunter orange during deer season, no Sundays, license exemptions) are easy to get wrong. This article walks you through the dates, species, limits, licenses, legal methods, and public land requirements so you can plan a clean hunt.
Regulations change, and the Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife publishes the official dates each year in its hunting and trapping guide. Treat the figures below as a planning tool and confirm them before you head out.
Rabbit Hunting Season Dates in [State]
Delaware’s rabbit season is one of its longest small game windows, giving you about three months of afield time. According to Hunting Locator, the 2026-2027 cottontail season runs from November 23, 2026 through February 28, 2027.
The dates come from state code rather than a one-off announcement. Delaware’s administrative code sets the season from the Monday before Thanksgiving through the last day of February. Thanksgiving falls on November 26 in 2026, so the Monday before it is November 23.
| Season Year | Opening Date | Closing Date |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-2026 | November 24, 2025 | February 28, 2026 |
| 2026-2027 | November 23, 2026 | February 28, 2027 |
The 2025-2026 dates come from HuntWise, which is a useful comparison if you want to see how the opener shifts from year to year.
Important Note: Printed guides have contained errors before. In 2023, DNREC issued a correction after the print guide listed the wrong opening day for cottontail rabbit. Check the current digital guide on the DNREC website before opening day.
Delaware also extended the season in the past so it ends on the last day of February, or the last Saturday of February when the month ends on a Sunday. Hunting The First State reported that the Division reviewed biological data and found the extension would not harm the state’s rabbit population.
Which Rabbit and Hare Species You Can Hunt in [State]
For practical purposes, Delaware rabbit hunting means cottontails. The eastern cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus) is the species you will meet in nearly every field edge, hedgerow, and briar patch in the state.
The Appalachian cottontail (Sylvilagus obscurus) is also listed as present in Delaware by one regional source, though it is far less commonly encountered. Zeke Adventure Blog notes both species are found across the state, with more of them in the southern and eastern parts.
Some general hunting guides list European hare and snowshoe hare among Delaware’s game species. The official season framework, though, is built around cottontail rabbit, and that is the season and limit you should plan around.
- Best habitat: Brushy edges, overgrown fields, and briar thickets, according to Hunting Locator.
- Best bet for dogs: Agricultural regions with hedgerows, where beagle hunters tend to find the most cover.
- Species to target: Cottontail only for the standard season.
Rabbit Hunting Bag and Possession Limits in [State]
The daily bag limit is four rabbits. Delaware’s administrative code states it is unlawful to take more than four rabbits in one day.
The possession limit is eight, which matters if you hunt two days in a row or travel with game in a cooler. Both numbers appear in the StateOutdoors 2026-2027 breakdown, which lists a daily bag of 4 and a possession limit of 8.
Common Mistake: Some third-party sites list rabbit limits as “no limit” or five per day. Those figures conflict with state code. Go with four per day and eight in possession.
| Limit Type | Cottontail Rabbit |
|---|---|
| Daily Bag Limit | 4 |
| Possession Limit | 8 |
Licenses and Permits Required to Hunt Rabbits in [State]
You need a Delaware hunting license to take rabbits, and you must meet hunter education requirements first. Hunting Locator reports that anyone born after January 1, 1967, must complete a 10-hour hunter education course before buying a license.
A few groups have different rules. According to StateOutdoors, Delaware residents age 65 and older are exempt from the standard license but still need a free License Exempt Number (LEN). Children under 13 do not buy a regular license either, though they need a LEN and qualifying supervision. Active-duty military stationed in Delaware can buy at resident prices.
Rabbit hunting on some public properties may also require a permit. One source notes that select public lands use lottery permits for rabbit access, so check the specific wildlife area before you go.
- Complete a hunter education course if you were born after January 1, 1967.
- Buy the appropriate Delaware hunting license, or get a LEN if you qualify for an exemption.
- Check whether your chosen public land requires a lottery permit or site-specific registration.
- Carry your license and any permits while hunting.
If you hunt other game in the state too, our guides to dove hunting season in Delaware and turkey hunting season in Delaware cover the additional stamps and permits those seasons need.
Legal Hunting Methods and Weapons for Rabbits in [State]
Delaware keeps rabbit weapons straightforward. According to Kalkal’s Delaware summary, you can hunt rabbits with shotguns or with bows, including compound, recurve, and longbows. Sportsman’s Warehouse also says small game may be hunted legally with bows or firearms.
A shotgun with light field loads is the standard choice for flushing cottontails from cover, and many hunters pair it with a beagle. Archery works too, but the shots are tougher on a fast-moving rabbit.
Trapping is a separate matter. The same Kalkal summary reports that rabbits can only be trapped by landowners, so do not plan on running traps for rabbits on land you do not own.
Pro Tip: Confirm shot-size and firearm details in the current DNREC guide, since sources differ on finer equipment rules. A quick read of the official small game section takes five minutes and removes the guesswork.
Shooting Hours and Sunday Hunting Rules for Rabbit Hunting in [State]
Sunday is closed to rabbit hunting in Delaware. HuntWise flags cottontail rabbit as a no-Sunday species, and StateHunting.org says furbearers, squirrels, and rabbits cannot be hunted on Sundays even though deer, waterfowl, and gamebirds can be on certain lands.
That rule is why the season-end extension falls on the last Saturday of February when February 28 lands on a Sunday. In practice, you have six hunting days a week from late November through February.
The research I reviewed did not turn up a clearly stated daily shooting-hour window specific to rabbits. Delaware generally uses half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset for deer, but do not assume the same applies to small game. Check the shooting hours table in the current DNREC hunting and trapping guide.
Hunter Orange and Public Land Rules for Rabbit Hunting in [State]
The rabbit season overlaps with several deer firearm seasons, which is where hunter orange becomes mandatory. State code ties the rabbit season to displaying hunter orange during a deer firearms season, and StateOutdoors notes that orange is required during overlapping deer firearms periods.
On the amount, Kalkal reports that you must wear at least 400 square inches of hunter orange on your head, chest, and back when hunting small game during deer firearms season. StateOutdoors adds that state wildlife areas require 400 square inches of orange for small game activity there.
| Situation | Hunter Orange Requirement |
|---|---|
| Private land, no deer firearm season open | Not required by the deer-season rule |
| Rabbit hunting during a deer firearms season | At least 400 square inches (head, chest, back) |
| State wildlife areas, small game | 400 square inches of hunter orange |
Delaware’s public land base includes state wildlife areas, state forests, and some national wildlife refuges, according to StateHunting.org. Trap Pond State Park, Assawoman Wildlife Area, and Delaware State Forest are named by AskHunting as places with rabbit and squirrel opportunities.
Before you go, check each property’s rules and any lottery requirements. Wear orange anyway if you are unsure, because it costs nothing and keeps you visible while deer hunters share the same woods. Hunters who also chase whitetails can find the details in our deer hunting season in Delaware guide, and anyone spending time in thick cover should read about tick season in Delaware before heading into briar patches.