Rabbit hunting season in Michigan runs for more than six months, which makes it one of the longest small game seasons in the state. Cottontails and snowshoe hares are legal quarry from mid-September through the end of March, and your standard base license covers both.
Most of the rules are simple, but a few details trip up hunters every year: the combined bag limit, hunter orange timing, and what counts as a legal weapon on public ground. This article walks you through each one so you can head afield with confidence.
If you hunt other game in the Great Lakes State too, you may also like our guides to deer hunting season in Michigan and turkey hunting season in Michigan.
Rabbit Hunting Season Dates in [State]
Michigan’s rabbit season is statewide and open for a long stretch. According to the Michigan DNR season dates page, both cottontail rabbit and snowshoe hare seasons run September 15 through March 31, with no regional splits listed.
| Species | Area | Season Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Cottontail Rabbit | Statewide | Sept. 15 – March 31 |
| Snowshoe Hare | Statewide | Sept. 15 – March 31 |
Just because the season opens in September does not mean it is the best time to go. HuntWise says November through February is generally best, since leaves drop, cover thins, and fresh snow shows tracks and silhouettes. Michigan hunters echo that: OutdoorHub notes that most avid rabbit hunters wait until December or later.
Important Note: The Michigan DNR’s 2026 small game regulations summary mentions new management seasons for cottontail rabbit, fox squirrel, and gray squirrel. Check the current Hunting Digest or the DNR small game page before you go, since local details can change.
Which Rabbit and Hare Species You Can Hunt in [State]
Michigan has two legal species. The cottontail rabbit (Sylvilagus floridanus) is the one most hunters chase. OutdoorHub calls the statewide cottontail population strong and steady, and you will find them around brush piles and food sources in winter.
The snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus), also called the varying hare, is bigger and less common. It turns from brown to white in winter and favors northern country. According to Dive Bomb Industries, hares live mostly in the Upper Peninsula and northern Lower Peninsula, where dense conifers and young aspen provide year-round cover.
Hunters report that snowshoe numbers have dropped, especially in the Lower Peninsula. A winter coat that stays white on a snowless landscape makes hares easy for predators to spot.
Rabbit Hunting Bag and Possession Limits in [State]
The limit is the same for both species and is counted together. The Michigan DNR lists a daily bag limit of 5 and a possession limit of 10, combined for rabbits and hares.
“Combined” is the word to remember. If you shoot three cottontails and two snowshoe hares in a day, you have reached your daily limit. The possession limit of 10 covers what you have in the field, in your vehicle, and in your cooler, so keep count across multi-day trips.
- Daily bag limit: 5 rabbits and hares combined
- Possession limit: 10 combined
- Season limit: none listed for rabbits or hares
Pro Tip: Before you drive home from a weekend hunt, tally your freezer and cooler. Rabbits from a Saturday trip still count toward your possession limit on Sunday.
Licenses and Permits Required to Hunt Rabbits in [State]
You only need a base license. The DNR lists the base license as the requirement for small game, and Hunting Locator adds that small game hunting comes with the base license at no additional cost. Rabbits and hares do not require a separate stamp, unlike woodcock or sharp-tailed grouse.
You can buy your license through the DNR eLicense system online or at authorized retailers such as sporting goods stores, according to LegalClarity. Bring ID if you buy in person.
Hunter education is also required if you were born after January 1, 1960, according to Hunting Locator. Michigan offers online courses with a required in-person field day, which that source lists at about $10. Always get landowner permission before hunting private property.
Legal Hunting Methods and Weapons for Rabbits in [State]
Michigan hunters use a few tried-and-true setups for rabbits. OutdoorHub says a rabbit gun is usually a shotgun or a .22 LR, and the right choice depends on how you hunt.
| Method | Typical Weapon | Best Suited For |
|---|---|---|
| Walking and kicking brush | Shotgun (12 or 20 gauge) | Hedgerows, brush piles, field edges |
| Hunting with beagles | Shotgun | Drives with standers |
| Stalking and still-hunting | .22 LR rifle | Open woods, snow-covered ground |
Dogs are a longtime Michigan tradition. Hunters push rabbits with beagles toward partners waiting on stands, and you can also work cover with a partner on each side. Falconry is another recognized method for small game under DNR rules.
If you hunt with shot, check current rules on non-toxic shot for the area you plan to hunt, since requirements vary by land type. Rules for where you can discharge a firearm, especially in state parks and recreation areas, are in the Wildlife Conservation Order cited by the DNR.
Shooting Hours and Sunday Hunting Rules for Rabbit Hunting in [State]
The sources I reviewed do not list rabbit shooting hours as a separate rule, but the DNR hunter orange rule refers to established daylight shooting hours, which tells you hunting is a daylight activity. Confirm exact start and end times in the current Hunting Digest or the DNR Hunt Fish app, since sunrise and sunset shift through the season.
On Sundays, the DNR small game season table lists the same September 15 through March 31 dates with no day-of-week exclusions. Michigan’s small game seasons are not restricted on Sundays in the dates published, so you can hunt rabbits on any day the season is open. Still, verify any local ordinance or land-specific rules before you head out on a Sunday.
Common Mistake: Assuming statewide dates apply to every piece of ground. State parks, recreation areas, and refuges often have their own rules, so check the managing agency first.
Hunter Orange and Public Land Rules for Rabbit Hunting in [State]
Hunter orange is mandatory. The Michigan DNR small game regulations state that anyone hunting small game, except exclusively crows, from August 15 through April 30 must wear a cap, hat, vest, jacket, or rain gear of hunter orange. That window covers the entire rabbit season.
The orange must be your outermost layer and visible from all sides. Per HuntingSmart, camouflage patterns can qualify if the material contains at least 50 percent orange.
For public ground, the DNR points hunters to national forests and state lands. Hunter-ed.com names the Huron-Manistee, Ottawa, and Hiawatha National Forests as strong options for rabbits, grouse, and squirrels. The DNR also runs a Hunting Access Program that opens enrolled private lands to hunters, with rules that specify which species are allowed.
Looking for more Michigan seasons to plan around? Check our guides to dove hunting season in Michigan, goose hunting season in Michigan, and bear hunting season in Michigan.
Rabbit season gives you more than six months of opportunity on a base license, a combined limit of five a day, and a blaze-orange requirement from August through April. Check the current Hunting Digest before opening day, grab your orange, and plan your best trips for the colder months.