Rabbit Hunting Season in Washington: Dates, Limits, and Rules for 2026-27
October 18, 2026
Rabbit hunting season in Washington runs for more than six months, which makes it one of the longest small game seasons in the state. While deer and elk hunters pack up by late fall, you can chase cottontails and snowshoe hares straight into March.
This article covers the dates, species, limits, licensing, and gear rules you need to hunt rabbits legally in the Evergreen State. Whether you hunt thick westside clearcuts or open eastside sagebrush, the same statewide framework applies. If you also hunt other game, our guides to deer hunting season in Washington and duck hunting laws in Washington pair well with this one.
Important Note: Regulations change by license year. The 2026-2027 Game Bird and Small Game pamphlet is effective July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027. Always confirm details with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) before you head out.
Rabbit Hunting Season Dates in Washington
Washington keeps rabbit season simple. WDFW lists cottontail rabbit and snowshoe hare as open statewide from September 1 through March 15. The same dates appear in WAC 220-416-010, which covers the 2024-2025, 2025-2026, and 2026-2027 seasons.
For the 2026-27 season, that means the season opened September 1, 2026 and closes March 15, 2027. There are no zones, split seasons, or weapon-specific windows for rabbits, so a hunter in Spokane and a hunter in Olympia share the same calendar.
Some third-party sites list a March 31 end date or other variations. Those do not match the WAC or WDFW’s own summary, so treat March 15 as the closing date.
Best Months to Hunt
Opening day is not always the best day. November through February are generally the best months, because falling leaves reduce cover and make rabbits easier to spot and flush. In snowshoe hare country, following fresh tracks after new snow can set up spot-and-stalk hunting.
Which Rabbit and Hare Species You Can Hunt in Washington
You can legally hunt three species. The Nuttall’s cottontail, Eastern cottontail, and snowshoe hare are classified as game animals. Knowing which is which matters, because several look-alikes are fully protected.
The Eastern cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus) was introduced to Washington. It is common in eastern Washington and along suburban edges across the state. Look for it around irrigated fields, canal edges, and old farm buildings.
The Nuttall’s cottontail (Sylvilagus nuttallii) is native to the dry interior. It lives in sagebrush, weed and tall-grass patches, and orchards throughout eastern Washington.
The snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus) prefers dense, higher-elevation cover. It is rare in heavily settled areas and favors brushy cover and snowpack in places like the Willapa and Cascade hills. Westside hunters also encounter brush rabbits in thick lowland forest, though the regulations list only cottontails and snowshoe hares, so check WDFW’s current species definitions if you are unsure what you are looking at.
Species You Cannot Hunt
Jackrabbits and pygmy rabbits are closed statewide. The pygmy rabbit is especially sensitive. Fewer than 50 pygmy rabbits existed in south-central Washington as of recent counts. Positively identify your target before every shot in sagebrush country.
| Animal | Huntable? | Typical Habitat |
|---|---|---|
| Eastern Cottontail | Yes | Farmland, canals, suburban edges |
| Nuttall’s Cottontail | Yes | Eastside sagebrush and orchards |
| Snowshoe Hare | Yes | Dense, higher-elevation forest |
| Jackrabbit | No (closed) | Open eastside terrain |
| Pygmy Rabbit | No (closed) | Sagebrush, south-central Washington |
For a closer look at every species you might see afield, see our breakdown of rabbits in Washington State.
Rabbit Hunting Bag and Possession Limits in Washington
The limit is generous and applies to both huntable species together. You can take 5 cottontails or snowshoe hares per day, straight or mixed bag, with a possession limit of 15.
“Straight or mixed” means you can take five of one species or any combination that adds up to five. A morning with two cottontails and three snowshoe hares is legal. Once you hit 15 animals in possession, you cannot take more until you use or give some away.
- Daily bag limit: 5 cottontails or snowshoe hares combined
- Possession limit: 15 combined
- Jackrabbits and pygmy rabbits: zero, closed statewide
Pro Tip: Multi-day trips are where possession limits catch people. If you hunt three days in a row and bring home five each day, you are at the cap and should clear your freezer count before day four.
Licenses and Permits Required to Hunt Rabbits in Washington
You need a hunting license and an open season. WDFW states that a hunting license and open season are required to hunt these game animals. A small game license is the standard choice for rabbit hunters.
Washington also requires hunter education for many hunters. If you were born after January 1, 1972, you must complete hunter education training. Out-of-state hunters should confirm whether their home-state certification is accepted.
Youth hunters follow a mentor model. Young hunters must be accompanied by a licensed adult. Landowners have some leeway on their own property. Property owners may kill or trap cottontails damaging crops or domestic animals without permits. That exception is for damage control on your own land, not a license-free way to hunt.
License prices change yearly and I could not verify current fees, so check WDFW’s licensing page before you buy. If you plan to hunt other species in the same trip, see our guides on turkey hunting season in Washington and dove hunting season in Washington.
Legal Hunting Methods and Weapons for Rabbits in Washington
Rabbits are a small game species, so a .22 rimfire or a shotgun with small shot are the traditional tools. Washington’s rules also allow a quieter option. Snowshoe hare and cottontail rabbit may be hunted with an air rifle no smaller than .22 caliber and no larger than .25 caliber. That detail comes from a WDFW presentation on the rule, so confirm the final wording in the current pamphlet.
Dogs are legal and very effective. Dogs may be used to hunt cottontail rabbits and snowshoe hares. Beagles work on both sides of the state, especially in thick cover. The westside is where a dog matters most, since hunting rabbits there can be hard without a trained dog.
Westside Versus Eastside Tactics
- Westside: Focus on clearcuts, overgrown trails, and young forests where cover is dense.
- Eastside: Open country favors spotting and stalking. Target irrigated field edges and old farm structures.
Common Mistake: Skipping the rabbit disease precautions. WDFW guidance on Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease says to avoid contact with dead rabbits, wash hands thoroughly, and disinfect clothing if contact is unavoidable. Do not move wild rabbits between areas.
Shooting Hours and Sunday Hunting Rules for Rabbit Hunting in Washington
I could not confirm rabbit-specific shooting hours or a Sunday restriction in the sources available for this article, and I would rather say so than guess. Small game rules in Washington are set by WDFW and written into the WAC, and they are detailed enough that a wrong assumption could cost you a citation.
One thing you can verify is that hour restrictions exist for specific sites. At western Washington pheasant release sites such as Belfair, Mason Lake, and Scatter Creek, hunting hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. only. If you plan to chase rabbits on those properties, expect site-specific rules to apply.
Practical timing still matters. Early morning and late afternoon are typically when rabbit activity is highest. Before opening day, read the “hunting hours” section of the 2026-2027 Game Bird and Small Game Regulations and note whether any weekday or weekend limits apply where you hunt.
Hunter Orange and Public Land Rules for Rabbit Hunting in Washington
Public land gives rabbit hunters plenty of room. Access is available through state wildlife areas, national forests, and BLM lands. Eastside hotspots include the Columbia Basin, Palouse hills, and agricultural edges near the Snake River. Westside hunters can look to the Olympic Peninsula, Southwest Washington lowlands, and Cascade foothills.
Know the limits of that access. Wilderness areas, tribal lands, and wildlife area refuges frequently require advance permission or a special permit. On private ground, landowner permission is almost always required, preferably in writing.
Hunter orange is the other piece. I could not verify a rabbit-specific hunter orange requirement for Washington in the research behind this article. Because rabbit season overlaps with modern firearm deer and elk seasons in October and November, wearing orange is smart even where it is not mandatory. WDFW’s small game pamphlet is the place to confirm the exact rule for your hunt.
Pro Tip: Overlap with big game seasons is real. If you hunt rabbits in October or November, pick units with less deer and elk pressure, wear bright orange, and avoid hunting at dawn near popular elk camps.
Rabbit season is a good chance to get out between bigger hunts, and it works well for newer hunters. If you want to keep hunting through the year, our guides on bear hunting season in Washington and duck hunting laws in Washington round out the calendar.