Rabbit Hunting Season in West Virginia: Dates, Limits, and Rules for 2026-27
October 29, 2026
Rabbit hunting season in West Virginia is one of the longest on the state’s calendar, running nearly four months from early November into the last day of February. It also has one of the lowest barriers to entry: you can walk brushy fencerows, follow a beagle through a clear-cut, and fill a bag limit without ever sitting in a tree stand.
This article gives you the 2026-27 dates, the species you can legally take, bag and possession limits, and the license, weapon, and public land rules that apply. Where a rule varies by county or isn’t spelled out in the sources I reviewed, I point you to the official WVDNR summary so you can confirm before you go.
Important Note: Seasons, limits, and county exceptions can change from year to year. Always check the current WVDNR hunting seasons page and the printed regulations summary before you head out.
Rabbit Hunting Season Dates in West Virginia
For 2026-27, the WVDNR lists the cottontail rabbit season as running from November 7 through February 28. Last year’s season opened November 1, so this year’s opener falls one weekend later. The season has traditionally opened the first weekend in November.
The one important exception is the deer season overlap. According to the July 2026 WVDNR regulations summary, you cannot hunt small game in counties that have a buck firearms season during the first three days of that season. Mark this on your calendar, since it falls right in the middle of prime rabbit weather.
The same summary also lists a split-season schedule for selected counties, with a break between October 26 and November 15 on the table it publishes. Because this applies only to certain counties, check the county list in the summary before you plan an early-November trip.
| Species | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|
| Cottontail Rabbit | November 7, 2026 | February 28, 2027 |
| Snowshoe or Varying Hare | November 7, 2026 | February 28, 2027 |
Which Rabbit and Hare Species You Can Hunt in West Virginia
West Virginia is home to rabbits and a hare: the Eastern cottontail, the Appalachian cottontail, and the snowshoe hare. The state regulates them in two groups: cottontail rabbit, and snowshoe or varying hare.
The Eastern cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus) is the animal most hunters chase. It thrives where farmland and brush meet, which is why old fields, fencerows, and regenerating cuts hold the best numbers. One regional hunting guide points to brush piles, thickets, old homesteads, and regenerating clear-cuts as ideal shelter.
The snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus) is a different animal altogether. It lives in the high-elevation spruce country of the Allegheny Highlands and has its own, much smaller limit. Appalachian cottontails (Sylvilagus obscurus) look nearly identical to Eastern cottontails in the field, so you should know your local habitat and the regulations before you shoot.
Rabbit Hunting Bag and Possession Limits in West Virginia
The daily bag limit for cottontail rabbit is five, and you can hold 20 at any one time. The limit for snowshoe or varying hare is two per day with eight in possession. Both species have no season limit, according to the WVDNR season table.
It helps to understand the difference between the terms. A daily limit is what you can harvest in one day. The possession limit refers to the amount of game permitted on a person at any given time. With a 5-a-day limit and a 20-rabbit possession cap, a four-day trip with a full bag each day still keeps you legal, but a week of full limits stored in your freezer would not unless you account for what you have on hand.
| Species | Daily Bag Limit | Possession Limit | Season Limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cottontail Rabbit | 5 | 20 | None |
| Snowshoe or Varying Hare | 2 | 8 | None |
Pro Tip: Count rabbits and hares separately. Taking your five cottontails does not use up your two-hare allowance, but each species has its own cap.
Licenses and Permits Required to Hunt Rabbits in West Virginia
You need a valid West Virginia hunting license to hunt rabbits. One regional guide also mentions a small game stamp, but stamp requirements can differ by license class, so confirm yours when you buy. Licenses are sold through the WVDNR online system, at license agents, and at district offices.
Hunter education matters if you are newer to the sport. Anyone born after January 1, 1975, needs proof of hunter education before getting a West Virginia hunting license. Complete the course well before November, since classes can fill up in the fall.
Resident landowners have an exemption. According to Huntwise’s summary of WVDNR rules, a resident landowner may hunt their own land without buying a license but must follow all season and bag limits. Nonresidents cannot use that exemption on land they own in West Virginia.
For a full breakdown of license classes and fees, see our West Virginia hunting license requirements guide. Our overview of hunting laws in West Virginia covers penalties and other statewide rules.
Legal Hunting Methods and Weapons for Rabbits in West Virginia
Most rabbit hunters use a shotgun, and the loads are simple. Regional hunting guidance says No. 6 or No. 7.5 shot is most common, while small-caliber rifles are legal but used less often because rabbit hunting is close-range and fast.
The WVDNR regulations summary lists several things you cannot do. Hunting with a fully automatic firearm is prohibited. The summary also restricts air rifles: small game may not be hunted with an air rifle of less than .22 caliber.
One rule that surprises many hunters involves overlapping seasons. The summary states that during the muzzleloader deer season, it is legal to hunt small game with a .22 caliber rimfire or a .22 caliber air rifle. That wording suggests other firearms may be restricted during those windows, so read the muzzleloader section before hunting public land in December.
Dogs are a big part of West Virginia rabbit hunting. Beagles are the traditional choice, and the state’s own coverage describes hunters and hounds sharing the chase. Residents may train dogs on wild animals on public land or on private land with written landowner permission, while nonresidents may train dogs during any open small game season, per the regulations summary.
- Shotguns with No. 6 or No. 7.5 shot are the standard choice.
- Small-caliber rifles and .22 rimfires are legal but less practical.
- Air rifles must be .22 caliber or larger for small game.
- Fully automatic firearms are prohibited.
Shooting Hours and Sunday Hunting Rules for Rabbit Hunting in West Virginia
The sources I reviewed did not publish a specific shooting-hour window or a dedicated Sunday rule for rabbits. For that reason, check the shooting hours table and the Sunday hunting section of the current WVDNR regulations summary before you plan a weekend hunt. West Virginia has relaxed Sunday restrictions on public land in recent years, but the details have varied by species and land type.
Timing your hunt around rabbit behavior is easier than decoding the clock. Rabbits are most active early in the morning and late in the afternoon, slipping out to feed before retreating to cover when danger approaches. Those are the hours when you will see the most movement along field edges.
After a fresh snow, tracks make it easier to find where rabbits are holding. Walk slowly, pause often, and kick brush piles to flush hidden animals.
Hunter Orange and Public Land Rules for Rabbit Hunting in West Virginia
Hunter orange is one place where you should lean toward caution. Regional guidance says blaze orange is required during certain hunting seasons, and rabbit season overlaps with deer firearms and muzzleloader windows. If you are hunting during or near any deer season, wear blaze orange regardless of whether you think the rule applies to rabbits. The exact requirement is spelled out in the WVDNR summary.
Public land gives you plenty of room to hunt. According to Wonderful West Virginia, WVDNR managed 96 Wildlife Management Areas at the time of writing, and 46 of them listed rabbits as a hunting prospect. State forests, including Cabwaylingo, Calvin Price, Coopers Rock, Greenbrier, Kanawha, Kumbrabow, and Seneca, are also named as places to hunt rabbits.
The Monongahela National Forest adds more acreage, and brushy draws, timber cuts, and old fields on public land often hold good numbers. The WVDNR also notes that for the best results, hunters should seek out old field habitats and the edges of adjacent regenerating forests.
Pro Tip: Some WMAs and state forests have their own rules, especially during deer muzzleloader season. Check the area-specific pages in the regulations summary before you go.
If you hunt multiple species, you may also find our guides to deer hunting season in West Virginia and bow hunting laws in West Virginia useful for planning around overlapping seasons. Winter ticks are less of a concern than in fall, but our tick season in West Virginia article is worth a read before early-season trips. For a different small-game outing, see dove hunting season in West Virginia.
Plan your trip around the November 7 opener, keep your bag at five cottontails and two hares, and verify county-specific exceptions in the WVDNR summary. Bring a shotgun, a good dog if you have one, and your blaze orange.