Eastern cottontail

Species it is confused with

Check these before deciding what you are looking at. If you are not certain what it is, do not shoot.

• Snowshoe hare · Lepus americanus
• Swamp rabbit · Sylvilagus aquaticus
• Black-tailed jackrabbit · Lepus californicus

Field notes

• Identification Do not identify Eastern cottontail from colour alone. Compare structure, size, range and the listed similar species before making a field decision.[1]

Where legal take is listed

• British Columbia — hunting, invasive species removal · 2026-2028 Hunting and Trapping Regulations Synopsis
• Manitoba — hunting · Manitoba Hunting Guide 2026
• Ontario — hunting · Ontario Hunting Regulations Summary — Small game and furbearing mammals
• Québec — hunting, trapping · Périodes de chasse au petit gibier 2026-2028
• Alabama — hunting · Alabama Hunting & Fishing Digest 2026-2027 (ADCNR, hosted at eRegulations; linked from outdooralabama.com)
• Arkansas — hunting · 2026-27 Arkansas Hunting Guidebook (PDF)
• Colorado — hunting · 2 CCR 406-3 Chapter W-3 Furbearers and Small Game, Except Migratory Birds (07/16/2026; eff. 2026-09-01)
• Connecticut — hunting · 2026 Connecticut Hunting and Trapping Guide
• Delaware — hunting, trapping · 2026-27 Delaware Hunting & Trapping Guide: Small Game Hunting (official guide, linked from dnrec.delaware.gov)
• Florida — hunting · 2026-2027 Florida Resident Game and Furbearer Hunting Season Dates and Bag Limits (FWC)
• Illinois — hunting · Illinois Digest of Hunting and Trapping Regulations 2026-2027 (PDF read from cached copy of the digest linked on this page)
• Indiana — hunting · Indiana Hunting & Trapping Guide 2026-2027: Small Game (DNR guide hosted on eRegulations; updated 14 Aug 2026)
• Iowa — hunting · 2026-27 Iowa Hunting, Trapping & Migratory Game Bird Regulations (DNR PDF; page numbers cited)
• Louisiana — hunting · 2026-2027 Louisiana Hunting Regulations (updated Aug 7, 2026)
• Maryland — hunting · 2026-27 Maryland Guide to Hunting & Trapping (official guide, linked from dnr.maryland.gov/huntersguide)
• Minnesota — hunting, trapping · Minnesota Hunting & Trapping Regulations (effective July 2026 - June 30, 2027)
• Mississippi — hunting · 2026-2027 Hunting Seasons (MDWFP PDF)
• Missouri — hunting, trapping · A Summary of Missouri Hunting and Trapping Regulations 2026
• Montana — hunting · Recreational Shooting of Nongame Species (FWP web page)
• Nebraska — hunting, trapping · Small Game & Waterfowl Guide 2025-2026
• New Hampshire — hunting · Fis 300 Wildlife Seasons and Rules
• North Dakota — hunting · Hunting - Other Species
• Ohio — hunting · Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations 2026-27 (effective 1 Sep 2026-31 Aug 2027); PDF read from cached copy
• Oklahoma — hunting · Small Game Regulations
• Oregon — hunting, nuisance or unprotected take · 2026 Oregon Big Game Hunting Regulations (official ODFW booklet, eRegulations host linked from myodfw.com)
• Pennsylvania — hunting · 2026-27 Seasons and Bag Limits
• Rhode Island — hunting, trapping · Hunting and Trapping Regulations (250-RICR-60-00-9)
• South Carolina — hunting · 2026-2027 South Carolina Hunting & Fishing Laws and Regulations Guide
• South Dakota — hunting · 2026 South Dakota Hunting and Trapping Handbook
• Vermont — hunting · Hunting and Trapping Seasons (web page)
• Washington — hunting · 2026 Washington Game Bird and Small Game Hunting Regulations (Jul 1 2026 - Jun 30 2027)
• Wisconsin — hunting · 2026 Wisconsin Hunting and Trapping Seasons PUB-CS-076-2026 (updated 06/08/2026)
• Wyoming — hunting · WGFC Ch. 11 Upland Game Bird and Small Game Hunting Seasons (dated Apr 22 2026)

Being listed is not an open season. Seasons, zones, licences, methods and limits decide whether this animal may be taken on a given day and place — check Hunt or the authority before you go. Listings read 2026-09-30.