Alabama · Rabbit · 2026–27 Edition
Alabama Rabbit Season 2026–27: Dates & Bag Limits
01 — Seasons
| Season | Zone | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Rabbit | Statewide | Sep 12 – Feb 28 |
02 — Bag limits
| Daily | 8 |
|---|---|
| Possession | 8 |
03 — Shooting hours
Legal light on opening day (September 12, 2026) 06:29 — 18:56
Rule: 'Daylight hours only' — official sunrise to official sunset, with NO half-hour margin either side. Alabama Admin. Code r. 220-2-.06 names 'Eastern Cottontail and Swamp Rabbit' among its game animals, and r. 220-2-.07 sets legal hunting hours for game animals as daylight hours only. This is stricter than most states and differs from Alabama's own dove rule, which does add a half hour before sunrise. Sunrise/sunset shift daily — the times above are computed for opening day; use your local Alabama sun times for any other date.
04 — License
Rabbit hunters in Alabama need an Alabama hunting license.
Alabama hunting license cost →
Where to hunt public land in Alabama — WMAs by county & access rules →
05 — FAQ
When does rabbit season start in Alabama?
The 2026–27 opener is September 12, 2026. See the table above for the full window.
When does rabbit season end in Alabama?
The 2026–27 closing date is February 28, 2027.
Is there a closed season on rabbit in Alabama?
Yes — see the dates above. Outside that window, taking rabbit is closed in Alabama.
How many rabbits can you shoot in Alabama per day?
2026–27 bag limits: Daily — 8. Possession — 8. Limits are set per zone and per permit — check the agency's own regulations before you hunt.
What time can you start shooting rabbit in Alabama?
On opening day (September 12, 2026) legal light runs 06:29 to 18:56. The rule is: 'Daylight hours only' — official sunrise to official sunset, with NO half-hour margin either side. Alabama Admin. Code r. 220-2-.06 names 'Eastern Cottontail and Swamp Rabbit' among its game animals, and r. 220-2-.07 sets legal hunting hours for game animals as daylight hours only. This is stricter than most states and differs from Alabama's own dove rule, which does add a half hour before sunrise. Sunrise and sunset shift daily, so work the offset against your local Alabama sun times for any other date.
Can I hunt rabbits on my own land in Alabama without a license?
Alabama resident landowners — plus their immediate family, and tenants with their resident families — may hunt the land without a hunting license. The Baiting Privilege License, required to hunt deer or feral swine over bait, still applies to every hunter regardless of this exemption.
Verified · Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (Outdoor Alabama) · Last verified 2026-08-14
Publisher's note. Official Outdoor Alabama 'Rabbit Season' page, fetched directly, stating verbatim: 'Second Saturday in September – Last day in February' with a limit of '8 a day — 8 in possession.' The second Saturday in September 2026 is Sept. 12, 2026, and the last day of February 2027 (not a leap year) is Feb. 28, 2027 — those calendar dates are used below. The page does not state rabbit-specific shooting hours, legal methods, or WMA-specific differences; none of those are inferred here.