California · Rabbit · 2026–27 Edition
California Rabbit Season 2026–27: Dates & Bag Limits
01 — Seasons
| Season | Zone | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Jackrabbit (black- or white-tailed) | Statewide | Jan 1 – Dec 31 |
| Brush, cottontail & pigmy rabbit + varying hare — general season | Statewide, except a San Joaquin County zone near Stockton/Tracy | Jul 1 – Jan 31 |
| Brush, cottontail & pigmy rabbit + varying hare — falconry | Statewide, same exclusion zone | Feb 1 – Mar 21 |
02 — Bag limits
| Jackrabbit | No limit |
|---|---|
| Brush, cottontail, pigmy rabbit & varying hare — daily (combined, all species aggregate) | 5 |
| Brush, cottontail, pigmy rabbit & varying hare — possession (combined, all species aggregate) | 10 |
03 — Shooting hours
Legal light on opening day (January 1, 2026) 06:40 — 17:22
Rule: One-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset for all resident small game mammals, per 14 CCR §310. Sunrise/sunset shift daily — the times above are computed for opening day; use your local California sun times for any other date.
04 — License
Rabbit hunters in California need a California hunting license — Nonlead ammunition is required statewide for taking any wildlife with a firearm in California, including rabbits.
California hunting license cost →
Where to hunt public land in California — WMAs by county & access rules →
05 — FAQ
When does rabbit season start in California?
The 2026–27 opener is January 1, 2026. See the table above for the full window.
When does rabbit season end in California?
The 2026–27 closing date is March 21, 2027.
Is there a closed season on rabbit in California?
Yes — see the dates above. Outside that window, taking rabbit is closed in California.
How many rabbits can you shoot in California per day?
2026–27 bag limits: Jackrabbit — No limit. Brush, cottontail, pigmy rabbit & varying hare — daily (combined, all species aggregate) — 5. Brush, cottontail, pigmy rabbit & varying hare — possession (combined, all species aggregate) — 10. 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 California?
On opening day (January 1, 2026) legal light runs 06:40 to 17:22. The rule is: One-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset for all resident small game mammals, per 14 CCR §310. Sunrise and sunset shift daily, so work the offset against your local California sun times for any other date.
Can I hunt rabbits on my own land in California without a license?
No — California requires a hunting license regardless of land ownership. The one landowner-specific carve-out is a narrow depredation-permit process for wild pigs causing damage, which is not a general hunting license.
Verified · California Department of Fish and Wildlife · Last verified 2026-08-14
Publisher's note. Official '2026-2027 California Mammal Hunting Regulations' PDF (cover reads 'UPDATED JULY 1, 2026'), linked from the CDFW/Fish and Game Commission regulations index and corroborated word-for-word against California Code of Regulations Title 14 §§308–310 via a Cornell LII mirror. Jackrabbit (black- and white-tailed) has its own year-round, no-limit statewide season under §309 — a genuinely separate regulatory track from brush/cottontail/pigmy rabbit and varying hare under §308, which run a dated general season plus a falconry-only extension and share one combined bag limit. One excluded zone (part of San Joaquin County between Stockton and Tracy) is closed to brush/cottontail take. Shooting hours (§310) explicitly cover 'all resident small game mammals,' which includes rabbits and hares.