Colorado · Rabbit · 2026–27 Edition
Colorado Rabbit Season 2026–27: Dates & Bag Limits
01 — Seasons
| Season | Zone | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Cottontail rabbit, snowshoe hare & jackrabbit (white-tailed, black-tailed) | Statewide — all areas | Oct 1 – Feb 28 |
02 — Bag limits
| Daily | 10 of each species (cottontail rabbit, snowshoe hare, jackrabbit counted separately) |
|---|---|
| Possession | 20 of each species |
| Dogs | Dogs may pursue, bring to bay, retrieve, flush or point, but it is illegal to use dogs to hunt cottontail rabbits or snowshoe hares on land where a regular deer, elk, pronghorn or moose season is in progress |
03 — Shooting hours
Legal light on opening day (October 1, 2026) 06:30 — 18:44
Rule: One-half hour before sunrise to sunset — CPW's general small-game shooting-hours rule, stated in the 2026 Small Game & Waterfowl brochure, with no rabbit-specific exception found. Sunrise/sunset shift daily — the times above are computed for opening day; use your local Colorado sun times for any other date.
04 — License
Rabbit hunters in Colorado need a Colorado hunting license.
05 — FAQ
When does rabbit season start in Colorado?
The 2026–27 opener is October 1, 2026. See the table above for the full window.
When does rabbit season end in Colorado?
The 2026–27 closing date is February 28, 2027.
Is there a closed season on rabbit in Colorado?
Yes — see the dates above. Outside that window, taking rabbit is closed in Colorado.
How many rabbits can you shoot in Colorado per day?
2026–27 bag limits: Daily — 10 of each species (cottontail rabbit, snowshoe hare, jackrabbit counted separately). Possession — 20 of each species. Dogs — Dogs may pursue, bring to bay, retrieve, flush or point, but it is illegal to use dogs to hunt cottontail rabbits or snowshoe hares on land where a regular deer, elk, pronghorn or moose season is in progress. 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 Colorado?
On opening day (October 1, 2026) legal light runs 06:30 to 18:44. The rule is: One-half hour before sunrise to sunset — CPW's general small-game shooting-hours rule, stated in the 2026 Small Game & Waterfowl brochure, with no rabbit-specific exception found. Sunrise and sunset shift daily, so work the offset against your local Colorado sun times for any other date.
Verified · Colorado Parks and Wildlife · Last verified 2026-08-14
Publisher's note. Official '2026 Colorado Small Game & Waterfowl Hunting' brochure PDF, downloaded from CPW's own document host (linked from cpw.state.co.us/activities/hunting/small-game) and read directly — confirmed as the current 2026 edition from its own cover/header text, not an older cached brochure. The 'Small-Game Animals — Statewide: All Areas' table lists Cottontail Rabbit, Snowshoe Hare and Jackrabbit (white-tailed & black-tailed) together: Season Oct. 1–end of Feb., annually; daily bag limit 10 of each species; possession limit 20 of each species. No zone or elevation-based split was found for rabbit/hare in this brochure — Colorado's zone splits this season apply to some grouse species, not to rabbit or hare. Shooting hours are the brochure's general small-game rule, stated on the same document: 'Legal times to hunt small game and/or waterfowl are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset,' with no rabbit-specific exception found.