Minnesota · Rabbit · 2026–27 Edition
Minnesota Rabbit Season 2026–27: Dates & Bag Limits
01 — Seasons
| Season | Zone | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Cottontail rabbit and snowshoe hare | Statewide | Sep 19 – Feb 28 |
| Jackrabbit | Statewide | Sep 19 – Feb 28 |
02 — Bag limits
| Cottontail & snowshoe hare — daily | 10 |
|---|---|
| Cottontail & snowshoe hare — possession | 20 |
| Jackrabbit — daily | 1 |
| Jackrabbit — possession | 3 |
03 — Shooting hours
Legal light on opening day (September 19, 2026) 06:31 — 19:19
Rule: ½ hour before sunrise to sunset — stated directly for small game (cottontail, snowshoe hare, and jackrabbit) on the MN DNR small-game hunting page; ends at sunset rather than Minnesota's general ½-hour-after-sunset closing time. Sunrise/sunset shift daily — the times above are computed for opening day; use your local Minnesota sun times for any other date.
04 — License
Rabbit hunters in Minnesota need a Minnesota hunting license.
Minnesota hunting license cost →
Where to hunt public land in Minnesota — WMAs by county & access rules →
05 — FAQ
When does rabbit season start in Minnesota?
The 2026–27 opener is September 19, 2026. See the table above for the full window.
When does rabbit season end in Minnesota?
The 2026–27 closing date is February 28, 2027.
Is there a closed season on rabbit in Minnesota?
Yes — see the dates above. Outside that window, taking rabbit is closed in Minnesota.
How many rabbits can you shoot in Minnesota per day?
2026–27 bag limits: Cottontail & snowshoe hare — daily — 10. Cottontail & snowshoe hare — possession — 20. Jackrabbit — daily — 1. Jackrabbit — possession — 3. 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 Minnesota?
On opening day (September 19, 2026) legal light runs 06:31 to 19:19. The rule is: ½ hour before sunrise to sunset — stated directly for small game (cottontail, snowshoe hare, and jackrabbit) on the MN DNR small-game hunting page; ends at sunset rather than Minnesota's general ½-hour-after-sunset closing time. Sunrise and sunset shift daily, so work the offset against your local Minnesota sun times for any other date.
Can I hunt rabbits on my own land in Minnesota without a license?
Minnesota's exemption is narrow: it covers small game only, and only on land that is your actual principal residence — owning land you don't live on doesn't qualify. Deer, bear, and turkey always need a license and tags, even at home.
Verified · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources · Last verified 2026-08-14
Publisher's note. Official MN DNR small-game hunting page, fetched directly. States cottontail rabbit, snowshoe hare, AND jackrabbit all share the same statewide season, '09/19/26 - 02/28/27', with shooting hours '½ hour before sunrise to sunset' — this is NOT Minnesota's general hunting-hours pattern (½ hour before sunrise to ½ hour AFTER sunset), so it is encoded here as a genuine rabbit/hare-specific exception that ends at sunset rather than 30 minutes later. Bag limits: cottontail & snowshoe hare 10 daily / 20 possession; jackrabbit 1 daily / 3 possession. No lottery, permit, or zone split found for any of the three species — this is a plain statewide season with no traps found.