North Carolina · Rabbit · 2026–27 Edition
North Carolina Rabbit Season 2026–27: Dates & Bag Limits
01 — Seasons
| Season | Zone | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Rabbit | Statewide | Oct 12 – Feb 28 |
02 — Bag limits
| Daily | 5 |
|---|---|
| Possession | None — North Carolina's own administrative code states there is no season limit and no possession limit for rabbit |
| Trapping | Box-trapping rabbits is allowed during the same season under a valid hunting license — no separate trapping license required |
03 — Shooting hours
Legal light on opening day (October 12, 2026) 06:52 — 19:15
Rule: Game birds and animals may be taken only between 30 minutes before sunrise and 30 minutes after sunset — NCWRC's single rule for all game birds and animals, which covers rabbit. Sunrise/sunset shift daily — the times above are computed for opening day; use your local North Carolina sun times for any other date.
04 — License
Rabbit hunters in North Carolina need a North Carolina hunting license.
North Carolina hunting license cost →
Where to hunt public land in North Carolina — WMAs by county & access rules →
05 — FAQ
When does rabbit season start in North Carolina?
The 2026–27 opener is October 12, 2026. See the table above for the full window.
When does rabbit season end in North Carolina?
The 2026–27 closing date is February 28, 2027.
Is there a closed season on rabbit in North Carolina?
Yes — see the dates above. Outside that window, taking rabbit is closed in North Carolina.
How many rabbits can you shoot in North Carolina per day?
2026–27 bag limits: Daily — 5. Possession — None — North Carolina's own administrative code states there is no season limit and no possession limit for rabbit. Trapping — Box-trapping rabbits is allowed during the same season under a valid hunting license — no separate trapping license required. 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 North Carolina?
On opening day (October 12, 2026) legal light runs 06:52 to 19:15. The rule is: Game birds and animals may be taken only between 30 minutes before sunrise and 30 minutes after sunset — NCWRC's single rule for all game birds and animals, which covers rabbit. Sunrise and sunset shift daily, so work the offset against your local North Carolina sun times for any other date.
Can I hunt rabbits on my own land in North Carolina without a license?
A North Carolina landholder — owner, or a lessee who mainly cultivates the land — plus their spouse and dependents under 18 living with them, may hunt, trap, and fish it without a license. Elk, alligator, and the bear stamp aren't included, and deer, bear, or turkey still need a free License-Exempt Big Game Harvest Report Card.
Verified · North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission · Last verified 2026-08-13
Publisher's note. Official 'Hunting and Trapping Season Dates for July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027' PDF, read directly. The daily bag limit and the absence of a season/possession limit are confirmed via 15A NCAC 10B .0207 (NC Administrative Code, read via a Cornell LII mirror rather than a ncwildlife.gov page directly). Rabbit-specific shooting hours were not found in a primary NC source this round — NC's general shooting-hours rule (already on file for this state) is used as the fallback, unconfirmed as rabbit-specific.