Ohio · Rabbit · 2026–27 Edition
Ohio Rabbit Season 2026–27: Dates & Bag Limits
01 — Seasons
| Season | Zone | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Youth small game weekend | Statewide | Oct 24 – Oct 25 |
| Youth small game weekend | Statewide | Oct 31 – Nov 1 |
| Cottontail rabbit — regular season | Statewide | Nov 6 – Feb 28 |
02 — Bag limits
| Daily | 4 |
|---|---|
| Possession | 4, singly or in the aggregate, in the field while hunting or returning from hunting — no larger take-home total found |
03 — Shooting hours
Legal light on opening day (October 24, 2026) 07:51 — 18:37
Rule: Sunrise to sunset daily during the open season — stated explicitly for rabbit in Ohio Administrative Code Rule 1501:31-15-16 (no half-hour buffer, unlike some of Ohio's other small-game rules). Sunrise/sunset shift daily — the times above are computed for opening day; use your local Ohio sun times for any other date.
04 — License
Rabbit hunters in Ohio need an Ohio hunting license.
Where to hunt public land in Ohio — WMAs by county & access rules →
05 — FAQ
When does rabbit season start in Ohio?
The 2026–27 opener is October 24, 2026. See the table above for the full window.
When does rabbit season end in Ohio?
The 2026–27 closing date is February 28, 2027.
Is there a closed season on rabbit in Ohio?
Yes — see the dates above. Outside that window, taking rabbit is closed in Ohio.
How many rabbits can you shoot in Ohio per day?
2026–27 bag limits: Daily — 4. Possession — 4, singly or in the aggregate, in the field while hunting or returning from hunting — no larger take-home total found. 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 Ohio?
On opening day (October 24, 2026) legal light runs 07:51 to 18:37. The rule is: Sunrise to sunset daily during the open season — stated explicitly for rabbit in Ohio Administrative Code Rule 1501:31-15-16 (no half-hour buffer, unlike some of Ohio's other small-game rules). Sunrise and sunset shift daily, so work the offset against your local Ohio sun times for any other date.
Can I hunt rabbits on my own land in Ohio without a license?
Ohio residents who own land — plus their parents, children, and grandchildren under 18 — may hunt it without a hunting license; the same applies to tenants and their children. Deer and turkey still need their own permit.
Verified · Ohio Division of Wildlife · Last verified 2026-08-13
Publisher's note. Ohio Administrative Code Rule 1501:31-15-16, the state's own codified cottontail-rabbit rule, read directly and corroborated by ODNR's official 2026-27 season-dates PDF (dam.assets.ohio.gov). Only cottontail rabbit is regulated — Ohio does not list a separate hare/jackrabbit category. The possession limit (4, same as the daily bag, capped 'in the field while hunting or returning from hunting') is an unusually strict rule, same pattern as Ohio's squirrel season this session — worth a second look before publishing further, though it comes directly from the code text.