Pennsylvania · Rabbit · 2026–27 Edition
Pennsylvania Rabbit Season 2026–27: Dates & Bag Limits
01 — Seasons
| Season | Zone | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Junior/Mentored (16 & under) — Cottontail | Statewide | Oct 3 – Oct 18 |
| Regular — Cottontail, segment 1 | Statewide | Oct 17 – Dec 24 |
| Regular — Cottontail, segment 2 | Statewide | Dec 26 – Feb 28 |
| Snowshoe / Varying Hare | Statewide | Dec 26 – Dec 31 |
02 — Bag limits
| Cottontail — daily | 4 |
|---|---|
| Cottontail — possession | 12 |
| Snowshoe/varying hare — daily | 1 |
| Snowshoe/varying hare — season limit | 3 (a season total, not a daily possession figure) |
03 — Shooting hours
Legal light on opening day (October 3, 2026) 06:39 — 19:18
Rule: Half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset — the PGC digest prints this once as the rule 'for all small and big game', which covers cottontail rabbit. Hours shift 4 minutes later per meridian west of the 75th (up to +20 minutes in the far west). Sunrise/sunset shift daily — the times above are computed for opening day; use your local Pennsylvania sun times for any other date.
04 — License
Rabbit hunters in Pennsylvania need a Pennsylvania hunting license.
Pennsylvania hunting license cost →
Where to hunt public land in Pennsylvania — WMAs by county & access rules →
05 — FAQ
When does rabbit season start in Pennsylvania?
The 2026–27 opener is October 3, 2026. See the table above for the full window.
When does rabbit season end in Pennsylvania?
The 2026–27 closing date is February 28, 2027.
Is there a closed season on rabbit in Pennsylvania?
Yes — see the dates above. Outside that window, taking rabbit is closed in Pennsylvania.
How many rabbits can you shoot in Pennsylvania per day?
2026–27 bag limits: Cottontail — daily — 4. Cottontail — possession — 12. Snowshoe/varying hare — daily — 1. Snowshoe/varying hare — season limit — 3 (a season total, not a daily possession figure). 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 Pennsylvania?
On opening day (October 3, 2026) legal light runs 06:39 to 19:18. The rule is: Half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset — the PGC digest prints this once as the rule 'for all small and big game', which covers cottontail rabbit. Hours shift 4 minutes later per meridian west of the 75th (up to +20 minutes in the far west). Sunrise and sunset shift daily, so work the offset against your local Pennsylvania sun times for any other date.
Can I hunt rabbits on my own land in Pennsylvania without a license?
Pennsylvania's exemption only covers someone whose primary livelihood is farming that specific land — owner, tenant, family member, or farmhand — who may then hunt and take furbearers on it without a license. Owning rural land you don't farm for a living doesn't qualify; discounted Landowner Hunting Licenses exist separately for owners of 50 or more acres.
Verified · Pennsylvania Game Commission · Last verified 2026-08-13
Publisher's note. Official PGC seasons-and-bag-limits page, fetched directly. Cottontail rabbit and snowshoe/varying hare are listed as distinct line items with different dates and limits — this file covers both. Shooting hours are not stated on the seasons page itself; the general statewide rule (58 Pa. Code §141.4 — one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset) is used, with no rabbit-specific exception found, cited via a secondary mirror of the PA Code rather than a pa.gov page directly.