Utah · Rabbit · 2026–27 Edition
Utah Rabbit Season 2026–27: Dates & Bag Limits
01 — Seasons
| Season | Zone | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Jackrabbit (black- or white-tailed) — no license required | Statewide (excludes closed areas & tribal trust lands) | Jan 1 – Dec 31 |
| Cottontail rabbit (desert & mountain) | Statewide (excludes closed areas & tribal trust lands) | Sep 1 – Feb 28 |
| Snowshoe hare | Statewide (excludes closed areas & tribal trust lands) | Sep 1 – Mar 15 |
02 — Bag limits
| Jackrabbit | No limit — may be hunted without a license |
|---|---|
| Cottontail — daily | 10 |
| Cottontail — possession | 30 |
| Snowshoe hare — daily | 5 |
| Snowshoe hare — possession | 15 |
| Pygmy rabbit | Protected — not legal to hunt |
03 — Shooting hours
Legal light on opening day (January 1, 2026) 07:16 — 17:44
Rule: 30 minutes before official sunrise to 30 minutes after official sunset — stated for upland game (which includes cottontail rabbit and snowshoe hare) in the 2026-27 guidebook, citing Utah Admin. Rules R657-9-10/-11. Jackrabbit is exempt from this rule entirely. Sunrise/sunset shift daily — the times above are computed for opening day; use your local Utah sun times for any other date.
04 — License
Rabbit hunters in Utah need a Utah hunting license — A Utah hunting or combination license is required for cottontail rabbit and snowshoe hare; jackrabbit needs no license at all.
Where to hunt public land in Utah — WMAs by county & access rules →
05 — FAQ
When does rabbit season start in Utah?
The 2026–27 opener is January 1, 2026. See the table above for the full window.
When does rabbit season end in Utah?
The 2026–27 closing date is March 15, 2027.
Is there a closed season on rabbit in Utah?
Yes — see the dates above. Outside that window, taking rabbit is closed in Utah.
How many rabbits can you shoot in Utah per day?
2026–27 bag limits: Jackrabbit — No limit — may be hunted without a license. Cottontail — daily — 10. Cottontail — possession — 30. Snowshoe hare — daily — 5. Snowshoe hare — possession — 15. Pygmy rabbit — Protected — not legal to hunt. 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 Utah?
On opening day (January 1, 2026) legal light runs 07:16 to 17:44. The rule is: 30 minutes before official sunrise to 30 minutes after official sunset — stated for upland game (which includes cottontail rabbit and snowshoe hare) in the 2026-27 guidebook, citing Utah Admin. Rules R657-9-10/-11. Jackrabbit is exempt from this rule entirely. Sunrise and sunset shift daily, so work the offset against your local Utah sun times for any other date.
Can I hunt rabbits on my own land in Utah without a license?
No — Utah requires a license, permit, or tag to hunt protected wildlife regardless of land ownership. Utah's 'Landowner Permit' program grants qualifying landowners priority access to big-game tags — that's an allocation benefit, not a license exemption, and applicants must still be able to lawfully hold a hunting license.
Verified · Utah Division of Wildlife Resources · Last verified 2026-08-14
Publisher's note. Official 2026-27 Utah Waterfowl, Upland Game and Turkey Guidebook, read directly (cover and 'What's new?' section confirm this is the current edition — the small-game guidebook was merged into this combined guidebook starting this cycle, as flagged in prior scoping). Pygmy rabbit, mountain cottontail and desert cottontail are all listed as protected wildlife by wildlife.utah.gov/rabbits-hares, but only pygmy rabbit has no open season — cottontail (desert and mountain) and snowshoe hare are both huntable during the dated windows below. Jackrabbit (black- and white-tailed) is NOT classified as protected wildlife/upland game — it can be hunted year-round, without a license, and with no bag limit or shooting-hours restriction, per the same guidebook.