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Small game · 2026-27
Rabbit and Hare Hunting in Texas
Rabbits and hares are nongame in Texas, with no closed season, bag or possession limit on private property. Dates, limits, county lists, rules and public ground for rabbits and hares, all from TPWD.
Photo: mbarrison (CC BY-SA 2.0)
A hunting license is still required to hunt rabbits and hares. Rabbits may be trapped on private property, unlike game animals. 156 public areas in our list name rabbit, 55 of them APH leased units.
Rabbit and Hare at a glance
- No closed season or limits on private property.
Rabbit and Hare opening and closing days
TPWD sets 1 segment for rabbits and hares this license year; the last column compares each one with today.
| Zone | Season type | Begins | Ends | Days | Right now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide | Open year-round (private property) | Year-round | Year-round | 365 | Year-round |
Dates from the TPWD Outdoor Annual 2026-27 (species page), checked October 11, 2026.
Rabbit and Hare bag and possession limits
These rabbit and hare numbers are the ones a game warden will check against.
Limit, rabbits and hares
No closed season, bag or possession limit on private property.
Rabbit and Hare zones and county lists
Rabbits and hares are open in 254 counties. Where a rabbit and hare zone line splits a county, TPWD’s boundary text sits beside the name.
| Zone | Full counties | Split |
|---|---|---|
| Statewide, private land | 254 | 0 |
254 counties in Statewide
- Anderson County
- Andrews County
- Angelina County
- Aransas County
- Archer County
- Armstrong County
- Atascosa County
- Austin County
- Bailey County
- Bandera County
- Bastrop County
- Baylor County
- Bee County
- Bell County
- Bexar County
- Blanco County
- Borden County
- Bosque County
- Bowie County
- Brazoria County
- Brazos County
- Brewster County
- Briscoe County
- Brooks County
- Brown County
- Burleson County
- Burnet County
- Caldwell County
- Calhoun County
- Callahan County
- Cameron County
- Camp County
- Carson County
- Cass County
- Castro County
- Chambers County
- Cherokee County
- Childress County
- Clay County
- Cochran County
- Coke County
- Coleman County
- Collin County
- Collingsworth County
- Colorado County
- Comal County
- Comanche County
- Concho County
- Cooke County
- Coryell County
- Cottle County
- Crane County
- Crockett County
- Crosby County
- Culberson County
- Dallam County
- Dallas County
- Dawson County
- DeWitt County
- Deaf Smith County
- Delta County
- Denton County
- Dickens County
- Dimmit County
- Donley County
- Duval County
- Eastland County
- Ector County
- Edwards County
- El Paso County
- Ellis County
- Erath County
- Falls County
- Fannin County
- Fayette County
- Fisher County
- Floyd County
- Foard County
- Fort Bend County
- Franklin County
- Freestone County
- Frio County
- Gaines County
- Galveston County
- Garza County
- Gillespie County
- Glasscock County
- Goliad County
- Gonzales County
- Gray County
- Grayson County
- Gregg County
- Grimes County
- Guadalupe County
- Hale County
- Hall County
- Hamilton County
- Hansford County
- Hardeman County
- Hardin County
- Harris County
- Harrison County
- Hartley County
- Haskell County
- Hays County
- Hemphill County
- Henderson County
- Hidalgo County
- Hill County
- Hockley County
- Hood County
- Hopkins County
- Houston County
- Howard County
- Hudspeth County
- Hunt County
- Hutchinson County
- Irion County
- Jack County
- Jackson County
- Jasper County
- Jeff Davis County
- Jefferson County
- Jim Hogg County
- Jim Wells County
- Johnson County
- Jones County
- Karnes County
- Kaufman County
- Kendall County
- Kenedy County
- Kent County
- Kerr County
- Kimble County
- King County
- Kinney County
- Kleberg County
- Knox County
- La Salle County
- Lamar County
- Lamb County
- Lampasas County
- Lavaca County
- Lee County
- Leon County
- Liberty County
- Limestone County
- Lipscomb County
- Live Oak County
- Llano County
- Loving County
- Lubbock County
- Lynn County
- Madison County
- Marion County
- Martin County
- Mason County
- Matagorda County
- Maverick County
- McCulloch County
- McLennan County
- McMullen County
- Medina County
- Menard County
- Midland County
- Milam County
- Mills County
- Mitchell County
- Montague County
- Montgomery County
- Moore County
- Morris County
- Motley County
- Nacogdoches County
- Navarro County
- Newton County
- Nolan County
- Nueces County
- Ochiltree County
- Oldham County
- Orange County
- Palo Pinto County
- Panola County
- Parker County
- Parmer County
- Pecos County
- Polk County
- Potter County
- Presidio County
- Rains County
- Randall County
- Reagan County
- Real County
- Red River County
- Reeves County
- Refugio County
- Roberts County
- Robertson County
- Rockwall County
- Runnels County
- Rusk County
- Sabine County
- San Augustine County
- San Jacinto County
- San Patricio County
- San Saba County
- Schleicher County
- Scurry County
- Shackelford County
- Shelby County
- Sherman County
- Smith County
- Somervell County
- Starr County
- Stephens County
- Sterling County
- Stonewall County
- Sutton County
- Swisher County
- Tarrant County
- Taylor County
- Terrell County
- Terry County
- Throckmorton County
- Titus County
- Tom Green County
- Travis County
- Trinity County
- Tyler County
- Upshur County
- Upton County
- Uvalde County
- Val Verde County
- Van Zandt County
- Victoria County
- Walker County
- Waller County
- Ward County
- Washington County
- Webb County
- Wharton County
- Wheeler County
- Wichita County
- Wilbarger County
- Willacy County
- Williamson County
- Wilson County
- Winkler County
- Wise County
- Wood County
- Yoakum County
- Young County
- Zapata County
- Zavala County
Rabbit and Hare hunting rules in Texas
Before going after rabbits and hares, check these license, hour and method rules.
Licenses and fees
Fees rabbit hunters should expect this license year.
When to shoot
Rabbit hunters on private property are not bound by shooting hours.
Safety orange
Orange for rabbits and hares is required only on TPWD public hunting lands: 400 square inches total, 144 front and back, and an orange hat.
Safety course
Rabbit hunters born on or after Sept. 2, 1971 need hunter education; certification starts at age 9 and costs $15 in person.
Rabbits on public land
Public lands may restrict rabbit hunting even though private land has no limit.
Rabbit dogs on drawn hunts
On TPWD drawn hunts dogs are allowed for rabbits and hares.
From the TPWD Outdoor Annual general regulations, license and species pages (endorsements, hunting regulations), checked October 11, 2026. All Texas hunting laws · License guide.
Rabbit and Hare on WMAs, APH units and refuges
156 areas name rabbits and hares, most of them APH Leased Unit tracts (55), with Panhandle holding the largest share of rabbit and hare ground.
Panhandle (40)
South Place (Armstrong Co.) · Morris (Carson Co.) · Pat's Place (Carson Co.) · Rio Farms (Carson Co.) · Stovall (Carson Co.) · Yoakum Dunes WMA (Cochran Co.) · Matador WMA (Cottle Co.) · Playa Lakes WMA – Taylor Lakes Unit (Donley Co.) · 94 Trust (Floyd Co.) · Bindweed (Floyd Co.) · Bluestem (Floyd Co.) · Circle Tree (Floyd Co.) · Della Plains (Floyd Co.) · Francis-Dunlap (Floyd Co.) · Margolies (Floyd Co.) · Vara (Floyd Co.) · Abernathy North (Hale Co.) · Betty (Hansford Co.) · La Lanza (Hansford Co.) · Porter (Hansford Co.) · West of Town (Hansford Co.) · Copper Breaks State Park (Hardeman Co.) · Big Timber (Hemphill Co.) · Gene Howe WMA (Hemphill Co.) · Horse Creek (Hemphill Co.) · Temprano (Hutchinson Co.) · Pat Murphy WMA (Lipscomb Co.) · Ramsey Place (Lubbock Co.) · Askew CRP (Lynn Co.) · Noble Playa (Lynn Co.) · De Campo (Moore Co.) · Margoso (Moore Co.) · Brillhart (Ochiltree Co.) · Correll (Ochiltree Co.) · FM 759 HQ (Ochiltree Co.) · Goat Barn (Ochiltree Co.) · Texas Roberts (Ochiltree Co.) · La Playa (Sherman Co.) · Cobb Farms (Swisher Co.) · Lake Meredith National Recreation Area
Pineywoods (40)
Big Lake Bottom WMA (Anderson Co.) · Gus Engeling WMA (Anderson Co.) · Ivy (Anderson Co.) · Alazan Bayou WMA – Old River Tract (Angelina Co.) · Angelina National Forest (Angelina Co.) · White Oak Creek WMA (Bowie Co.) · Wright Patman Lake (Bowie Co.) · Lake Striker Public Hunting Lands (Cherokee Co.) · Neches River NWR – Rocky Point Unit (Cherokee Co.) · Neches River NWR – Sandy Bluff Unit (Cherokee Co.) · Neches River NWR – Walnut Branch Unit (Cherokee Co.) · Neches River National Wildlife Refuge (Cherokee Co.) · Big Thicket National Preserve (Hardin Co.) · Big Thicket National Preserve – Beaumont Hunting Area (Hardin Co.) · Big Thicket National Preserve – Big Sandy Creek Corridor Hunting Area (Hardin Co.) · Big Thicket National Preserve – Jack Gore Baygall Hunting Area (Hardin Co.) · Big Thicket National Preserve – Lance Rosier Hunting Area (Hardin Co.) · Big Thicket National Preserve – Little Pine Island-Pine Island Bayou Corridor Hunting Area (Hardin Co.) · Big Thicket National Preserve – Menard Creek Corridor Hunting Area (Hardin Co.) · Big Thicket National Preserve – Neches Bottom-Lower Neches River Corridor Hunting Area (Hardin Co.) · Big Thicket National Preserve – Village Creek Corridor Hunting Area (Hardin Co.) · Davy Crockett National Forest (Houston Co.) · Germany (Houston Co.) · Angelina-Neches/Dam B WMA (Jasper Co.) · Big Thicket National Preserve – Canyonlands-Upper Neches River Corridor Hunting Area (Jasper Co.) · Town Bluff Dam and B.A. Steinhagen Lake (Jasper Co.) · Big Thicket National Preserve – Lake Bayou Hunting Area (Jefferson Co.) · Big Thicket National Preserve – Loblolly Hunting Area (Liberty Co.) · Caddo Lake WMA (Marion Co.) · Alazan Bayou WMA – Blount Tract (Nacogdoches Co.) · Sabine River Authority Unit 630 (Panola Co.) · Big Thicket National Preserve – Big Sandy Creek Hunting Area (Polk Co.) · Moore Plantation WMA (Sabine Co.) · Sabine National Forest (Sabine Co.) · Bannister WMA (San Augustine Co.) · North Toledo Bend WMA (Shelby Co.) · Old Sabine Bottom WMA (Smith Co.) · Alabama Creek WMA (Trinity Co.) · Big Thicket National Preserve – Beech Creek Hunting Area (Tyler Co.) · Big Thicket National Preserve – Hickory Creek Savannah Hunting Area (Tyler Co.)
Austin/Waco (21)
Belton Lake (Bell Co.) · Holland Road (Bell Co.) · Whitney Lake (Bosque Co.) · Bruceville-Eddy (Falls Co.) · FM 1771 (Falls Co.) · FM 413 (Falls Co.) · Marlin Lake Park (Falls Co.) · Richland Creek WMA (Freestone Co.) · Richland Creek WMA – South Unit (Freestone Co.) · Aquilla Lake (Hill Co.) · Navarro Mills Lake (Hill Co.) · Somerville Public Hunting Lands (Lee Co.) · Keechi Creek WMA (Leon Co.) · Beevill Branch (Limestone Co.) · Rocky Creek (Limestone Co.) · Waco Lake (McLennan Co.) · Wild Wood Ranch (Milam Co.) · Mertens (Navarro Co.) · Luminant Texas Public Hunting Unit (Robertson Co.) · Granger Public Hunting Lands (Williamson Co.) · Lake Georgetown (Williamson Co.)
Dallas/Ft. Worth (18)
Home Place (Clay Co.) · Rater/Crump (Clay Co.) · Thompson (Clay Co.) · Three B's (Clay Co.) · Lavon Lake (Collin Co.) · Ray Roberts Public Hunting Lands (Cooke Co.) · Cooper WMA (Delta Co.) · Lewisville Lake (Denton Co.) · Bardwell Lake (Ellis Co.) · Caddo National Grassland (Fannin Co.) · Caddo National Grasslands WMA (Fannin Co.) · Caddo National Grasslands WMA – Bois d'Arc Unit (Fannin Co.) · Caddo National Grasslands WMA – Ladonia Unit (Fannin Co.) · Tawakoni WMA (Hunt Co.) · Pat Mayse WMA (Lamar Co.) · Hagerman NWR – Nocona Unit (Montague Co.) · Benbrook Lake (Tarrant Co.) · Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge (11,320 ac)
Houston/Beaumont (15)
Nannie M. Stringfellow WMA (Brazoria Co.) · Bordages Road (Jefferson Co.) · Latta Road (Jefferson Co.) · South China Road (Jefferson Co.) · Gum Slough (Liberty Co.) · Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge (Liberty Co.) · Sam Houston National Forest (Montgomery Co.) · Sam Houston National Forest WMA (Montgomery Co.) · Lower Neches WMA (Orange Co.) · Lower Neches WMA – Nelda Stark Unit (Orange Co.) · Lower Neches WMA – Old River Unit (Orange Co.) · Tony Houseman/Blue Elbow Swamp WMA (Orange Co.) · Trinity River NWR – Boars Den Unit · Trinity River NWR – Butler Unit · Trinity River NWR – Page Unit
San Antonio/Corpus Christi (15)
Lone Star Pass (Bexar Co.) · Somerset Road (Bexar Co.) · Guadalupe Delta WMA (Calhoun Co.) · Las Palomas WMA – Anacua Unit (Cameron Co.) · Las Palomas WMA – Arroyo Colorado Unit (Cameron Co.) · Las Palomas WMA – Carricitos Unit (Cameron Co.) · Las Palomas WMA – Ebony Unit (Cameron Co.) · Las Palomas WMA – Longoria Unit (Cameron Co.) · Las Palomas WMA – Tucker Unit (Cameron Co.) · Chaparral WMA (Dimmit Co.) · Las Palomas WMA – Baird Unit (Hidalgo Co.) · Las Palomas WMA – Chapote Unit (Hidalgo Co.) · Las Palomas WMA – Taormina Unit (Hidalgo Co.) · James E. Daughtrey WMA (Live Oak Co.) · Las Palomas WMA (Starr Co.)
Central Texas (4)
Proctor Lake (Comanche Co.) · Los Rincones (Kerr Co.) · San Angelo State Park (Tom Green Co.) · Twin Buttes Public Hunting Lands (Tom Green Co.)
Trans-Pecos (3)
Black Gap WMA (Brewster Co.) · Elephant Mountain WMA (Brewster Co.) · Amistad National Recreation Area
Rabbit hunters on TPWD public lands carry a $48 APH permit, good for the license year. How the APH permit works.
TPWD APH data, WMA and drawn hunt lists and federal land managers, 2026-27, checked October 11, 2026. Species lists are what each manager names; area rules still apply.
Rabbit and Hare and the public drawing
No TPWD drawn hunt category or Big Time Texas Hunts package names rabbits and hares for 2026-27.
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Common rabbit and hare questions
Is there a rabbit season in Texas?
No closed season, bag or possession limit on private property.
Can I trap rabbits?
Yes, on private property. Rabbits are nongame, and the trapping ban covers only game animals and game birds.
How many public tracts include rabbits and hares?
156 public tracts list rabbits and hares, including Sam Houston National Forest, Sam Houston National Forest WMA and Davy Crockett National Forest. Adults after rabbits and hares on TPWD land carry the $48 APH permit.
Are there hour limits on rabbits and hares?
Rabbit hunters on private property are not bound by shooting hours.
Is blaze orange required for rabbits and hares?
Orange for rabbits and hares is required only on TPWD public hunting lands: 400 square inches total, 144 front and back, and an orange hat.
Is my county open for rabbits and hares?
All 254 counties, listed by zone above.
When is rabbit and hare season?
No closed season on private property for rabbits and hares.
What is the bag limit on rabbits and hares?
No closed season, bag or possession limit on private property.
What license do I need for rabbits and hares?
Required or relevant: Resident license ($25); Nonresident 5-day ($48).
Last word on rabbits and hares
The TPWD species page is the final word on rabbits and hares; this page was checked against it on October 11, 2026.
Other photos on this page: gurdonark (CC BY 2.0); Maslowski, Steve, USFWS (Public domain); DaPuglet (CC BY-SA 2.0); Juliana Chong (CC BY 2.0); USFWS Headquarters (CC BY 2.0); VSmithUK (CC BY 2.0).