Small game
Rabbit Hunting in Kentucky, 2026-27
2026-27 dates, limits, permits and rules for cottontail rabbits, built from KDFWR sources and checked November 10, 2026.
Photo: Ligocsicnarf89 (CC BY 4.0)
Quick facts on Kentucky cottontail rabbits
Rabbit hunters in Kentucky work from 4 KDFWR season rows this year. One line in the species table matters most for cottontail rabbits: eastern and Western zones. What may be used on cottontail rabbits: small game equipment, dogs, traps.
Source: Guide p. 27 and Guide p. 28 (Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources); checked November 10, 2026.
The rabbit calendar for 2026-27
Each line is one KDFWR row for cottontail rabbits, with the area it covers, its limit and the page it was read from.
| Hunt | Applies in | Windows | Limit | KDFWR note | Status | Cite |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rabbit | Eastern zone | Nov 1–13, 2026 Nov 16–Jan 31, 2027 | 4 daily, 8 possession | Closed Nov. 14-15. | Guide p. 27 | |
| Rabbit | Western zone | Nov 16–Feb 10, 2027 | 4 daily, 8 possession | Opens the third day of modern gun deer season. | Guide p. 27 | |
| Rabbit Trapping | Eastern zone | Nov 16–Jan 31, 2027 | 4 daily, 8 possession | Rabbit trapping only while rabbit hunting season is open in the zone. | Guide p. 27 | |
| Rabbit Trapping | Western zone | Nov 16–Feb 10, 2027 | 4 daily, 8 possession | Guide p. 27 |
Western and Eastern zones for cottontail rabbits
Western Zone = wildlife districts I and II (301 KAR 4:010); Eastern = districts III-IX. Rabbit and quail.
| Zone | Counties | Rabbit dates | Counties include |
|---|---|---|---|
| Western Zone | 29 | Nov 16–Feb 10, 2027 | |
| Eastern Zone | 91 | Nov 1–13, 2026 Nov 16–Jan 31, 2027 |
Source: 301 KAR 2:122 and Guide p. 28 (Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources); checked November 10, 2026.
The rabbit bag, word for word
Read the rabbit line that fits your season; public areas can be tighter.
| Who | Limit |
|---|---|
| Rabbit | 4 daily, 8 possession |
Source: Guide p. 28 and Guide p. 27 (Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources); checked November 10, 2026.
Rabbit methods of take
Below are the method rules that bear on cottontail rabbits, plus two general ones that catch hunters out.
| Rule set | Yes | No |
|---|---|---|
| Small game | Rimfire rifle or handgun, .410 handgun, shotguns 10 ga or smaller (plugged to 3) with shot No. 2 or smaller, muzzleloading rifles, archery/crossbow, .177-.25 air guns, falconry, slingshots, dogs. | – |
| Topic | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Vehicles and boats | No taking wildlife from a vehicle; boats may be used (not under power) for small game, furbearers and waterfowl; disabled hunters may use a stationary vehicle with an exemption. |
| Dogs | No dogs for deer or elk or spring turkey; dogs may flush turkeys in fall; bear dogs only in legal seasons with approved breeds; leashed tracking dogs may recover deer, elk and bear; rabbits, foxes, coyotes, raccoons and opossums may be run year-round. |
| Felons | Convicted felons may not possess or hunt with any firearm, including muzzleloaders (KRS 527.040). |
For a rabbit hunt the summary reads: small game equipment, dogs, traps.
Source: Guide p. 28, Guide p. 10 and Guide p. 11 (Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources); checked November 10, 2026.
Kentucky rabbit fees for 2026-27
From the KDFWR fee table: the base license first, then each permit that the rabbit rows call for.
| License | Resident price | Nonresident price | Fine print |
|---|---|---|---|
| $28.54 | $169.12 | Shooting range permit included (must register). | |
| $7.40 | $26.43 | Not valid for deer, elk, turkey or bear. | |
| Not sold | $68.71 | Not valid for deer, elk, turkey or bear. | |
| $6.34 | $10.57 | Valid for the license year if bought before the 16th birthday. | |
| $44.39 | Not sold | Annual Hunting/Fishing | |
| $21.14 | $137.41 | – |
Carry proof of license on a rabbit hunt: the vendor copy, a printout, your customer ID with photo ID, or a phone screenshot.
Source: Guide p. 7 and Guide p. 4 (Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources); checked November 10, 2026.
Field rules that matter for cottontail rabbits
Read these before a rabbit outing; each line links back to the guide.
| Area | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Hunter orange | During gun and muzzleloader deer seasons (and firearm elk or bear seasons where they run), rabbit hunters must wear unbroken orange visible from every side. |
| Harvest report | A rabbit hunter has nothing to report: Telecheck is for deer, elk, turkey, bear, bobcat, otter and sandhill crane. |
| Hunter education | Cottontail rabbits count like any other game here: a hunter born on or after January 1, 1975 needs hunter education or the one-time exemption permit. |
Source: Guide p. 10, Guide p. 8 and Guide p. 9 (Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources); checked November 10, 2026.
Public land for cottontail rabbits
The Kentucky land records name cottontail rabbits on 66 areas; acreage is the record figure, or a GIS measure where marked.
| Place | Kind | Counties | Size (ac) | Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| National forest | 710,298 | Chart: open | ||
| Ranger district | 209,423 | Listed species | ||
| Ranger district | 183,503 | Listed species | ||
| Ranger district | 170,938 | Listed species | ||
| Ranger district | 146,434 | Listed species | ||
| WMA | 40,744 | Chart: open | ||
| WMA | 38,788 | Chart: open | ||
| River and rec area | 30,300 | Chart: open | ||
| WMA | 24,033 | Chart: open | ||
| WMA | 21,351 | Chart: open | ||
| WMA | 21,019 | Chart: open | ||
| WMA | 17,753 | Chart: open |
Source: KDFWR land records and Guide p. 30 (Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources); checked November 10, 2026.
What rides along in Kentucky cottontail rabbits
Kentucky cottontail rabbits picks were made with creek bottoms, crop edges and steep hardwood ridges in mind.
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Rabbit shooting light by date
West and east differ by most of an hour of sun, so pick the column nearest your rabbit ground.
30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset for most species (deer, elk, bear, turkey, small game, groundhog).
| Date | Madisonville (Hopkins) | Elizabethtown (Hardin) | Barbourville (Knox) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 1, 2026 | 5:44 a.m. to 5:24 p.m. CST | 6:38 a.m. to 6:17 p.m. EST | 6:28 a.m. to 6:10 p.m. EST |
| Nov 16, 2026 | 6:00 a.m. to 5:10 p.m. CST | 6:54 a.m. to 6:03 p.m. EST | 6:44 a.m. to 5:57 p.m. EST |
| Dec 21, 2026 | 6:30 a.m. to 5:06 p.m. CST | 7:25 a.m. to 5:58 p.m. EST | 7:14 a.m. to 5:52 p.m. EST |
Hours rule from the 2026-27 Kentucky Hunting & Trapping Guide; sunrise and sunset from the NOAA solar formula for each county seat on its own clock (KDFWR prints no sunrise table, so sunrise and sunset are worked out with the NOAA solar formula for the exact point, on Central Time in the 41 western counties and Eastern Time elsewhere, with daylight time ending November 1, 2026 and starting March 14, 2027.); checked November 10, 2026. Legal hours for every county.
Eastern cottontail rabbit at the edge of a fieldPhoto: mbarrison (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Eastern cottontail rabbit on alertPhoto: btrentler (CC BY 2.0)
Eastern cottontail rabbit sitting in grassPhoto: Jim, the Photographer (CC BY 2.0)
Answers about Kentucky cottontail rabbits
Can I hunt cottontail rabbits on a WMA?
Cottontail rabbits appear on 66 public areas in the Kentucky land records; each area page lists its own restrictions.
What decides my rabbit zone?
Western Zone = wildlife districts I and II (301 KAR 4:010); Eastern = districts III-IX. Rabbit and quail. Western Zone (29): Allen, Ballard, Butler, Caldwell, Calloway, Carlisle, Christian, Crittenden, Daviess, Fulton, Graves, Hancock, Henderson, Hickman, Hopkins, Livingston, Logan, Lyon, Marshall, McCracken, McLean, Muhlenberg, Ohio, Simpson, Todd, Trigg, Union, Warren and Webster.
What sources were used for cottontail rabbits?
Sources for cottontail rabbits: the KDFWR hunting guide, the waterfowl guide and 301 KAR, all checked November 10, 2026.
Can a beginner hunt cottontail rabbits without a safety course?
Cottontail rabbits count like any other game here: a hunter born on or after January 1, 1975 needs hunter education or the one-time exemption permit.
How many cottontail rabbits may I take?
For cottontail rabbits the guide reads: 4 daily, 8 possession.
How long does the Kentucky rabbit season run?
Rabbit Trapping (Eastern zone): Nov 16, 2026 to Jan 31, 2027; Rabbit Trapping (Western zone): Nov 16, 2026 to Feb 10, 2027; Rabbit (Eastern zone): Nov 1 to Nov 13, 2026; Nov 16, 2026 to Jan 31, 2027; Rabbit (Western zone): Nov 16, 2026 to Feb 10, 2027.
What weapons are legal for cottontail rabbits?
Small game equipment, dogs, traps. Rimfire rifle or handgun, .410 handgun, shotguns 10 ga or smaller (plugged to 3) with shot No. 2 or smaller, muzzleloading rifles, archery/crossbow, .177-.25 air guns, falconry, slingshots, dogs.
What license do I need to hunt cottontail rabbits?
Annual Hunting $28.54 resident, $169.12 nonresident; 1-Day Hunting $7.40 resident, $26.43 nonresident; 7-Day Hunting Not sold resident, $68.71 nonresident; Youth Annual Hunting $6.34 resident, $10.57 nonresident. See the license band for the complete rabbit list.
Hunter orange and cottontail rabbits: what applies?
During gun and muzzleloader deer seasons (and firearm elk or bear seasons where they run), rabbit hunters must wear unbroken orange visible from every side.
Can cottontail rabbits be hunted at night?
30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset for most species (deer, elk, bear, turkey, small game, groundhog). Read every rabbit time on the local clock: Kentucky straddles Central and Eastern Time.