Cottontail rabbit hunting in Colorado: 2026-27 seasons, limits and where to hunt

Cottontail rabbit: all CPW dates and licenses

2 rows, each a CPW license group with its dates and limit. Big game rows merge hunt codes that share a method, sex, license type and dates.

• Falconry season (cottontail, Statewide (or as listed)): Falconry bag and possession limits are not in addition to gun limits; Migratory falconry dates coincide with the established seasons (end date shown is the latest regular migratory close in the brochure).
• Season (cottontail, Statewide): October 1-end of February, annually.

From 2026 Small Game & Waterfowl brochure, PDF p. 13 and 2026 Small Game & Waterfowl brochure, PDF p. 20, checked November 5, 2026.

How many cottontail rabbits are taken

The 2023-24 small game survey estimates 13,419 cottontail taken by 4,525 hunters over 26,291 days. Numbers are CPW estimates; CPW runs no records program for cottontail rabbits.

From 2023-24 small game harvest report and CPW website, checked November 5, 2026.

Buying a license for cottontail rabbits

CPW folds a $1.25 search-and-rescue surcharge and a $1.50 Wildlife Education Fund fee into each cottontail price. Ages 18 to 64 need the $12.76 Habitat Stamp before any cottontail license.

From 2026 Colorado Big Game brochure, PDF p. 15, 2026 Small Game & Waterfowl brochure, PDF p. 5 and 2026 Small Game & Waterfowl brochure, PDF p. 7, checked November 5, 2026.

Cottontail rabbit rules in the field

• Orange and pink (cottontail): Not required for small game, migratory birds, turkey or lion (encouraged).
• Hunting hours (cottontail): One-half hour before sunrise to sunset.
• Baiting (cottontail): No hunting big game, turkey, small game or migratory birds over bait; furbearer bait allowed; bear luring prohibited (CRS 33-6-131).
• Dogs (cottontail): No dogs for big game except a leashed tracking dog (annual permit) to recover wounded deer/elk and others (not bear); dogs allowed for lion (max 8), small game, waterfowl and furbearers.
• Electronic calls (cottontail): Prohibited for big game, lion, turkey, small game and waterfowl; allowed for furbearers, crows and light geese in the conservation order.
• Vehicles and roads (cottontail): No shooting from a vehicle or within 50 ft of a public road centerline; firearms unloaded in the chamber in vehicles; firearms (except handguns) unloaded and cased on OHVs during deer, elk, pronghorn and bear seasons.
• Trespass (cottontail): Permission required on private land whether or not posted; State Land Board lands only where leased/signed by CPW.
• Wanton waste (cottontail): Must care for and prepare edible meat (four quarters, tenderloins, backstraps); must reasonably track wounded game; landowner permission needed to follow onto private land.
• Walk-In rules (cottontail): Walk-In Access: small game September 1-February 28, 2027 (regular), late cropland from pheasant opener; extended properties to March 31; big game on some properties September 1-December 31; small-game license and Habitat Stamp required; foot access only.
• Sunday rule (cottontail): No statewide Sunday restriction appears in the 2026 brochures, CPW regulation chapters read or CRS Title 33; seasons run every day; Some State Wildlife Areas limit hunting to certain days (Chapter W-5/W-9 property rules, for example waterfowl only on Saturdays, Sundays and Wednesdays on some SWAs).
• SWAs and STLs (cottontail): Everyone 16+ needs a hunting or fishing license (or State Wildlife Area Pass) on state wildlife areas and state trust lands.
• Safety course (cottontail): Anyone born on or after January 1, 1949 needs a hunter education card to buy or apply for a hunting license; carry it (or have it verified "V" on the license); Other states' cards honored.

From 2026 Colorado Big Game brochure, PDF p. 25, 2026 Colorado Big Game brochure, PDF p. 24, 2026 Colorado Big Game brochure, PDF p. 22, 2026 Colorado Big Game brochure, PDF p. 23 and 2026 Colorado Big Game brochure, PDF p. 16, checked November 5, 2026.