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Grouse, pheasant, quail and small game (2026-27)
Cottontail Rabbit Hunting in Michigan, 2026-27
Cottontails are open statewide Sep 15, 2026 to Mar 31, 2027, and a private-land management season fills the rest of the year, Apr 1 to Sep 14, 2026. Below: every 2026-27 segment, the limits, licenses, units, harvest, public land and DNR rules for cottontails.
Photo: lwolfartist (CC BY 2.0)
The daily bag is five cottontails and snowshoe hares combined, possession 10. The management season is hunting only on private land, private land only (not commercial forest lands). Dogs may not be used April 16-July 7. Firearm, bow, crossbow and falconry are legal in the regular season, with dogs.
Rabbit rules in one list
- When and how: Sept. 15-March 31; private-land management season April 1-Sept. 14.
- Bag in short: 5/day combined with hare; 10 possession.
DNR source page, checked October 22, 2026.
GearHeading out for small game season? Small game gear checklist →
Cottontail Rabbit open days in Michigan
2 season rows for cottontails; legal methods change from one segment to the next.
| Segment | Zone or unit | Legal method | First day | Last day | Length | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Management season (private land only) | Statewide | Hunting only; no dogs April 16-July 7 | Apr 1, 2026 | Sep 14, 2026 | 167 | |
| Regular | Statewide | Firearm, bow, crossbow, falconry, dogs | Sep 15, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | 198 |
Small print on cottontails
- Private land only (not Commercial Forest lands).
- 5/day combined with snowshoe hare.
From the Michigan Department of Natural Resources 2026 regulation summary, checked October 22, 2026.
Michigan limits on cottontails
Rabbit bag and possession rules as printed, followed by the eLicense prices.
Cottontail rabbit and/or snowshoe hare
Daily 5; possession 10
eLicense items for cottontails
| Purchase | Adult resident | Senior | Youth | Nonresident |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Base license | $11 | $5 | $6 | $151 |
| Small game 3-day nonresident license | – | – | – | $50 |
| Small game 7-day nonresident license | – | – | – | $80 |
DNR regulation summary and fee tables, DNR eLicense, checked October 22, 2026. Michigan hunting license guide.
Cottontail Rabbit field rules
Reporting, hunting hours, hunter orange, bait and the other DNR rules that apply to cottontails.
Report and register
Cottontails are not on the DNR reporting or registration lists.
When to hunt
Legal light for cottontails is one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset, Zone A times plus the offset.
Hunter orange law
MCL 324.40116 requires hunter orange (or hunter pink) while taking cottontails by day from Aug. 15 to April 30.
Sunday rule
Seasons for cottontails include Sundays statewide, subject to posted township rules.
Management season
Apr 1 to Sep 14, 2026: Hunting only; no dogs April 16-July 7. Private land only (not Commercial Forest lands).
Cottontail Rabbit hunting times by zone
| Date | What happens | Zone A hours | Zone B hours | Zone C hours | Zone D hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 15, 2026 | Regular opens | 6:42 a.m. to 8:12 p.m. | 6:48 a.m. to 8:18 p.m. | 6:54 a.m. to 8:24 p.m. | 7:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. |
From the Michigan Department of Natural Resources 2026 regulation summaries: harvest reporting, MCL 324.40116 hunter orange, baiting, hunting hours tables, checked October 22, 2026. Hunting hours by zone · Michigan hunting laws.
Where to hunt cottontails in Michigan
Property records group cottontails under small game; shown here are the 11 properties with that heading or the species itself.
| Area | Type | County | Acres |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan State Forest System | State Forest | Alcona, Alger, Alpena… | 3,954,811 |
| Ottawa National Forest | National Forest | Baraga, Gogebic, Houghton… | 1,000,750 |
| Huron-Manistee National Forest | National Forest | Alcona, Crawford, Iosco… | 979,067 |
| Hiawatha National Forest | National Forest | Alger, Chippewa, Delta… | 899,499 |
| Hunting Access Program | Hunting Access Program | Alcona, Alpena, Arenac… | 20,076 |
| Muskegon County Resource Recovery Center (11,182 acres) | Managed waterfowl area | Muskegon | 11,182 |
| Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge | National Wildlife Refuge | Saginaw | 10,000 |
| Kirtland's Warbler Wildlife Management Area (6,684 acres) | Federal WMA | Ogemaw, Clare, Oscoda… | 6,684 |
| Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge (6,200 acres) | National Wildlife Refuge | Wayne, Monroe | 6,200 |
| Harbor Island National Wildlife Refuge (720 acres) | National Wildlife Refuge | Chippewa | 720 |
| Michigan Wetland Management District | Wetland Management District | Jackson, Barry, Van Buren… | 629 |
Properties and their game lists from DNR, USFS, FWS and NPS pages and the DNR land layers, retrieved 2026-10-22. Michigan public land directory · County guides.
Equipment the DNR allows for cottontails
The laws list legal equipment by season and group; these rows cover cottontails.
| Season | Allowed | Not allowed |
|---|---|---|
| Pistol carry | CPL holders (or those exempt) may carry a loaded pistol while hunting; does not authorize taking game except as provided by law. | Carrying a firearm, bow or crossbow in areas frequented by wild animals without the required license (MCL 324.43510(1)). |
Michigan method rules for cottontails
Safety zones
No hunting with a firearm within 150 yards (450 ft) of an occupied building, dwelling, cabin or farm building without written permission of the owner/occupant.
Trespass (Recreational Trespass Act)
Written or verbal permission required to hunt farmland, connected woodlots and fenced or posted property (MCL 324.73102); posting signs at least 50 sq. in. with 1-in. letters; may enter on foot without a firearm to retrieve a hunting dog unless told not to; no right to follow wounded game onto private land without permission. Owners may sue for $750 or actual damages (MCL 324.73109).
Rights of way
Road rights of way huntable only where the adjoining land is public; railroad and utility rights of way on private land are closed without written permission.
Michigan regulation summaries, the Wildlife Conservation Order and MCL part 401, checked October 22, 2026.
Quick answers on Michigan cottontails
When is cottontail season in Michigan?
Sep 15, 2026 to Mar 31, 2027 statewide. A private-land management season runs Apr 1 to Sep 14, 2026.
Can landowners take cottontails doing damage?
Cottontails, fox and gray squirrels, red and ground squirrels and woodchucks may be taken without a license on private property when doing or about to do damage (WCO 5.56).
How is the rabbit bag set in Michigan?
Daily 5; possession 10.
On what dates may cottontails be taken this season?
Cottontails: management season (private land only) Apr 1 to Sep 14, 2026; regular Sep 15, 2026 to Mar 31, 2027.
How many Michigan properties list cottontails as game?
11 properties qualify, among them Michigan State Forest System, Ottawa National Forest and Huron-Manistee National Forest. Part of that list comes from a group label in the property record.
Which licenses does a rabbit hunter carry?
Resident items for cottontails: Base license ($11).
How does the Michigan orange law apply to cottontails?
MCL 324.40116 requires hunter orange (or hunter pink) while taking cottontails by day from Aug. 15 to April 30.
How early may rabbit hunters start?
Legal light for cottontails is one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset, Zone A times plus the offset.
Do Michigan rabbit dates include Sundays?
Seasons for cottontails include Sundays statewide, subject to posted township rules.
What happens after I take a rabbit in Michigan?
Cottontails are not on the DNR reporting or registration lists.
Cottontail Rabbit: final checks
Pair this rabbit guide with the property page for the game area or forest you plan to hunt; closures and refuges are listed there.
Other photos on this page: GlacierNPS (Public Domain Mark 1.0); DaPuglet (CC BY-SA 2.0); BCNH09 (CC BY-SA 2.0); U.S. Geological Survey (CC0 1.0).