Minnesota › Species › White-tailed Jackrabbit
Small game
Minnesota White-tailed Jackrabbit hunting, 2026-27
The jackrabbit rules for Minnesota, row by row.
Photo: mbarrison (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Minnesota sets 1 dated row for jackrabbits in 2026-27, running Sep 19, 2026 to Feb 28, 2027. Dates, limits, licenses, WMAs and the field rules are on this page.
How the booklet sums up jackrabbits
- Keep: 1 daily; 3 possession.
- Dates in brief: Sept. 19-Feb. 28.
DNR source page (as of Sep 15, 2026), checked October 28, 2026.
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White-tailed Jackrabbit season dates for 2026-27
Read the jackrabbit rows by area: deer permit areas, bear areas, waterfowl zones or furbearer zones where they apply.
| Season | Where | Bag | Opens | Closes | Days | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regular | Statewide | 1 daily; 3 possession | Sep 19, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | 163 |
White-tailed Jackrabbit season notes
- Shooting hours 1/2 hour before sunrise to sunset. Small game license (16+); blaze orange/pink article above the waist when no firearms deer season is open.
From booklet p. 57, checked October 28, 2026.
What you may take and what it costs
| Group | Limit |
|---|---|
| Rabbits and hares | Cottontail and snowshoe hare 10 combined daily, 20 possession; jack rabbit 1 daily, 3 possession. |
| Party hunting (small game) | Members of a party (2+ in unaided visual and vocal contact) may take game for each other up to the combined limits; each may transport only an individual limit. Not allowed for migratory birds. |
Buying a jackrabbit license
| License | Residency | Who | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small game license | resident | Under 16 | Free (not required) |
| Small game license | resident | Youth 16-17 | $5 |
| Small game license | resident | Adult 18-64 | $22 |
| Small game license | resident | Senior 65+ | $13.50 |
| 72-hour small game license | resident | Adult 18+ | $19 |
| Walk-In Access validation | resident | All ages | $3 |
| Walk-In Access validation | nonresident | All ages | $3 |
| Small game license | nonresident | Under 16 | Not required |
| Small game license | nonresident | Youth 16-17 | $5 |
| Small game license | nonresident | Adult 18+ | $102 |
| 72-hour small game license | nonresident | Adult 18+ | $75 |
Prices are the booklet fee table amounts; the DNR may add an issuing fee at purchase.
booklet p. 18, booklet p. 19, booklet p. 20, booklet p. 56, checked October 28, 2026.
Largest public tracts for jackrabbits
The DNR names jackrabbits on 1,360 wildlife management areas totalling 1,360,346 acres. Including federal and other land: 1360 WMAs.
| Place | Type | County | Acres |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Lake | WMA | Beltrami · | 322,246 |
| Roseau River | WMA | Roseau · | 75,163 |
| Thief Lake | WMA | Beltrami · | 54,650 |
| Mille Lacs | WMA | Kanabec · | 38,678 |
| Lac qui Parle | WMA | 33,623 | |
| Wapiti | WMA | Beltrami · | 31,759 |
| Beaches Lake | WMA | Kittson · | 30,623 |
| Whitewater | WMA | Wabasha · | 27,451 |
| Carlos Avery | WMA | Chisago · | 24,598 |
| Moose River | WMA | 21,273 | |
| Mud Goose | WMA | 17,011 | |
| Moose Willow | WMA | 16,946 |
A place appears here when its DNR or federal page names the species or its group. WMA rules: portable stands come down daily, dogs are leashed Apr. 16-July 14, no drones, and vehicles stay on designated routes.
DNR WMA finder and WMA rules, checked October 28, 2026.
What to know afield for jackrabbits
Small game hours cover jackrabbits: start 30 minutes before sunrise and stop at sunset.
When no firearms deer season is open, a jackrabbit hunter wears at least one visible article of blaze orange or pink above the waist; a violation brings only a safety warning.
Seasons for jackrabbits run straight through the weekends.
booklet shooting hours, blaze rules, validation and registration, checked October 28, 2026.
Legal time for jackrabbits across Minnesota
Legal jackrabbit hours on key dates, worked out for the Clay, Ramsey and St. Louis county centres; the DNR rule supplies the offsets.
| Date | Moment | County | Sunrise | Sunset | Legal hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 19, 2026 | Opener | Clay | 7:07 a.m. | 7:32 p.m. | 6:37 a.m. to 7:32 p.m. |
| Sep 19, 2026 | Opener | Ramsey | 6:54 a.m. | 7:18 p.m. | 6:24 a.m. to 7:18 p.m. |
| Sep 19, 2026 | Opener | St. Louis | 6:51 a.m. | 7:17 p.m. | 6:21 a.m. to 7:17 p.m. |
| Feb 28, 2027 | Closer | Clay | 7:10 a.m. | 6:08 p.m. | 6:40 a.m. to 6:08 p.m. |
| Feb 28, 2027 | Closer | Ramsey | 6:54 a.m. | 5:57 p.m. | 6:24 a.m. to 5:57 p.m. |
| Feb 28, 2027 | Closer | St. Louis | 6:55 a.m. | 5:52 p.m. | 6:25 a.m. to 5:52 p.m. |
Rule from the booklet shooting hours page; sun times computed for the county centre (NOAA method, Central Time) and checked against U.S. Naval Observatory tables; checked October 28, 2026.
White-tailed Jackrabbit weapons and hunting law
Laws that matter for jackrabbits
| Topic | Rule |
|---|---|
| Hunter harassment | No preventing or disrupting lawful hunting or trapping, including disturbing animals to do so. |
| Wanton waste | May not waste a protected wild animal by failing to use usable parts; migratory birds must be retrieved. |
| Firearm transport | Unloaded and fully cased or in a closed trunk (Personal Protection Act handguns excepted); uncased unloaded long guns allowed while hunting or traveling to/from hunting, except in Anoka, Hennepin and Ramsey counties, cities of 2,500+, school grounds and refuges. |
| Dogs | No dogs chasing big game; tracking dogs on a 30-ft leash to recover wounded deer/bear; no dog training on DNR land Apr. 16-July 14; no dogs while turkey hunting; raccoons and foxes may be run with dogs in closed season. |
booklet p. 30, booklet p. 35, booklet p. 38, checked October 28, 2026.
Questions about jackrabbits
How long does the jackrabbit season run?
The first legal day is Sep 19, 2026 and the last is Feb 28, 2027. Sept. 19-Feb. 28.
Is there a weekday rule for jackrabbits?
Yes. Neither the booklet nor chapter 97B closes Sundays, so jackrabbits may be hunted any day of the week.
Which license covers jackrabbits?
Small game license (resident, Under 16): Free (not required); Small game license (resident, Youth 16-17): $5; Small game license (resident, Adult 18-64): $22; Small game license (resident, Senior 65+): $13.50; 72-hour small game license (resident, Adult 18+): $19. Licenses sell online, by phone and at license agents.
How many jackrabbits can I take?
1 daily; 3 possession. That is the 2026-27 figure.
What blaze rule applies to jackrabbits?
When no firearms deer season is open, a jackrabbit hunter wears at least one visible article of blaze orange or pink above the waist; a violation brings only a safety warning.
What time can I start hunting jackrabbits?
Small game hours cover jackrabbits: start 30 minutes before sunrise and stop at sunset.
Can a party share limits on jackrabbits?
Yes for jackrabbits: members of a party (2+ in unaided visual and vocal contact) may take game for each other up to the combined limits; each may transport only an individual limit. Each hunter may carry only one limit of jackrabbits.
Is there public land for jackrabbits?
Start with the 1,360 WMAs that list them, such as Red Lake WMA, Roseau River WMA, Thief Lake WMA.
Can I hunt jackrabbits on Walk-In Access land?
Walk-In Access is open to jackrabbit hunters: 23,000 acres at 230+ private sites open Sept. 1-May 31 with a $3 validation; no vehicles, trapping, dog training, target shooting or camping.
Other photos on this page: jcantroot (CC BY 2.0); ilouque (CC BY 2.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0); Mike's Birds (CC BY-SA 2.0).