Oregon › Species › Black-tailed Jackrabbit
Unprotected mammal
Oregon Black-tailed Jackrabbit, Year-round Hunting
Year-round hunting for black-tailed jackrabbits across all 36 Oregon counties, with ODFW rules on lights, traps and private land.
Photo: mbarrison (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Oregon black-tailed jackrabbits: the short version
Oregon puts black-tailed jackrabbits among the unprotected mammals, so ODFW sets no season dates and no bag limit for them. ODFW still expects jackrabbit hunters to carry a license and to follow the general hunting rules. No closed season or bag limit, but a hunting license and all hunting regulations apply.
From 2026 Oregon Big Game Hunting Regulations (Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife), checked November 8, 2026.
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Black-tailed Jackrabbit seasons in the ODFW booklets
Year-round rows for black-tailed jackrabbits, as printed.
| Row | Open area | Paperwork | Dates | Bag limit | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No closed season | Statewide | License | Year-round | No limit | Year-round |
From 2026 Oregon Big Game Hunting Regulations (Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife), checked November 8, 2026.
How Oregon classifies black-tailed jackrabbits
Oregon law sorts wildlife into groups, and the group decides the rules; black-tailed jackrabbits sit in the unprotected list below.
| Group | Species | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Furbearers |
| Need a Furtaker’s License or Hunting License for Furbearers; fisher (and ringtail, wolverine, kit fox, Canada lynx, sea otter) closed all year. |
| Predatory animals (ORS 610.002) |
| No closed season, bag limit or weapon restriction for predatory animals destructive to crops; landowners need no license on their land. |
| Unprotected mammals and birds |
| No closed season or bag limit, but a hunting license and all hunting regulations apply. |
From ODFW definitions (Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife), checked November 8, 2026.
Oregon weapon rules for black-tailed jackrabbits
Method rules for black-tailed jackrabbits, quoted from the regulations; the laws page carries the rest.
| Topic | Rule |
|---|---|
| Electronics |
|
For black-tailed jackrabbits, legal methods read: any lawful method; hunting license required and all hunting regulations apply (electronic calls legal for coyote).
From species table and general hunting regulations (Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife), checked November 8, 2026.
Oregon rules for jackrabbit hunters
Rules picked for black-tailed jackrabbits from the regulations and the Oregon Revised Statutes; the laws page covers the rest.
| Topic | Wording |
|---|---|
| Landowners | A resident does not need a license to hunt on land they reside on that is owned by them or immediate family, unless hunting a species that needs a tag or applying for big game tags; landowners/agents need no license to take predatory animals on their land. |
| Vehicles and drones | No hunting or harassing wildlife from a motor vehicle; no hunting within eight hours of aircraft help; no drones to hunt, scout, track or interfere; firearms and bows unloaded on snowmobiles and ATVs (except concealed handgun licensees and law officers); no shooting from a motorboat or sailboat under power. |
From tagging and reporting and ORS chapter 496 (Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife), checked November 8, 2026.
Black-tailed Jackrabbit license prices
What black-tailed jackrabbits cost to hunt in Oregon: license, tags and validations, with who can buy each.
| Item | Resident or not | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Hunting | Resident | $39.00 |
| Hunting | Nonresident | $193.00 |
| Combination (hunt and angle) | Resident | $86.00 |
| Youth combination (12-17) | Either | $10.00 |
Every hunter needs a valid hunting license (calendar-year, January 1 or purchase date through December 31; only one annual hunting license) plus a big game tag (electronic or paper) valid for the dates, area and species. Documents must be shown on request.
From 2026 license and tag fees and license requirements (Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife), checked November 8, 2026.
Where to hunt black-tailed jackrabbits on public ground
Each card is a public place; when it quotes a source, that source mentions black-tailed jackrabbits or their group by name.
Malheur National Wildlife Refuge: rabbit listed (50 CFR 32.56 "We allow hunting of …"). Units: Steens Mtn Unit and Juniper Unit.
Columbia River Regulated Hunt Area: rabbit listed (2026 Game Bird Regulations, Access Area Programs). Units: Columbia Basin Unit.
E.E. Wilson Wildlife Area: rabbit listed (ODFW visitors' guide hunting text). Units: Willamette Unit and Alsea Unit.
Columbia River Refuge (state): rabbit listed (2026 Game Bird Regulations). Units: its listed units.
From land records, agency page and agency page (Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife), checked November 8, 2026.
Black-tailed Jackrabbit: sunrise, sunset and legal hours
East and west Oregon differ by several minutes, so check the column nearest your jackrabbit hunt.
Black-tailed jackrabbits: from half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset, worked out here for three county centres.
| Date | Lane County centre | Deschutes County centre | Union County centre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 1, 2026 | 6:04 a.m. to 8:20 p.m. | 5:57 a.m. to 8:13 p.m. | 5:42 a.m. to 8:02 p.m. |
| Oct 15, 2026 | 6:54 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. | 6:48 a.m. to 6:53 p.m. | 6:36 a.m. to 6:39 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | 7:13 a.m. to 5:06 p.m. | 7:06 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. | 6:58 a.m. to 4:42 p.m. |
| Jan 15, 2027 | 7:13 a.m. to 5:27 p.m. | 7:06 a.m. to 5:21 p.m. | 6:58 a.m. to 5:03 p.m. |
| Mar 20, 2027 | 6:47 a.m. to 7:53 p.m. | 6:40 a.m. to 7:46 p.m. | 6:27 a.m. to 7:33 p.m. |
Hours rule from the ODFW general hunting regulations; times worked out with the NOAA solar formula on Pacific Time for each county centre; checked November 8, 2026. Legal hours for every county.
Photo: Jim, the Photographer (CC BY 2.0)
Photo: Ligocsicnarf89 (CC BY 4.0)
Photo: btrentler (CC BY 2.0)
Black-tailed Jackrabbit questions
Does Oregon close jackrabbit hunting on Sundays?
Oregon seasons run every day, Sundays included, for black-tailed jackrabbits.
Are black-tailed jackrabbits open all year in Oregon?
There is no closed season: black-tailed jackrabbits are open every day of the year statewide, with no bag limit.
What does ODFW allow per day for black-tailed jackrabbits?
No limit.
Which Oregon license covers jackrabbit hunting?
A hunting license ($39.00 resident, $193.00 nonresident); no tag or validation is listed for black-tailed jackrabbits.
Which guns and bows are legal for Oregon black-tailed jackrabbits?
Any lawful method; hunting license required and all hunting regulations apply (electronic calls legal for coyote).
Can I hunt black-tailed jackrabbits in every county?
Statewide for black-tailed jackrabbits, apart from the places with no state seasons at all: tribal land, national park land and closed refuges.
What time can I start hunting black-tailed jackrabbits?
Thirty minutes before sunrise to thirty minutes after sunset for black-tailed jackrabbits, with clock times worked out by the NOAA solar formula.
Can a rancher take black-tailed jackrabbits without a license?
Landowner consent is required for black-tailed jackrabbits on private ground, and tribal reservation boundaries count as enclosed land.
May I use snares on black-tailed jackrabbits?
Yes, under the furbearer booklet: a Furtaker's License, trap checks and no poisons or drugs.
Other photos on this page: Jim, the Photographer (CC BY 2.0); Ligocsicnarf89 (CC BY 4.0); btrentler (CC BY 2.0).