Oregon › Species › Pygmy Rabbit
Protected or no season
Pygmy Rabbit, Closed to Hunting in Oregon
The Oregon position on pygmy rabbits for 2026-27, from the ODFW booklets and the statutes.
Photo: Katrina Br*?#*!@nd (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Pygmy Rabbit: protected in Oregon
Pygmy rabbits stay closed to hunting and trapping in Oregon; the table shows the status, the rule and any damages.
| Item | ODFW or statute text |
|---|---|
| Status | Protected mammal. |
| Rule | Protected mammals and birds include fisher, ringtail, listed bats (fringed myotis, Townsend’s big-eared, pallid, silver-haired, western small-footed, long-eared, long-legged and Yuma myotis), pika, pygmy rabbit, white-tailed jackrabbit, white-tailed antelope squirrel, Washington ground squirrel, northern flying squirrel, chickaree, golden-mantled ground squirrel, chipmunks, white-footed vole and all marine mammals; may not be hunted. |
From ODFW regulations and ORS chapter 496 (Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife), checked November 8, 2026.
What is open where pygmy rabbits occur
Rows from the cottontail season; anything without an Oregon season, pygmy rabbits included, stays closed.
| Season | Area | Kind | Dates | Bag | Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
Oregon penalties and pygmy rabbits
The penalty side of the pygmy rabbit rule: criminal classes, civil damages and revocation, as written.
| Topic | Rule |
|---|---|
| General violation with a culpable mental state | Class A misdemeanor: up to 364 days in jail and a fine up to $6,250 (fine set at the maximum for repeat offenders or taking 3x the daily bag). |
| Violations without a culpable mental state | Taking game mammals or other wildlife (not nongame mammals or game birds): Class A violation (fine up to $2,000); nongame mammals or game birds: Class C violation (up to $500); not involving taking: Class D violation (up to $250). |
| Felonies | Class C felony (up to 5 years, $125,000): taking wildlife to sell or trade; second unlawful taking of a game mammal within 12 months; unlawful taking of moose, mountain sheep, Rocky Mountain goat or wolf; taking threatened or endangered species; second conviction in 10 years for taking big game more than an hour outside the season. |
| Civil damages (per animal) | State may sue for damages: game mammals $1,000 (deer, antelope); elk $5,000 ($15,000 with 6+ points); deer with 4+ points, gray wolf, black bear, cougar $7,500; antelope with a 14 inches+ horn $7,500; moose, mountain sheep, mountain goat $10,000 ($50,000 trophy class); silver gray squirrel $100; game birds $20 (turkey or sage-grouse $1,000); furbearers $100 (bobcat, fisher $700); threatened/endangered $2,500; raptors $2,000-$5,000. |
| License revocation | On conviction the court may order revocation of all licenses, tags and permits (in addition to other penalties), including for some trespass, criminal mischief and firearm offenses committed while hunting. |
From ORS 496.705 and 496.992 and ORS 497.415 (Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife), checked November 8, 2026.
Reporting a pygmy rabbit case
Calls about pygmy rabbits go to the Oregon State Police. Report poaching at *OSP (*677) or 1-800-452-7888; rewards up to $5,000 or preference points; anonymous tips accepted.
From access and special programs, 2026-27 regulations (Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife), checked November 8, 2026.
Where pygmy rabbits sit among Oregon wildlife groups
A quick map of Oregon's wildlife groups to show why pygmy rabbits have no season.
| Group | Members |
|---|---|
| Game mammals |
|
| Game birds |
|
| Furbearers |
|
| Predatory animals (ORS 610.002) |
|
| Unprotected mammals and birds |
|
| Nongame birds and raptors | Protected |
| Threatened and endangered species | Protected |
From ODFW definitions (Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife), checked November 8, 2026.
Photo: Bonnie Moreland (Public Domain Mark 1.0)
Photo: Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (Public Domain Mark 1.0)
Photo: USDA Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region (Public Domain Mark 1.0)
Questions about pygmy rabbits in Oregon
What happens after an illegal pygmy rabbit kill?
Class A misdemeanor: up to 364 days in jail and a fine up to $6,250 (fine set at the maximum for repeat offenders or taking 3x the daily bag). Taking game mammals or other wildlife (not nongame mammals or game birds): Class A violation (fine up to $2,000); nongame mammals or game birds: Class C violation (up to $500); not involving taking: Class D violation (up to $250).
Are pygmy rabbits protected in Oregon?
Protected mammal. Protected mammals and birds include fisher, ringtail, listed bats (fringed myotis, Townsend’s big-eared, pallid, silver-haired, western small-footed, long-eared, long-legged and Yuma myotis), pika, pygmy rabbit, white-tailed jackrabbit, white-tailed antelope squirrel, Washington ground squirrel, northern flying squirrel, chickaree, golden-mantled ground squirrel, chipmunks, white-footed vole and all marine mammals; may not be hunted.
What is the Oregon poaching hotline?
Report poaching at *OSP (*677) or 1-800-452-7888; rewards up to $5,000 or preference points; anonymous tips accepted.
What look-alike is legal to hunt?
Cottontail Rabbit: open all year with no bag limit. A clear view matters where pygmy rabbits might be.
At what age is hunter education required?
The course is required only for hunters 17 and younger.
What counts as a furbearer in Oregon?
Game mammals: pronghorn antelope, bighorn sheep, black bear, cougar, deer and elk; Game birds: ducks and mergansers, geese, coot, Wilson's snipe, band-tailed pigeon and mourning dove; Furbearers: beaver, bobcat, fisher, marten, mink and muskrat.
Can a court take my tags?
On conviction the court may order revocation of all licenses, tags and permits (in addition to other penalties), including for some trespass, criminal mischief and firearm offenses committed while hunting.
Is taking an endangered animal a felony?
Unlawful taking of a threatened or endangered species is a Class C felony; damages $2,500 per specimen.
Other photos on this page: Bonnie Moreland (Public Domain Mark 1.0); Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (Public Domain Mark 1.0); USDA Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region (Public Domain Mark 1.0).