Rabbit Hunting

Cottontail and Jack Rabbit

Rabbit hunting is available on private land in all three states. Both Jack and Cottontail Rabbits have long open seasons that overlap with coyote, upland, waterfowl and deer seasons allowing the rabbit hunter the opportunity for a combination hunt on the same trip.

A young hunter's first rabbit, first rabbit hunting trip and first hunting dog all with dad. Great dad's make great kids.

Hunting is by jump shooting or dog running. No dog pack size limits are imposed.

Association rabbit hunting is closed during the week before and during the spring turkey season, Missouri rifle and Iowa's shotgun deer seasons as well as on any property with deer bow hunting scheduled. Hunters may hunt Kansas during Missouri's and Iowa's gun deer seasons. While some state rabbit hunting seasons open earlier Association rabbit season starts the first of September and runs through to the end of March allowing seven months of rabbit hunting.

Mid-west rabbits have a long, warm breeding season extending into August and occasionally September with mature Cottontail females capable of up to 7 litters per year. Litters range from 3 to 6 offspring each. Additionally, up to a third of the early litter young females produce litters of their own in the same season they were born.

Along with an aggressive reproduction capability the mid-west offers light winters making a variety of food items available to the rabbit. Waste grains, standing crops, winter wheat fields all allow the rabbit to remain well fed during the winter. With a strong winter carry over population added to a strong breeding season each fall's rabbit hunter will find just as good of rabbit hunting though to the end of the season.

rabbit hunting No better testament of our Cottontail population exists than such evidence as in this winter time rabbit trail. rabbit hunting with mid america hunting association

This trail leads from a 480 acre CRP Bluestem field to a crop field. The snow has made the grass thin for easy dog running and shooting while this field is large enough to keep the rabbits within its cover allowing for some long dog runs.

Properties with less rabbits may be more preferred as dogs are likely to remain on one track and not get distracted by other rabbits in the area.

In all cases of large cover fields or edge habitat, rabbits find plenty of ground to carry them over through the year in large numbers.

Beyond large fields and edge habitat, mixed terrain of cedars, brush piles, blow downs and such provide for a variety of habitat sure to keep both dogs and hunters interested.

Weather	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Jan	Feb	Mar
Average High	79	69	54	40	37	43	55
Average Low	56	44	33	21	16	21	31
Mean	68	57	44	31	27	32	44
Average Precipitation	5.1	3.8	2.3	1.5	1.1	1.1	2.6
Record High	102	95	84	70	73	81	87
Record Low	30	18	-2	-27	-17	-19	-10

Kansas Rabbit Hunting

Kansas lumps both Jack and Cottontail together as rabbits with a combined daily limit of 10 and possession of 30. Rabbit season is year round without any closed season except on Association land as stated above.

A Kansas Jack Rabbit.

Iowa Rabbit Hunting

Iowa separates the Jack rabbit and Cottontail Rabbit seasons and bag limits. Cottontail season is from September 1, through February 28; with a 10 daily and 20 possession limit. Jack Rabbit season is from the last Saturday in October to December 1; with a 2 daily and a 4 possession limit.

Missouri Rabbit Hunting

Missouri Cottontail season is from October 1, through January 15; with a daily limit of 6 and a possession limit of 12. Missouri does not regulate Jack Rabbits and it is unlikely one would be seen.