Cottontails and Jackrabbits

Three species of cottontails and two species of jackrabbits can be hunted in Arizona.

Cottontails can be found in almost any habitat in the state, and in most places, the season is yearlong, with a bag limit of 10 rabbits per day.

In Arizona, black-tailed and antelope jackrabbits are nongame species that can be hunted year-round without limits across most of the state. Black-tailed jackrabbits are common in many high and low desert areas, while antelope jackrabbits are primarily found in southeastern Arizona.

Cottontails and jackrabbits are often harvested by hunters pursuing other species, and they are an ideal animal for young or inexperienced hunters to harvest and learn valuable game preparation skills. For many hunters, antelope jackrabbit meat is some of the sweetest and tastiest game meat available!