Rabbit Season comes in too early.

[Wilson Creek Bill]

I think rabbit season should not open until the first of December, and should go until the end of Feb. There are many reasons i feel this way. The first reason is becuase of the higher temperatures that we are facing. The past couple of years, opening day of rabbit season has been extremely warm. I dont know about you, but rabbit hunting isn't the same when you can wear a cut-off shirt after about 9:00 on opening day. Or break out in a sweat just standing listening to the dogs run.
The other reason is because of the Deer season. Seems like deer season was extra long last year, and took up more of Nov. than normal. If opening day of rabbit season was moved back to Dec. 1, most of the deer season would be past. I know there is still bow season, and maybe a muzzleloader season in there to, but it wouldnt be near as bad with them not overlapping as bad.

[wvduece]

rabbit season comes in here in november n stays in till febuary 28. no need to change it 4 months is plenty of time jb

[Chris Shoopman]

it sure would bring the rabbit pop, back if they would close it down a few years we might have something to run when we go to trails!

[CPC]

Their breeding in Febuary is the only problem in Kentucky.

[mike crabtree]

I would like to see a bounty on House Cats. That would help the rabbit population.

[Big_Daddys_Outlaws]

Here in Missouri our season is Oct 1st - Feb 15th limit is 6 with no more than 2 of them being Swampers!

[kentucky johnson]

here in texas, there is no closed season, i dont shoot when its hot but when it turns cool , we start shooting, i love the swampers,

[S.R.Patch]

Here's some place you can go...

U.S. rabbit population on the rise
MORTON GROVE, Ill., July 22 (UPI) -- The population of eastern cottontail rabbits has exploded in the United States, resulting in damage to gardens and increasing citizen complaints.

No one is quite sure why the bunny population has risen so dramatically. Some blame the decrease in crow populations; others blame this year's cicada invasion, which provided food for creatures that would normally feed on rabbits, The Chicago Sun-Times reported Sunday.

Dena Anastos of Morton Grove, Ill., a suburb of Chicago, said rabbits have destroyed $700 worth of shrubs and flowers in her garden.

"I've been here 47 years, and this is the worst I've experienced," she said.

Chicago's Animal Care and Control Department said complaints involving rabbits are on the rise, the newspaper said.

The problem at the trials is, time. It's good hounds have to hunt for rabbits, makes better rabbitdawgs and judges get to look at those with desire to hunt and note the ones who won't get out from under the apron strings...

[arkyhunter]

Nah, I think rabbit season is fine the way it is! It opens Sept. 2 here in Arkansas. What we need is an open season on redtail hawks, and bait and poison the s**t out of some coyotes! I don't normally kill rabbits until after a good frost or two, but it's nice to know I can and the game and fish comm. is generous to have a long season. We only have deer gun season for two weekends, around Thanksgiving and Christmas, and I don't deer hunt anymore.

[B.Trull]

I cant find where there is an early rabbit season on state properties, here in Indiana this year. I called the DNR at Minnehaha property and an officer said there wasnt one, now the season was extended to feb 14th.

Good I was tired of all those greedy folks coming in shooting all the rabbits before the private property season opended. Rabbit numbers in this part of Indiana arent what they were when I was young. I am sooooo suprised the IDNR got something on small game right

[billi]

Indiana still has a early season in many of the state propertys. Please dont give DNR any credit in Indiana as for as im concerned all they care about is the deer and turkey hunters. I asked them 3 years ago to raise the out of state fee it was half the surrounding states. They finally got around to the change but it took forever. I suggested the change several years ago when they had meeting to ask for suggestions. They didnt care about the suggestions it was just a PR stunt. Do you think anyone ever looks at the possesion limit? DUUUH. Do we really need to kill that many when most of us find it hard to find some to run. Driving miles to find them. Just ask the question the IDNR what you doing to better the rabbit population..how about just maintain. Also it seems like by not taking mink they have become one of the big predators. Just thought beins i was raving might as well throw that in..lol

[THALL]

I think most rabbit hunters are smart enough to know not to kill too many rabbits. If you kill them all there are none to run. I like the season here like it is Sept. 2- feb. 29. Our problem in NEA is rabbit habitat. The farmes in NEA cut the fence rows and clean out all the ditches. When i was a kid every ditch or fence row had a few rabbits, now they are cleaned up and no place for rabbits to hide. There are rabbits anywhere there is cover for them (honeysuckle or briar patches). Rabbits don't need much to survive, but they've got to have a place to hide.

[jdmart]

Sept. to ?? Wow, it runs for how many months? You are lucky to have any rabbits.

Here in KY we complain about seasons and dates. But obviously our Dept. for Fish & Wildlife is well advanced of many states in regulating populations. If we had a 5+ month season here, we would be running Crabtree's house cats. Lol

[Drop_tine]

Early November to the end of February here I think? I can probably count on one hand how many I killed last year and probably will be the same this year. Let'um run

[NC rabbit hunter]

I am with drop tine, I run year round, I shoot very few rabbits,I take a couple of young uns with me and let them shoot some. Good running to all.