Also known as: Cottontail rabbit
The eastern cottontail is a medium-sized rabbit with long ears, large hind legs, shorter front legs, a short fluffy tail, and soft fur. Upperparts range from reddish to grayish brown sprinkled with black, with a rust-colored back of the neck. The underparts are grayish white with a brownish chest, and total length runs 14-19 inches with weight 2-3.25 pounds.
Habitat & Range
Eastern cottontails prefer open brushy or forest-border cover. They typically stay close to brushy or dense weedy cover, with a resting place concealed in thick grass, brush piles, or thickets. They often use woodchuck burrows for escape and shelter.
Life History
Rabbits feed almost entirely on plants, with top favorites including bluegrass, wheat, and white clover, also eating sedges, forbs, cultivated plants, and in winter consuming buds, twigs, bark, and sprouts. Breeding season runs from mid-February through September, and a female can produce up to 8 litters per year with 1-9 young per litter. Nests are shallow cavities in the ground lined with grass and fur, and young leave the nest 13-16 days after birth.
Status, Trends & Threats
Cottontails are common in most years but their numbers fluctuate. Their numbers have been declining since 1955 due to habitat loss, with land use changes affecting plant composition and reducing brushy fence rows and winter forage. About 85 percent of the population dies each year, and roughly 300,000 rabbits are harvested annually in Missouri.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is cottontail rabbit hunting season in Missouri?
Missouri cottontail rabbit hunting season typically runs from early October through the end of February, providing ample opportunity for small game hunters. Specific dates are set annually by the Missouri Department of Conservation and can be found in the current Small Game Hunting Regulations.
What is the bag limit for eastern cottontail in Missouri?
The daily bag limit for cottontail rabbits in Missouri is typically 6 rabbits per hunter, with a possession limit of 12. These limits help maintain healthy populations while providing substantial hunting opportunity. Hunters should check current regulations as limits may vary.
What are the best methods for hunting cottontail rabbits in Missouri?
Popular methods include walking up brushy cover, fencerows, and field edges with a shotgun, as well as using beagles to flush rabbits from thick cover. Focus on areas with dense brush piles, honeysuckle thickets, and overgrown fencerows, especially during the colder months when rabbits seek heavier cover.
