For the Kansas outdoorsman or woman, rabbit hunting is a great way to beat the winter blues and put some tasty wild meat on the table.

Although found statewide, cottontail concentrations are greater in the central and eastern portions of Kansas. They aren’t hunted heavily, so populations can be very good.

Grassy and brushy habitats are bunny factories, and many cottontails are taken incidentally while hunting upland birds or other game. Ideal cottontail sites are marked by brambles and thickets, especially when located close to crop fields.

Abandoned farmsteads with heavy weed growth, dilapidated buildings, shelterbelts and even old farm machinery can be cottontail hotspots.

Due to their natural camouflage and preference for thick cover, cottontails are often hunted with beagles, which move the rabbits slowly through cover in front of stationed hunters. Rabbit hunting is even more effective under snowy conditions, when the rabbits can be easily seen.

Good hunting can be found on wooded public hunting areas and walk-in land. Permission to hunt on private land may be easy to obtain due to lack of competition from other hunters.

Rabbits are a great way to introduce a youngster to hunting. Healthy rabbit populations, coupled with liberal hunting seasons and bag limits, make rabbit hunting in Kansas a productive option for small game hunters.

Rabbit season is open all year. The daily bag limit is 10, and the possession limit is 30. Hunters ages 16 through 64 must have a valid state hunting license. All nonresidents must also have a Kansas hunting license.