JACKSON – Mississippi’s 2016 – 2017 rabbit hunting season opens October 15, 2016 and closes February 28, 2017. The bag limit is 8 per day. Rabbit hunting is a fun and exciting way to spend time with family and friends. Rabbit hunters are encouraged to take youth hunting, but be sure to provide supervision on safe firearms handling and shooting.
Adequate cover is often the limiting factor for finding high numbers of rabbits. Areas with an ample mixture of grasses, legumes, other broadleaf plants, and low brushy cover typically produce the greatest number of rabbits. Rabbit populations are expected to be mostly abundant where cover is suitable, although populations can vary considerably from one area to another. Reports of rabbits observed this summer have been sporadic, but some areas are seeing more rabbits compared to recent years.
Many of Mississippi’s open public lands and Wildlife Management Areas offer rabbit hunting opportunities. Anyone planning to hunt public land should read the regulations before they hunt. Some areas may have season dates and rules which differ from general statewide regulations.
For more information regarding rabbit hunting in Mississippi, visit our website at www.mdwfp.com/rabbit or call us at (601) 432-2199. Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/mdwfp or on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MDWFPonline.
