Authority: IC 14-10-2-4; IC 14-22-2-6

Affected: IC 14-22

Sec. 16. (a) An individual may take eastern cottontail rabbits (Sylvilagus floridanus) from November 1 through February 28 of the following year.

(b) An individual may take not more than five (5) eastern cottontail rabbits per day.

(c) An individual must not do the following:

1. (1) Hunt rabbits unless that person wears hunter orange.

2. (2) Remove, dislodge, or attempt to remove or dislodge a rabbit from a hole, den, cavity, or tree hollow with the aid of any of the following:

   1. (A) A ferret or other small animal.
   2. (B) A mechanical device.
   3. (C) A chemical.
   4. (D) Smoke.
   5. (E) Fire.
   6. (F) A fume.
3. (3) Hunt rabbits during the month of February on a department fish and wildlife area, Salamonie Lake, Mississinewa Lake, or Patoka Lake except from one-half (1/2) hour before sunrise to one-half (1/2) hour before sunset.

(d) A person must not possess a live eastern cottontail rabbit outside the season established in subsection (a) except with one (1) of the following:

1. (1) A game breeder license under 312 IAC 9-10-4.
2. (2) A wild animal possession permit under 312 IAC 9-11.
3. (3) A wild animal rehabilitation permit under 312 IAC 9-10-9.
4. (4) A scientific purposes license under 312 IAC 9-10-6.
5. (5) A nuisance wild animal control permit under 312 IAC 9-10-11.
6. (6) An educational or scientific institution registered or licensed with the United States Department of Agriculture in accordance with 9 CFR, Chapter 1, Subchapter A, Parts I through IV.
7. (7) A breeder or dealer license issued by the United States Department of Agriculture under 9 CFR, Chapter 1, Subchapter A, Parts I through IV.

(e) An individual who lawfully takes a rabbit may give to another individual one (1) or more carcasses of a rabbit, with no compensation of any kind. A rabbit that is gifted must have a tag attached that contains the following information:

1. (1) The hunter's name and address.
2. (2) The total number of rabbits taken.
3. (3) The date the rabbit was taken.
4. (4) The signature of the hunter who took the rabbit.

(f) A carcass of an eastern cottontail rabbit may be possessed by the following:

1. (1) The individual who lawfully took the eastern cottontail rabbit during the season established in subsection (a).
2. (2) An individual who received the carcass under subsection (e).
3. (3) An individual with a valid taxidermy license under IC 14-22-21 and 312 IAC 9-10-5.
4. (4) An individual with a valid scientific purposes license under 312 IAC 9-10-6.
5. (5) An individual with a valid nuisance wild animal control permit under 312 IAC 9-10-11.
6. (6) An individual with a valid special purpose salvage permit under 312 IAC 9-10-13.5.

(g) A person must not sell a live eastern cottontail rabbit except under a valid game breeder license under IC 14-22-20 and 312 IAC 9-10-4.

(Natural Resources Commission; 312 IAC 9-3-16; filed May 12, 1997, 10:00 a.m.: 20 IR 2707; readopted filed July 28, 2003, 12:00 p.m.: 27 IR 286; filed Jan 8, 2007, 9:11 a.m.: 20070207-IR-312060193FRA; readopted filed Nov 24, 2008, 11:08 a.m.: 20081210-IR-312080672RFA; filed Mar 12, 2010, 1:28 p.m.: 20100407-IR-312090479FRA; filed Sep 13, 2013, 3:02 p.m.: 20131009-IR-312120670FRA; readopted filed May 20, 2014, 9:43 a.m.: 20140618-IR-312140017RFA; filed Jun 15, 2015, 3:43 p.m.: 20150715-IR-312140453FRA; readopted filed Sep 18, 2019, 1:16 p.m.: 20191016-IR-312190325RFA; readopted filed Mar 25, 2025, 9:50 a.m.: 20250423-IR-312240574RFA)