Eastern Cottontail
Sylvilagus floridanus
The most common rabbit in North America and a classic first small-game animal, with a puffy white tail like a cotton ball.
- Type
- Small Game
- Habitat
- Brush & desert, Farmland, Forests, Prairie & plains
- Typical size
- About 2–4 lb
- Range
- Most of the eastern and central United States, plus parts of the Southwest
- Seasons
- Long seasons in most states, usually from fall through late winter
How to identify it
- A brown-gray coat with a rusty patch on the back of the neck.
- A round, fluffy white tail.
- Smaller than a hare, with shorter ears and legs.
Tracks and sign
- Tracks show two long hind feet side by side ahead of the smaller front feet.
- Round pellets, and twigs clipped cleanly at an angle.
- Forms: shallow, flattened beds in tall grass or brush.
Often confused with
- Snowshoe hare: larger, with big furry hind feet and a coat that turns white in winter in the north.
What it eats
- Grasses and clover
- Garden crops and soft plants
- Bark and twigs in winter
How it's hunted
- Walking brush piles, hedgerows, and field edges and flushing rabbits
- Hunting with beagles
- Tracking in fresh snow
Safety: Rabbits can carry tularemia, so wear gloves when cleaning them, avoid animals that look sick, and cook the meat thoroughly.
Field notes
Cottontails are an ideal first game animal because they are common, found close to home, and hunted with simple gear. They rely on thick cover, so brush piles and hedgerows are good places to start.
A hunter walking slowly and stopping often tends to push rabbits to flush.
Related guides
Seasons, tag and license requirements, legal methods, and bag limits vary by state and unit and change every year. Many big-game species require a drawn or purchased tag, and some animals are protected or regulated differently in different places. Check your state's current regulations — our state resources directory links straight to each state's official hunting rules and license portal.