I understand Illinois has a very successful small game program. I am attempting to gather collective thinking of many states small game biologists. my questions are as follows:

Is there a significant number of gravid or lactating female rabbits during mid Sept and October? and Do you feel that harvesting rabbits during October has any effect what so ever on the overall rabbit populations year to year?

i am asking exactly the same questions of all small game biologist in as many states as i can contact to find out what the thinking is on October Rabbit harvests the concern is not if your state has an October season, but rather is as a small game biologist your thinking on the issue.

Good morning,

Illinois does not have a legal season for Cottontail Rabbits in October. The season opens concurrent with pheasant, quail and partridge on the 1st Saturday in November. According to the literature, October contributes very little if anything to annual rabbit reproduction. March thru September is the primary breeding period in Illinois. So even if young are born in late September, they would be weaned and on their own prior to the November season opens. Therefore, one would summarize that very few does are lactating in October. For more information about the rabbit season you may want to check out the 2008 report at: http://www.dnr.state.il.us/admin/Upland/rabbit%20prospects%202008.pdf