Is it legal to hunt rabbits that come onto my property?

Of course you can.

Keep in mind that your wild rabbit and store bought rabbit are entirely different species with different meat and flavor.

Yes you should skin it and cook it. Raw with the skin and hair on is awful.

Only if they're wearing a dress and carrying a "4:30" sign.

Are you a future serial killer?

If you do kill them on your property, it is best if you can prove that you were acting in self-defense. Did the rabbit pick a fight with you? Was the rabbit threatening you? Did it advance on you even after you told it to stop? Did it describe you as a good source of protein? Any of these would be grounds for killing in self-defense.

Video evidence of such encounters would be best.

In most states, wild game is managed by the state-regardless of who owns the land upon which it runs. You need a license to hunt-and if you are hunting on private land, you need permission to hunt on that land from the owner. Trapping is more heavily regulated that hunting, in my state. Traps do not discriminate, and I would not want to eat an animal that was trapped 10 or 12 hours earlier-even 3 or 4 could get pretty gnarly. The secret is to skin and gut them to cool the meat quickly.

Hunting licenses are no big thing to get-you need to take a hunter safety course-which is not too difficult. They will teach you how to clean an animal in those courses-by video-as well as gun safety, survival skills, and hunting etiquette and safe behavior in the field.

Hunting license revenue generally go to pretty noble causes-conservation and habitat protection. They also pay the salaries for game wardens who stop poachers.

If you choose to hunt, do it the right way. Fresh rabbit, pan fried in butter is delicious.

I echo what the previous poster stated about wildlife management. Get a small game license and check you local ordinances just to be on the safe side.

Be aware of tularemia (rabbit feaver) and how to ID it in your harvest.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Uj68y0pefo

Matt

Matt Scherer and David Krummenacker been on your lawn , bra ?

Of course most likely your subdivision doesn't allow you to fire a gun or bow and arrow.

Your department of fish and game probably doesn't allow any other methods of take.

You probably can only legally kill rabbits at your house with a depredation permit. That makes it illegal to eat though, since it isn't intended for hunting.

Most likely if you put out a live trap or shoot them with a pellet gun nobody will care. It will be illegal of course, but up to you what risk you want to take or not take.

I would encourage you to buy a license to support the wildlife programs in your state.

I'd also suggest you follow the season. In the case of rabbits, it is usually set to the time of year they are least likely to have diseases transmittable to humans (at least it is in my state).

Also some regions you should avoid handling/eating rabbits, because of extra high prevalence of those diseases.

Where I live, I would do it. You'll have to research where you live.

Yes. wild animals are considered legal prey, unless they are endangered species.

Sold American wrote:

In most states, wild game is managed by the state-regardless of who owns the land upon which it runs. You need a license to hunt-and if you are hunting on private land, you need permission to hunt on that land from the owner.

Some states/counties allow you to kill "nuisance" animals on your own land without a license (and out of season as well). OP's either just a troll or pretty dumb though, since he should realize this answer will vary by locale.

Where have you been? You haven't posted in years.

kartelite wrote:

Sold American wrote:

In most states, wild game is managed by the state-regardless of who owns the land upon which it runs. You need a license to hunt-and if you are hunting on private land, you need permission to hunt on that land from the owner.

Some states/counties allow you to kill "nuisance" animals on your own land without a license (and out of season as well). OP's either just a troll or pretty dumb though, since he should realize this answer will vary by locale.

kartelite? wrote:

Where have you been? You haven't posted in years.

kartelite wrote:

Some states/counties allow you to kill "nuisance" animals on your own land without a license (and out of season as well). OP's either just a troll or pretty dumb though, since he should realize this answer will vary by locale.

He was probably on a rabbit hunt.

Seems like the best idea is to ask local authorities rather than people on the internet. We might know our own local statutes, but I doubt we know your's.

My first thought was about discharging a weapon. That can be a crime depending on the jurisdiction.

No because it's DUCK season

I don't see anything wrong with it, just be careful with rabbit starvation.

If they start coming in large numbers and don’t leave, you should build a wall

Otherwise, you need to feed them and care for them etc.

The hell is wrong with you. This is America. We have cows. Why in the world would you eat a rabbit? Shoot it with a pellet gun if you must kill it but there is no reason to eat it...

If you live in california, it is definitely illegal to trap a rabbit unless you have a deprepation permit or commercial trapping license.

Dont bother getting a hunting license since this is illegal anyway. Definitely look up tueleremia, a significant portion of the state (basically the southern half) does not allow rabbit hunting because of the risk of this disease. If it is in your area, dont kill and eat them.

If your area is disease free, I would put the trap where your neighbors wont see. When you catch one, bring the trap to an out of sight portion of your property and shoot it with a pellet gun to kill it quickly. Dont talk about this to your neighbors just in case one has an objection and tries to caltip you (not that they would likely respond for a rabbit). Wear latex gloves when you skin it to hopefully prevent fleas from migrating to you. Dispose of the skin immediately into your outdoor trash can to keep fleas from escaping inside.

From an ethical standpoint, even though it is illegal, I would still follow the laws and bag limits. Those are set in place in an attempt to allow a stable and healthy population. It may be silly in the context of suburban rabbits, but it seems best to stick with it.

Wild rabbit can be good tasting when prepared correctly. People even report jack rabbits are good if slow cooked.