Section 312IAC9-3-16. Cottontail rabbits

   (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) Hunt rabbits unless that person wears hunter orange.

(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:

(A) A ferret or other small animal.

(B) A mechanical device.

(C) A chemical.

(D) Smoke.

(E) Fire.

(F) A fume.

(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) A game breeder license under 312 IAC 9-10-4.

(2) A wild animal possession permit under 312 IAC 9-11.

(3) A wild animal rehabilitation permit under 312 IAC 9-10-9.

(4) A scientific purposes license under 312 IAC 9-10-6.

(5) A nuisance wild animal control permit under 312 IAC 9-10-11.

(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) 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) The hunter's name and address.

(2) The total number of rabbits taken.

(3) The date the rabbit was taken.

(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) The individual who lawfully took the eastern cottontail rabbit during the season established in subsection (a).

(2) An individual who received the carcass under subsection (e).

(3) An individual with a valid taxidermy license under IC 14-22-21 and 312 IAC 9-10-5.

(4) An individual with a valid scientific purposes license under 312 IAC 9-10-6.

(5) An individual with a valid nuisance wild animal control permit under 312 IAC 9-10-11.

(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)