Game and Furbearer Program Summary Report – 2025
Game and Furbearer Program Summary Report – 2025
Game and Furbearer Program Staff
Avid Rabbit Hunter Survey
DESCRIPTION: Avid rabbit hunters participate in this survey by recording information about their hunts on pre-printed post cards which they mail in at the end of the season. The information they record includes hunt location, number of hours hunted, number of rabbits jumped, and number and species of rabbits harvested.
KEY RESULTS: • In 2024-25, a total of 54 hunters reported harvest- ing 1,633 rabbits during 466 hunting trips throughout 70 counties in North Carolina. • Marsh rabbits were harvested in 23 of the 70 coun- ties and accounted for 15% of the reported harvest. • The average duration of a hunt was approximately 4.5 hours, ranging from 0.5 to 9 hours. • Hunts consisted of 1 to 10 hunters and 1 to 25 dogs with the average hunt containing approximately 4.3 hunters and 8.4 dogs. • Hunters jumped approximately 1.62 rabbits per hour and harvested approximately 49% of those rabbits. • On an average hunt, 7.19 rabbits were jumped and 3.5 rabbits were harvested. The highest number of rabbits jumped on a single hunt was 50 and the highest number harvested was 21. • Hunters jumped at least one rabbit on 97.6% of the reported hunts and harvested one or more rabbits on 78.8% of the hunts.
HUNTER MORRIS Waterfowl Biologist
RYAN MYERS Surveys Biologist
COLLEEN OLFENBUTTEL Game Mammals and Surveys Team Supervisor
APRIL BOGGS POPE Deer Biologist
ANDREA SHIPLEY Mammalogist (shared staff with Wildlife Diversity Program)
HANNAH PLUMPTON Upland Game Bird Biologist
HOW IS THIS INFORMATION USED FOR REGULATIONS AND MANAGEMENT: This survey provides insight into long-term changes in rabbit populations and hunter dynamics across North Caro- lina. It is an important way to ensure that hunting reg- ulations are appropriate to maximize hunter satisfac- tion while also safeguarding populations.
CRAIG HOLT
CHRIS TURNER Game Birds and Wildlife Health Team Supervisor
MIRANDA TURNER Wildlife Health Biologist
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