In general, they can be hunted in the fall and winter. Farm-raised meat is available yearround. Although we dont make the distinction consistently in America, there is a difference between a rabbit and a hare. Rabbits are born blind, hairless, and helpless. They must be raised by their parents for a significant amount of time, and they grow up to be social animals that live in groups.
Cottontails are true rabbits, and are native to North America.
Hares are born with their eyes open, fully furred. Well-developed enough at birth to hop around almost immediately, and grow up to be solitary adults. The jackrabbit, which is common in California, is a true hare. Rabbit hunters, and those who prepare wild rabbit, should be aware that they are the most common carriers of a disease called tularemia, or rabbit fever. This pheumonia-like illness can be transmitted through contact with raw rabbit meat or by eating meat that hasnt been cooked thoroughly.