Sayyiduna Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) says: At a place called Marr az-Zahran, we chased a hare. People ran after it, and when they became tired, I got close and caught it. I brought it to Sayyiduna Abu Talhah (may Allah be pleased with him), who slaughtered it and sent its back meat or both thighs (Sa‘id was unsure about this) to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), and he accepted it.
In this hadith, it is mentioned that the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam accepted the meat of the rabbit. If it had been unlawful (haram), the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam would not have accepted it. Therefore, eating rabbit, hunting it, and accepting it as a gift are all permissible.