Closed season for Hares in England ??

[CharlieT]

I agree that self regulation should be the best way but unfortunately some amongst us dont wish or care to do so , I think that only by making it illegal as in scotland would it stop.

I dont want to give the impression I am anti hare shooting I take the odd one myself on occasion if someone asks me for one for the pot but other than that I choose not to shoot them at anytime of year.

 

But legislation will have a get out clause written in to permit them being shot in the closed season for crop protection as it is with deer.

 

I have never come across large numbers being shot for sport during what would become the closed season.

[Whitebridges]

Hares are game and they can cause huge damage. I've shot a lot hares including organised hare shooting days where we regularly shot over 300 in a day. I know they shoot as many to the north of us in Lincolnshire. They aren't so common in other parts of the country. It is no joke when severe damage is being caused to a crop and you can understand farmers wanting them shot. On the land I shoot we keep a close eye on numbers and thin them out to keep numbers reasonable. I think we shot about a dozen last season. All our hares are shot in January or February when they make the best eating and won't be pregnant. The other thing that land owners do not like is people on their land running dogs. Keep the hares down and this lessens the risk.

I have known shoots or landowners to shoot hares for the money, they can reach £5 each in the fur but this is usually a secondary reason to crop protection. Personally i don't think a close season for hares is necessary or desirable, although it would be fair to say we actually operate a voluntary one.

Edited April 23, 2012 by Whitebridges

[wymberley]

But legislation will have a get out clause written in to permit them being shot in the closed season for crop protection as it is with deer.

 

I have never come across large numbers being shot for sport during what would become the closed season.

 

Charlie,

 

Would legislation actually be a bad idea if introduced on similar grounds to that for deer? Our sporting activities used to rely on lore for self regulation. Increasingly now, as you yourself pointed out, too many shooters have no idea of what that is. Since 1880 (Ground Game Act), it is estimated that the hare population has dropped by 80% from the then some 4,000,000. Down here in the more southerly lowland Devon they've virtually extinct as in many other areas. As I understand it, attempts are being made to introduce connectivity corridors in order to reverse this decline. Yep, OK, any legislation is only as good as its enforcement but provided the get out clauses are present for good reason, surely any action to assist in reversing this decline is to be welcomed.

 

How say you?

 

Cheers,

Phil

[CharlieT]

Phil

 

I hate legislation for legislation's sake and even more so when it is introduced solely to control the few who flout the "rules" we all follow.

 

However I do take your points on board and I have to say introducing legislation along the lines of the Deer Act may be no bad idea, in fact the more I think about it the more I warm to the idea.

 

I love to see Hares about and they are welcome to as much of my grass as they can eat. We have a goodish number here, not hundreds but at night with the lamp, it is common to see a handful in every field. Last years mortality amongst the young appeared to be quite high, liver fluke I think. Found around 20 dead or dying over the autumn but numbers are still good.

 

With any luck current practices for field margins and so on will encourage them to reach you in the not to distant future.

 

I personally never shoot them, the only way to hunt a hare is with a pack of beagles.

 

Charlie

[Scully]

Phil

 

I hate legislation for legislation's sake and even more so when it is introduced solely to control the few who flout the "rules" we all follow.

 

Charlie

Good point;I think we get more than our share of this sort of legislation in this country,and a closed season would have no effect on Hare coursers either,as it's illegal already.

[Ferret Master]

 

With any luck current practices for field margins and so on will encourage them to reach you in the not to distant future.

 

I personally never shoot them, the only way to hunt a hare is with a pack of beagles.

 

Charlie

 

Well said Sir!

 

FM

[wymberley]

Phil

 

I hate legislation for legislation's sake and even more so when it is introduced solely to control the few who flout the "rules" we all follow.

 

However I do take your points on board and I have to say introducing legislation along the lines of the Deer Act may be no bad idea, in fact the more I think about it the more I warm to the idea.

 

I love to see Hares about and they are welcome to as much of my grass as they can eat. We have a goodish number here, not hundreds but at night with the lamp, it is common to see a handful in every field. Last years mortality amongst the young appeared to be quite high, liver fluke I think. Found around 20 dead or dying over the autumn but numbers are still good.

 

With any luck current practices for field margins and so on will encourage them to reach you in the not to distant future.

 

I personally never shoot them, the only way to hunt a hare is with a pack of beagles.

 

Charlie

 

They might migrate this way but will stop when they get to "my" boundary. Never mind 6 metres, "my" farmer's idea of field margins is 6cms and that's when he's feeling generous!

[Amazed]

i wouldn't class the humble hare as vermin at all on the land i shoot there are at least 10 i have seen so far. later on in the year i will clear a few to keep my land owner happy but thats about it.this is give i acquire my fac in time lol

[Rimfireboy]

I reckon you should leave them alone at this time of year, common sense should be enough without the need for close season I.M.O.

[fallowbuck]

Lots of good comments here and some interesting points.Firstly, I don't think its a good idea to say thats its "Not On" to shoot Hares, where there are surplus populations and in some areas even almost "Pest" proportions ,humane shooting using the correct shot sizes and chokes is no problem.I think no4 shot is minimum size to use and 1oz 1/8 plus load. I see nothing wrong with harvesting a great quarry and also a very tasty one ,if cooked correctly. Lets not go down the road of calling for bans and protection,we have enough problems as it is!If we have to have a closed season, then fine but for good management and species furtherment not emotional content!Hare do alot of damage to crops in certain areas such as East Anglia etc.I always eat mine, its a real bonus to get one!!

[Paddy Galore!]

i suppose it's a bit unfair to shoot the poor bleeders mid hump, so i wouldn't mind a closed season while they breed, they're pretty dumb tho, half the time they just sit there under the lamp while all the rabbits around are bolting for the warrens, which in its way is kind of a good thing, as it makes them a bit easier to identify and avoid a potential mistake.