Although a fully grown hare can be at least twice the size of a rabbit it is relatively easy to kill with a. Field dressing hares can be quiet messy at times and if hunting on foot I like to hang the dressed hare in a tree to allow it to drain completely while I continue hunting whenever possible. Weight can also become a bit of a problem; the carrying of half a dozen hares will quickly become tiring.
I have heard quite a few disparaging remarks about the hunting of hares but I have quite a deal of respect for them. They depend on the brilliant camouflage to protect and their flecked fur is perfect for doing just that. There would be more than one quail hunter that has had the life scared out of him from a hidden hare that finally burst from stubble at his feet.
When the countryside was less settled the wide open paddocks were perfect for hares and they surprisingly bred up in large numbers. This can be verified by the old photos available showing hare hunts. Quite often hare-drives were held with large numbers falling to the shot-gunners. Sadly those days are gone now, what with human encroachment and the hares low breeding rate the numbers soon dwindled.
It is fairly rare for a hare to have more than a single leveret baby hare at a time and seeing that they have no burrows to raise their young, they have to depend on concealment in a seat. With the young hare being an easy and tasty meal for a host of birds and animals it can be a precarious existence for a young hare. It soon learns to sit still and not move a muscle, a technique often adopted by adult hares as well when facing danger.
If lactating females are shot, a reasonable effort should be made to find dependent leverets and kill them quickly and humanely. Impact on non-target animals Shooting is relatively target specific and does not usually impact on other species. Only shoot at the target animal once it has been positively identified. Also, never shoot over the top of hills or ridges as other animals or people may be out of sight beyond the hill in the danger zone. Shooting should be used with caution around lambing paddocks as it may disturb the lambing flock and cause mismothering.
Also avoid paddocks containing sensitive livestock eg horses, deer. They are easily frightened by spotlights and gunshots and may injure themselves by running into fences and other obstacles. Health and safety considerations Firearms are hazardous. All people should stand well behind the shooter when an animal is being shot.
The line of fire must be chosen to prevent accidents or injury from stray bullets or ricochets. Shooting from a vehicle is potentially dangerous.
An agreed safety procedure between the shooter and others in the vehicle must be in place to ensure that people do not enter the field of fire or disturb the taking of a shot. Firearm users must strictly observe all relevant safety guidelines relating to firearm ownership, possession and use. Firearms must be securely stored in a compartment that meets state legal requirements.
Ammunition must be stored in a locked container separate from firearms. Adequate hearing protection should be worn by the shooter and others in the immediate vicinity of the shooter. Repeated exposure to firearm noise can cause permanent irreversible hearing damage. Warm, comfortable clothing and stout footwear is recommended, especially when shooting at night. Equipment required Firearms and ammunition For distances out to around 80 metres, small bore rifles fitted with a telescopic sight are recommended eg.
Centre-fire rifles eg. Hollow-point or soft-nosed ammunition should be used. For a moving target at ranges less than 20 m, a gauge shotgun with shot sizes between No.
The accuracy and precision of firearms should be tested against inanimate targets prior to the commencement of any shooting operation. Other equipment If shooting at night, a handheld spotlight at least watt , or a helmet or headband mounted 12 volt 35 watt spotlight First aid kit Lockable firearm box Lockable ammunition box Procedures Shooting at night Most shooting of hares is done at night with the aid of a spotlight to locate them while they are feeding, or are away from cover.
This method relies on the ability of the shooter to approach the animal until it is in shooting range. Illegal hare coursing is closely connected to the criminal underworld and farmers and land managers have faced intimidation, violence and damage t o property from the gangs involved. Rural Police and Crime Commissioners, the NFU, CLA and other countryside organisations all feel that current legislation is inadequate and that the police and courts should be given greater powers to prosecute and punish the illegal poachers.
Calls have been made for the Game Act to be amended to remove existing limits on the penalties that can be imposed. Lincolnshire police have had 4, incidents of hare poaching reported to them since and The National Rural Crime Survey highlighted it as one of the top corners of farmers and land managers.
Skip to content ». Spokeswoman, Scottish Natural Heritage. More like this Revealed: nearly 3, licenses issued for killing wildlife Highland hare population has dropped dramatically, says study Nearly 38, mountain hares killed in one season, new data reveals Tourist agency urged to stop promoting mass killing of hares Gamekeepers advised to cover up dead mountain hares.
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