Decline in the Hare Population of Great Britain

[Lasher]

Did anyone else catch the short piece on the evening news last night about the supposed decline in the number of Hares found on British shores?

I think it was on Meridian Tonight. The usual piece of ill-informed journalism (i.e. they didn't appear to be providing ANY statistical evidence to back their claim that the number of Hares is on the decrease)

It appeared to lay the majority of blame on modern farming methods though it did mention hunting and coarsing a number of times. Nothing directly involving Falconry though my alarm bells did start ringing when they began to mention the possibility of introducing a hunting season for Hares.

Anybody else know anything about this one?

Lasher

[OutFlying]

"Nothing directly involving Falconry though my alarm bells did start ringing when they began to mention the possibility of introducing a hunting season for Hares."

Why ? Most sportsmen wouldn't hunt them through the summer months anyway.

[Gaz]

I thought they were protected between 1 April-31 August :!: :?:

[OutFlying]

Gaz, isn't there something about unfenced land, regarding protection.

[HawkMan69UK]

and on a sunday but that might be just coursing :!: :?: not sure about a decline there are quite a few on different pockets of land i have and 1 piece in particuler go well into double figures

[BrianM]

i might be wrong but i dont think they are protected in between those dates its just you cant sell the things,,, somone on here will know the answer

[HawkMan69UK]

No close season but may not be sold March-July coursing is from sept to march ...dont wanna hunt in the the summer or ya could leave young leverits motherless

[BrianM]

No close season but may not be sold March-July coursing is from sept to march ...dont wanna hunt in the the summer or ya could leave young leverits motherless
i told you someone would know :D

[GriffMJ]

I am a Lurcherman ...... and I have been coursing the same land for 13 years. I have always given the hare a sporting slip of 50 to 60 yards ....only ever one hound on the slip....always when there is an R in the month. Thats is why I have/had continual sport on the same piece of land.

[OutFlying]

april a bit late in my book

[ColdZero]

i thought they were legal to shoot with a rifle all year round but not to sell, and only shot with a shotgun in the autumn/winter months. Either way i think people are very paranoid about everything leading to the ban of falconry, makes it seem like you have done something wrong. However after banning hunting with dogs its hard not to feel a bit worried.

[Gaz]

isn't there something about unfenced land
Yeah dude,just checked,it says:
"Hares are protected on moorland & unfenced arable land between April 1 & 31 August"

[Gaz]

Either way i think people are very paranoid about everything leading to the ban of falconry
Its nothing to do with that,its about respect for the quarry
could leave young leverits motherless

[OutFlying]

isn't there something about unfenced land
Yeah dude,just checked,it says:
"Hares are protected on moorland & unfenced arable land between April 1 & 31 August"

Cheers Gaz, I knew there was a clause regarding fences. That the season I've always followed with hares September till early March. Anything after that and you run the risk of catching females with young inside.

[Gaz]

and on a sunday
"and x-mas day"..it is illegal to hunt any game spiecies on these days(vermin is ok)as it is to hunt without a game licence :!:

[Wightwings]

and on a sunday
"and x-mas day"..it is illegal to hunt any game spiecies on these days(vermin is ok)as it is to hunt without a game licence :!:

FANTASTIC point Gaz........how many peeps on here have a simple £6 game licence........not just for the birds but also the members tht shoot??

[Wightwings]

back slightly on topic, last year when i used to live on the isle of wight a frind of mine had perm to shoot some land but the frme said please leave the hares alone?

we went into one feild around dusk one time and stood on the hill ridge both open mouthed and counted 18 hares on ONE field. Came back and lamped the field the next night ( after lamping the next few for foxes) and every 10 yds under the lamp flushed a hare. lost count in the end it was amazing and blew all the usual thoeries about solitary hares etc out of the water.