Shooting hares in England to be banned for most of the year | Hunting

Shooting hares in England will be banned for most of the year under new animal welfare laws, with a ban on trail hunting also expected. The changes aim to protect the animals during breeding season and address concerns about animal welfare during hunts.

Hare Hunting Ban

Currently, it is legal to shoot hares during their breeding season, often resulting in pregnant animals being left to bleed out and young leverets being orphaned. The new regulations will establish a close season for hare hunting from February to October, protecting mothers and their young.

Brown hare populations in England and Wales have declined by 80% over the past century, despite claims of overpopulation in the countryside. Approximately 200,000 hares are killed annually in organized shoots during February and March, leading to the starvation of orphaned leverets.

Trail Hunting Restrictions

Ministers are also expected to announce a ban on trail hunting, where hounds follow a scent rather than pursue a live animal. This was a commitment made in the governing party’s manifesto, and the new animal welfare strategy outlines a legislative pathway for the ban.

Campaigners have argued that current rules are insufficient, as foxes are often injured or killed when dogs following artificial scents encounter live animals. Polling indicates that 79% of the public believes the law on foxhunting should be tightened to prevent accidental killings, and 85% believe there is a moral duty to protect animal welfare.

Nature minister Mary Creagh stated, “Brown hares are a cherished part of our countryside, an iconic British species, and it’s simply wrong that so many are shot during breeding season. I am determined to stop the decline of this wonderful animal.”

Former Conservative environment secretary George Eustice attempted to implement a hare hunting close season while in office but was blocked by No 10. He welcomed the new regulations, noting that the Victorian era recognized the need for a close season, but the existing 1892 act is no longer effective.

The animal welfare package is hoped to improve morale among Labour MPs and voters following recent party challenges and economic concerns.