England to Implement Year-Round Ban on Hare Shooting for Most Months

New Animal Welfare Measure Announced

England is poised to introduce a significant change in its animal welfare legislation, with a new measure set to ban the shooting of hares for the majority of the year. The prohibition will cover the crucial breeding months, extending from February to October, leaving only November, December, and January as permissible shooting periods. This decision forms part of a comprehensive animal welfare strategy expected to be announced on Monday, December 23, 2025.

Protecting Declining Brown Hare Populations

The primary species affected by this ban is the brown hare (Lepus europaeus), a native mammal whose populations in England and Wales have seen an estimated 80% decline over the past century. Despite some recent localized increases, the brown hare remains classified as a 'Priority Species' under the UK Post-2010 Biodiversity Framework. The current lack of a statutory close season in England and Wales, unlike Scotland and Northern Ireland, has allowed hares to be shot year-round, excluding Sundays and Christmas Day.

Conservation groups have long advocated for such protection, highlighting that approximately 200,000 hares are killed annually in organized shoots during February and March. This practice often results in pregnant hares being shot and young leverets being orphaned and left to starve.

Legislative Background and Support

The move to establish a close season for hares has been a long-standing objective for many. The outdated Hares Preservation Act 1892 only prohibited the sale of hares during certain months, proving ineffective in preventing their shooting during breeding seasons. Efforts by figures such as former Conservative environment secretary George Eustice to introduce a close season were previously unsuccessful.

More recently, Baroness Helic introduced the Hares (Close Season) Bill as a Private Member's Bill in the House of Lords in November 2024, aiming to establish a legally binding close season from February 1 to September 30. This legislative push, supported by organizations like Born Free and Wildlife and Countryside Link, seeks to align England and Wales with other parts of the UK and Europe that already protect hares during their breeding periods.

Implications of the New Ban

Under the proposed legislation, intentionally or recklessly killing, injuring, or taking any hare during the close season could lead to penalties including up to six months' imprisonment, a fine, or both. This new measure is expected to provide crucial protection for hares during their most vulnerable period, contributing to the recovery of their populations and addressing long-held concerns about animal welfare in the English countryside.