England bans hare shooting during breeding season

December 20, 2025

Shooting hares in England is set to be prohibited for most of the year under major reforms to animal welfare legislation aimed at protecting wildlife during critical breeding periods.

Currently, hare shooting remains legal throughout the breeding season, a practice that has drawn widespread criticism. Conservationists say this allows pregnant hares to be killed, often leaving them to die slowly, while their young—known as leverets—are frequently left abandoned and unable to survive.

As part of the same reform package, ministers are expected to confirm plans to outlaw trail hunting. Although trail hunting claims to use artificial scents rather than live animals, critics argue that foxes are still routinely killed when hounds encounter real wildlife. The proposed ban was a manifesto pledge and is expected to be detailed in a new animal welfare strategy scheduled for announcement on Monday, including a clear legislative route to implementation.

Campaign groups have long warned that existing hunting regulations are ineffective, with dogs continuing to maul foxes despite the supposed use of artificial trails. Public concern over these incidents has fuelled growing calls for stronger enforcement and outright prohibition.

Nature minister Mary Creagh emphasized the importance of the changes, stating that brown hares are an iconic feature of the British countryside and should not be subjected to harm during their breeding season. She said the government is committed to reversing the long-term decline of the species.

The broader animal welfare package is also expected to provide a political boost for Labour MPs and supporters following months of internal disputes, rising living costs, and declining poll numbers.

Public opinion appears strongly in favour of tougher protections. Previous surveys indicate that nearly 80% of people believe foxhunting laws should be strengthened to prevent accidental kills during trail hunts, while Labour polling suggests that 85% of voters see animal welfare as a moral responsibility.

Under the proposed measures, a new close season would make it illegal to shoot hares from February through October, safeguarding both breeding adults and their young. At present, hares are killed for meat, sport, and population control, although conservationists dispute claims that hare numbers are excessive.

In fact, brown hare populations in England and Wales have fallen by approximately 80% over the last century, casting serious doubt on arguments that the species is overabundant.

Former Conservative environment secretary George Eustice previously attempted to introduce a close season but said the effort was blocked at the highest levels of government. He welcomed the renewed push, explaining that protecting animals during breeding periods is a fundamental principle of conservation.

He noted that around 200,000 hares are killed each year in organised commercial shoots, particularly in late winter and early spring, a practice that leads to widespread starvation and death among orphaned leverets. While Victorian-era laws acknowledged the need for seasonal protections, outdated legislation based on restricting sales rather than hunting has rendered them ineffective.

According to Eustice, the government deserves recognition for finally modernising the law and delivering long-overdue protections for hares and other wildlife.