The Hunting Act 2004 made the hunting of hares with dogs illegal. However, as with fox hunting and deer hunting, hare hunting continues under the guise of “trail hunting” or “accidents”.
What is Hare Hunting?
Hares are hunted by packs of three different types of hounds – 57 packs of beagles, 7 packs of beagles and 11 packs of harriers. Hares are hunted on horseback by the registered packs of harriers and, on foot, by the registered packs of beagles and basset hounds.
Unlike rabbits, hares spend their entire lives above ground. When first hunted and fresh, hares run in large circles, but as they tire they take a straighter line. As with all hunting with dogs, the victim is beaten not by speed, but by stamina. Superior speed give the hare the initial advantage, however, superior stamina of the hounds wears the hare down to exhaustion. The hare is then simply over-whelmed by the hounds and killed. It would typically take 60-90 minutes to run the hare to exhaustion although the speed of the harriers would mean a shorter hunt.
The hare hunting season starts in September/October and ends in March so as not to interfere with harvesting, sowing etc.
Thirty years ago there were some 150 packs of hare hounds, and the number continues to rapidly decline with amalgamations and disbanding occurring on a regular basis.
Types of Hare Hunts
Beagles
Beagles are small to medium-sized hounds with a sturdy build, typically standing around 13 to 16 inches tall at the shoulder. They are renowned for their exceptional sense of smell, which enables them to pick up even faint hare scents and follow intricate trails. Their compact size and agile physique allow them to navigate through dense underbrush and rough terrains with ease. Beagle packs are members of the Association of Masters of Harriers and Beagles (AMHB).
Several colleges have beagle packs including Eton College and the Royal College of Agriculture. It used to be said that nearly all the best amateur foxhound huntsmen in this country have started their careers as huntsmen of beagles.
Harriers
Harriers are medium-sized hounds and are known for their speed and tenacity in pursuit of hares. Their energetic nature allows them to cover larger areas quickly, closing the gap between the pack and the fleeing hare. The hunt staff and members ride on horseback in order to keep up with the fast hounds.
At the time of writing there are 17 harrier packs, although not all harrier packs hunt hares; six hunt foxes only whilst two hunt hares and foxes, both of those hunts are registered with the Association of Masters of Harriers and Beagles (AMHB) and the Masters of Foxhounds Association (MFHA).
Bassets
Bassets are medium-sized hounds with a unique appearance characterized by their long ears and a low-to-the-ground build. Bassets possess an outstanding sense of smell, capable of trailing hares across long distances.
Their calm and steady temperament allows them to sustain chases over extended periods. Basset packs are members of the Masters of Basset Hounds Association (MBHA).