Protect hares and their young from shooting during the breeding season
We call on the Government to stop the shooting of hares during their peak breeding season, by establishing a legally enforceable close season for hares in England and Wales, from 1st February to 30th September.
Signatures
56,427
signatures
Government response threshold (10,000) · 10,000/10,000 · reached
Debate threshold (100,000) · 56,427/100,000
- 29 OCT 2025Petition closedFinal total: 56,427 signatures
- 28 MAY 2025Government respondedDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsGovernment reply
The policy of a close season for hares in England remains under consideration as part of the Government’s plans to introduce the most ambitious programme for animal welfare in a generation.
Read full response - 08 MAY 202510,000 signatures reachedEligible for a government response
- 29 APR 2025Petition opened for signatures
Background
Hares are the only game species in England and Wales that can be shot all year round. It has been reported that the UK brown hare population could have fallen by more than 80% in the past 100 years. Shooting hares in the breeding season leaves dependent young to starve to death. Scotland introduced a close season over a decade ago. Many European countries already protect hares this way. We believe the Government must act now: for animal welfare and for biodiversity.