Although snowshoe hares resemble rabbits, they are true hares and are well adapted to seasonal conditions. One of their most distinctive features is their changing coat: their fur is generally white during winter and brownish-grey during the warmer months, helping them blend into their surroundings. Their large hind feet also help them travel across deep snow, which is the origin of the name “snowshoe hare.”
Snowshoe hares feed on a variety of vegetation. During spring and summer, their diet includes grasses, leaves, and other green plants, while in colder months they rely more heavily on twigs, buds, bark, and evergreen vegetation. They are pursued by hunters for recreation, meat, and fur, but locating them can still require careful scouting, tracking, and knowledge of suitable habitat.
A successful hare hunt also requires an understanding of the applicable open season, Management Units, bag limits, legal hunting methods, licence requirements, access restrictions, and other regulations. This guide covers the key information hunters should consider when planning a hunting trip and preparing for hunting on Vancouver Island.
Snowshoe hares are most commonly associated with dense forest and brushy habitat, particularly in northern areas of Vancouver Island. Hunters may find them in coniferous and mixed forests, cedar and spruce stands, wet or swampy areas, young forests, and other locations that provide abundant food and thick protective cover.
Productive habitat can include:
Snowshoe hares often feed on vegetation near dense cover and may use established trails to move between feeding and shelter areas. Fresh tracks, droppings, clipped vegetation, and well-travelled pathways can help hunters identify areas with recent hare activity.
The general open season for snowshoe hare applies only in MUs 1-14 and 1-15. Hunters must also check all applicable no-hunting, no-shooting, park, private-land, access, and motor-vehicle restrictions before entering the field.
The snowshoe hare is a native Canadian species found across much of the country, although its abundance and distribution vary by habitat and region. On Vancouver Island, recreational hunting opportunities are limited to specific northern Management Units.
According to the current hunting and trapping synopsis, the general open season for snowshoe hare runs from August 1 to April 30 in MUs 1-14 and 1-15. The daily bag limit is 10 hares.Winter can provide favourable hunting and tracking conditions because fresh snow makes tracks, trails, and other signs of hare activity easier to identify. However, snowshoe hares also develop a predominantly white winter coat that provides excellent camouflage against snowy surroundings, making the animals themselves difficult to spot.
Hunters should look carefully for movement, tracks, feeding signs, and the hare’s darker eyes and ear tips when searching snowy habitat. Although winter can make tracking easier, successful hare hunting still requires patience, careful observation, and knowledge of suitable cover.
Hunters must also remain within legal hunting hours and check all applicable Management Unit, access, no-hunting, and no-shooting restrictions before heading into the field.
Hunting is prohibited in national parks and ecological reserves. Hunting restrictions vary among BC Parks, so hunters must confirm whether hunting is permitted in a specific provincial park before entering the field. Local no-hunting, no-shooting, access, private-land, and motor-vehicle restrictions may also apply.
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Several legal hunting methods may be used for snowshoe hare. Depending on the area and applicable firearm-discharge restrictions, hunters may use air rifles, rimfire rifles, centrefire rifles, shotguns, or qualifying archery equipment.
Snowshoe hare may also be hunted with dogs or through legal falconry. Snaring is permitted under specific requirements described in the regulations.
Always confirm that the hunting method and firearm discharge are legal in the area where you intend to hunt.
Both rimfire and centrefire rifles may be used for snowshoe hare hunting where firearm discharge is otherwise permitted. Hunters should select ammunition appropriate for small game and take shots only after positively identifying the hare and confirming a safe direction of fire and backstop.
Firearms must always be handled and transported in accordance with applicable hunting and firearm-safety regulations.
Shotguns may be used for snowshoe hare hunting where otherwise legally permitted. Hunters should choose a shotgun and ammunition appropriate for small game and the hunting conditions.
Pump, repeating, and autoloading shotguns must comply with the applicable magazine-plug requirements, and local firearm-discharge and no-shooting restrictions must always be followed.
Archery is another legal method for hunting snowshoe hare. Crossbows, compound crossbows, longbows, recurve bows, and compound bows may be used when they meet the applicable Bow B, C, or D equipment requirements.
Bowhunters should positively identify the hare, confirm a safe shooting direction, and comply with all local access and archery restrictions.
Snowshoe hare may be snared during the legal open season if the person holds a hunting licence and has completed the Trapper Education Program.
The snare must be non-braided and no heavier than 20 gauge. Hunters using snares must also comply with all applicable access, property, humane-treatment, and hunting regulations.
Snaring should not be confused with general regulated trapping, which is subject to separate trapping requirements.
Dogs may be used to locate and pursue snowshoe hare, and unleashed dogs may be used for small-game hunting where otherwise legally permitted. Hunters should maintain appropriate control of their dogs and consider terrain, access, other hunters, roads, private property, and wildlife in the area.
Hunters must make all reasonable efforts to locate, dispatch, retrieve, and include in their daily bag limit any snowshoe hare they kill, cripple, or wound.
Harvested wildlife must also be possessed and transported in accordance with applicable B.C. wildlife regulations.
Working with an experienced guide outfitter can make a snowshoe hare hunting trip more organized, efficient, and enjoyable. Local guides can provide valuable knowledge of hare habitat, tracking conditions, access routes, weather, legal hunting areas, and suitable hunting methods.
Before planning your hunt:
Depending on the hunting package, outfitters may assist with scouting, transportation, equipment, tracking, access planning, and field logistics. Their familiarity with local terrain and hare habitat can help hunters focus their time on productive areas while following applicable hunting regulations.
A guide is not required for every small-game hunter. Non-resident and non-resident alien hunters may hunt small game unaccompanied if they hold an unrestricted hunting licence, while hunters holding a restricted licence must be accompanied as required by B.C. regulations.
If you need assistance choosing a suitable outfitter or planning your snowshoe hare hunting trip, please contact us.
Hi, thanks for your helpful content.
When are snowshoe hare most active for hunting?
Hi. We are glad that you liked it. Snowshoe hares are most active at dawn and dusk.
Is snowshoe hare the best animal to hunt for a first-time hunter?
It is not an easy hunt. Snowshoe hares are larger than rabbits, but they are quick game animals and run as fast as 43 kph (27 mph). They have exceptional hearing and can change direction quickly to escape predators. Their fur provides them with an excellent cover to keep them safe. Sometimes snowshoe hares feed at night.
Can I hunt snowshoe hares on Crown land in BC?
On Crown land, a person must abide by the open seasons for Schedule B species (including snowshoe hare). These animals may be captured or killed on private land only for the specific purpose of protecting property; no hunting license or open season is required. Any capture or killing of these species must abide by provincial law.
Is snowshoe hare hunting legal in BC?
Yes. Hunting methods, seasons, license, and any decision you make for hunting snowshoe hare on Vancouver Island must be according to the BC Hunting and Trapping Regulations Synopsis and its resource management for region 1 (Vancouver Island).
