ROD AND GUN Hares Favourite Targets For N.Z. Riflemen

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30951, 6 January 1966, Page 6

ROD AND GUN Hares Favourite Targets For N.Z. Riflemen

(By

JAMES SIERS)

“Varmint” shooting, as it is known in the United States, is almost unknown in New Zealand. The costly rifle, powerful telescopic sights and extremely particular bedding and stocking has only been affected in New Zealand by a few extremely keen competitive shooters in the Deerstalkers’ Association.

Yet this type of shooting can be among the most satisfying, and there is a growing trend among the more increasingly affluent shooters to obtain a second rifle on the 222 or 243 or 244 calibre for this purpose. In the United States the most common target is the “chuck” or woodchuck as it is otherwise known. A small, elusive marmot, the chuck, like New Zealand’s rabbit, has incurred the displeasure of farmers by his high birth-rate, voracious appetite (he will eat nearly half a ton of feed a year) and his burrowing. In New Zealand, with the rabbit population lessening, the favourite target is the hare. This is a -fine animal. It takes commercial value to realise the worth of an objectIt seems ironic that it was not until New Zealand venison began fetching good prices in Europe that it seemed to win a reputation for delicacy. So, probably, will it be with the hare. Hares now fetch up to 4s 6d each and probably will fetch much more.

The hare in Europe has always held pride of place as both a sporting animal and as a table delicacy. Jugged hare ranks as among the best of dishes. There, the hare is mainly hunted in winter with dogs. Sometimes it is shot in autumn in drives. The hunting

is arranged either by a club, when rents the hunting rights of several holdings, or privately, by a landholder who invites several guests. In such cases the club or the hunting party arrives and may shoot up to 300 or 400 hares. Each member is then entitled to one animal, or what number is stipulated in the agreement and the rest are sold for the landowner’s benefit. The New Zealand hare was introduced from Britain in 1851 and is now found through most grassland areas, including the mountain tussock lands. Dr. John Flux, of the Animal Ecology Division, D.S.1.R., has been working on hare reproduction in New Zealand and has found that although the average litter size of hares here is smaller than in Britain, Canada or Russia, because of the mild climate there is a better rate of survival. Because of the climate, many young hares breed during their first season. Each year a hare may produce between 10 to 12 young with the average size of the litter about two. This indicates that hares will have about four litters during the breeding season, which extends from June to April, but the distinct breeding season is from August to February.

The male hare is the smaller—contrary to the general rule among mammals. There’s a tendency for hares to be larger (heavier) in the south of the country. The average weight of hares in Britain is similar to that in New Zealand. The heaviest hare weighed in New Zealand was 101 b lloz. I Dr. Flux says that as more hares are weighed in Britain, record weights get more publicity there. At birth leverets weigh three and a half to five ounces. The increasing popularity of calibres like the .222, .243 and .244 is an unhealthy sign for hares in New Zealand. An expert, who knows the benefit of a powerful telescopic sight, can shoot a hare 200 yards away. In some ways it is unfortunate that the hare will continue to enjoy greater popularity because gourmets are likely to find their supply more precarious.