Key Facts
- Bill name
- Hares (Close Season) Bill [HL]
- Close season period
- Start of February to end of September
- Species protected
- Brown hares and mountain hares
- Repeal
- Seasonal prohibition of sale of hares in the Hares Preservation Act 1892
- Source
- UK Parliament
Background
The Hares (Close Season) Bill [HL] has been introduced in the UK Parliament. The bill's primary aim is to establish a close season for brown hares, during which killing or taking them would be prohibited.
The proposed close season would run from the start of February to the end of September. This period is intended to provide protection for brown hares during their breeding season.
The bill also includes provisions to protect mountain hares, though the specific measures are not detailed in the available summary. Additionally, it seeks to repeal the seasonal prohibition on the sale of hares under the Hares Preservation Act 1892.
Current Situation
As of the source information, the bill is under consideration in the UK Parliament. The exact stage of the legislative process is not specified in the provided data.
The bill's provisions would change existing law by introducing a close season for brown hares, a measure not currently in place. The repeal of the 1892 Act's sale prohibition would also alter current regulations.
The source does not indicate whether the bill has been debated, amended, or scheduled for further readings. Its current status remains unclear from the available information.
Impacts
If enacted, the bill would affect those who hunt or take brown hares in the UK, as they would be prohibited from doing so between February and September. This could impact pest control activities and hunting practices.
The repeal of the seasonal sale prohibition could affect traders and markets that deal in hare meat, potentially allowing sales year-round, subject to other regulations.
Mountain hares would receive additional protections under the bill, which could influence land management and conservation practices in areas where they are found.
Future Outlook
Scenario analysis: The possibilities below are not certain predictions.
If the bill progresses through Parliament and receives royal assent, the close season for brown hares would come into effect, and the 1892 sale prohibition would be repealed. The timeline for this is not specified.
Should the bill be amended during its passage, the final provisions could differ from the current summary. For instance, the close season dates or the extent of mountain hare protections might change.
If the bill fails to pass, the existing legal framework would remain unchanged, and brown hares would continue to be subject to current hunting regulations without a statutory close season.
Source: UK Parliament
