Poaching Hare Coursing

Historically, poaching was committed by individuals who took game from landowners for consumption by their families, often to supplement their meagre income. Even in the 21st Century, the Police still utilise the 19th Century laws to combat a problem that is well organised for substantial monetary gain by offenders without scruples.

Poachers have a sophisticated information network and knowledge of our rural areas second to none. They may pass on information for others to commit crimes while they check out other parts of the countryside.

The knowledge gained, not only identifies vulnerable properties but, also arms them with information about short cuts and possible escape routes that even land owners are not aware of This part of the country is recognised as being some of the best Poaching / Hare Coursing country in the South East of England. The predominantly arable land use makes it an ideal environment for Hares and subsequently a magnet for Hare Coursers. It is important to remember that there are two very different forms of Hare Coursing.

One is a very organised, strictly controlled event that does not contravene any law i.e. with the permission and knowledge of the farmer/landowner. The other is Illegal Hare Coursing and involves people trespassing on land and allowing their dogs to chase and kill hares, many betting on the outcome.

From time to time violent confrontations have occurred when participants have been approached by landowners or their employees. This has lead to, not only landowners, game keepers and those employed in agriculture, becoming very concerned about this activity, but a very large part of the rural community becoming intimidated by the thought of Illegal Coursers, let alone their actual presence in the area.

Illegal Hare Coursing takes place on any day of the week. It normally involves a group of people walking in a line across a field about 20-30 metres apart, most of them with at least one lurcher type dog. When a hare is disturbed, one two or more lurchers are released and the hare is chased until it is caught. Wagers are often placed on the outcome with more organised events attracting substantial amounts. The injured or dead hare is usually discarded and the chase repeated until there are no hares left in that field.

The Illegal Hare Coursers then move to another field and start again. ‘Illegal Coursers’ use good quality transport such as Transit style vans or four wheel drive vehicles that enable them to drive onto field with ease, destroying crops and damaging fences as they go.
Brown Hare live and breed above ground. They live on open land and farmland in the lowlands of Britain. Hare population, once common, has fallen below 70,000 and are now confined to the southeast of England

Hare are game and have some limited protection

It is illegal to kill hares on Sundays or on Christmas Day
Hare may only be killed on moor land and enclosed arable land from 11th December to the 31st March by the occupier of the land or person authorised by the occupier
Hare may not be sold from March through July - Hares Preservation Act 1892
Taking and killing of Hares without the landowners permission is poaching - cruelty to Hares - Wild Mammals (Protection) Act
Why has the Area been targeted by Hare Coursers?
Flat environment
Hares increasingly confined to the southeast
Labyrinth of lanes making pursuit of poachers vehicles extremely difficult

What is the season?
There is no defined season but generally Hare Coursing activity begins when crops are harvested and large tracts of land become available for the activity, this is usually late August, early September and can continue to Christmas. At dawn or dusk but may occur in broad daylight with impunity. As long as there are no standing crops.

It is important to pass on any information you can about such activities to the Police as soon as possible.

Lisa Judd
Rural Community Warden
Lenham and Harrietsham
Tel: 07977 981993