Arctic hare

Scientific name: Lepus arcticus

How weight is recorded: Whole weight

Field notes

Appearance

Arctic hares are large hares with powerful hind legs, a compact body, and short ears relative to other Lepus species. Their coat is white year-round in most populations, though some southern populations show brown summer pelage; they have a black ear tip.

Size and weight

Adults weigh 3.5–7.0 kg; body length ranges 45–70 cm. Females average slightly larger than males.

Habitat

Arctic hares occupy tundra, rocky slopes, and sparse shrubland across the high Arctic. They favour areas with low vegetation, exposed ground, and access to willow, sedges, and forbs.

Distribution

Arctic hares range across the Canadian Arctic archipelago, Greenland, and northern Alaska. They prefer open tundra and barren terrain above treeline.

Diet

Arctic hares browse on willow, sedges, forbs, and grasses in summer; in winter they rely heavily on woody vegetation, lichen, and bark.

Behaviour

Primarily nocturnal and crepuscular, though activity increases during continuous daylight. They are often solitary but form loose aggregations in winter; they rest in shallow forms and rely on speed and evasion to escape predators.

Hunting tips

Look for tracks in snow or soft ground—large prints with wide spacing indicate fast movement. Scan open terrain with binoculars at dawn and dusk when hares are most active. Approach from downwind across broken ground, using terrain features for cover; their white coat makes them visible in open tundra, so patient glassing is more effective than active stalking.

Whole weight

This species is logged by whole weight — the animal weighed entire, as taken.

Where it is hunted

Listed as huntable in 1 country in Huntify.

Canada

Names in other languages

These field notes are general species knowledge, not legal advice. Always check the current seasons, quotas and firearm rules where you hunt.