Cape hare

Scientific name: Lepus capensis

How weight is recorded: Whole weight

Field notes

Appearance

Tawny to greyish-brown coat with lighter underparts; characteristic long ears with dark tips. Body slender and built for speed; hind legs notably longer than forelegs. Females average slightly larger than males.

Size and weight

Adult weight 1.5–2.5 kg; body length 37–47 cm. Females typically 200–300 g heavier than males.

Habitat

Open and semi-open terrain including grasslands, scrubland, and cultivated areas. Prefers well-drained ground with scattered cover and elevations from sea level to 2000 m.

Distribution

Native to sub-Saharan Africa; range extends from East Africa through southern and central regions to South Africa. Inhabits savanna, semi-desert grassland, and agricultural margins.

Diet

Herbivorous; grazes on fresh grasses and clover, browses forbs and shrub leaves, and consumes cultivated crops seasonally. Winter diet shifts to more woody browse and dried vegetation.

Behaviour

Primarily crepuscular and nocturnal; rests in shallow scrapes during daylight. Solitary except during breeding season; highly alert with excellent hearing and vision. Uses zigzag running pattern when flushed, rarely ventures far from cover.

Hunting tips

Look for well-defined runs and droppings (small pellets) around feeding areas and cover margins; tracks show distinctive long hind prints. Approach into wind across open ground toward likely rest areas at dawn or dusk, moving slowly to flush from scrapes. Glass vegetation edges and sparse cover where animals bed during heat; use terrain folds and isolated bushes for stalk approach.

Whole weight

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

Where it is hunted

Listed as huntable in 4 countries in Huntify.

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.