Broom hare

Scientific name: Lepus castroviejoi

How weight is recorded: Whole weight

Field notes

Appearance

Medium-sized hare with a uniformly greyish-brown coat and relatively short ears for a Lepus species. Hindlegs are notably powerful; fur is coarser and darker than the European brown hare, with minimal seasonal colour change.

Size and weight

Adult weight 1.5–2.5 kg; body length 42–50 cm. Females typically 5–10% heavier than males.

Habitat

Lepus castroviejoi inhabits high-altitude scrubland and rocky moorland in the Iberian Peninsula, typically between 1,200–2,100 m elevation. Favours areas with dense broom (Cytisus and Genista species), heather, and sparse grass cover interspersed with rocky outcrops.

Distribution

Endemic to the high plateaus of central Spain (Sistema Central and Iberian System), with fragmented populations in suitable alpine scrubland habitats above 1,200 m.

Diet

Feeds primarily on broom shoots and leaves year-round, supplemented with heather, grasses, and herbaceous plants; diet shifts toward fresh green growth in spring and summer.

Behaviour

Mainly crepuscular and nocturnal, lying in shallow forms amongst dense broom and rocks during daylight. Solitary or in pairs; moves with explosive bounds when flushed but often remains motionless initially when threatened.

Hunting tips

Search for tracks and droppings along broom margins and grassy clearings; scat is slightly smaller and firmer than lowland hare. Approach high moorland into the wind during dawn and dusk when animals are active; use terrain folds and rocky outcrops for concealment. Walk slowly through broom patches or glass from vantage points to spot animals before they bolt.

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.

Spain

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.