Iberian hare

Scientific name: Lepus granatensis

How weight is recorded: Whole weight

Field notes

Appearance

A medium-sized hare with russet-brown to greyish-brown dorsal fur, white underparts, and distinctive black ear tips. Body is lean and muscular with long, powerful hind legs; females are noticeably larger than males.

Size and weight

Adult weight 1.8–2.6 kg (males), 2.0–3.0 kg (females); body length 45–55 cm.

Habitat

Iberian hares favour open and semi-open landscapes including scrubland, grassland, cereal crops, and Mediterranean shrubland, typically at low to moderate elevations (sea level to 1,500 m) with scattered vegetation for cover.

Distribution

Endemic to the Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal). Occupies open and semi-open habitats throughout lowland and mid-elevation regions, avoiding dense forest.

Diet

Grazes on herbaceous plants, clover, and young shoots in spring/summer; shifts to woody vegetation, bark, and dried plant material in autumn/winter.

Behaviour

Primarily crepuscular and nocturnal, resting in shallow depressions (forms) during daylight. Solitary except during breeding season; explosive runners that rely on speed and irregular zigzag sprints when flushed.

Hunting tips

Look for hare droppings (hard pellets, 8–10 mm) and tracks in soft ground showing the characteristic hare gait. Work open terrain at dawn or dusk, moving slowly into wind and using terrain folds and scrub for cover. Flush hares from their forms by walking through likely resting habitat; expect rapid, erratic flight patterns and be prepared for immediate shots at close range.

Whole weight

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

Where it is hunted

Listed as huntable in 2 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.