Scrub hare
Scientific name: Lepus saxatilis
- How weight is recorded: Whole weight
Field notes
Appearance
Greyish-brown coat with rufous tinting on the nape and ears; underparts pale grey. Medium-sized hare with long ears and powerful hind legs; females typically larger than males.
Size and weight
Males 1.5–2.0 kg, females 1.8–2.3 kg; body length 45–55 cm.
Habitat
Scrub hares favour rocky, broken terrain with sparse vegetation including fynbos, scrubland, and rocky hillsides. They prefer areas with good visibility and escape cover, typically at elevations from sea level to 2000m.
Distribution
Endemic to South Africa, found across the Western Cape, Eastern Cape, and into KwaZulu-Natal. Strongly associated with rocky, broken fynbos and scrubland habitats.
Diet
Grazes on grasses and low herbs; browses shrub leaves and seedlings, with seasonal shifts toward available green growth after rains.
Behaviour
Primarily nocturnal and crepuscular, solitary or in pairs. Uses regular runs and forms shallow resting scrapes (forms) in dense cover; alert and fast when flushed.
Hunting tips
Look for droppings (dark pellets ~8mm) and well-worn track networks in soft sand or mud around water sources and foraging areas. Approach rocky terrain against wind during early morning or late afternoon when hares move to feed. Stalking is effective through open scrub; move slowly and pause frequently to spot hares 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 4 countries in Huntify.
Names in other languages
Current language: en
These field notes are general species knowledge, not legal advice. Always check the current seasons, quotas and firearm rules where you hunt.