Establish a close season, from the start of February to the end of September, during which the killing or taking of hares is prohibited; repeal the seasonal prohibition of the sale of hares in the Hares Preservation Act 1892; and for connected purposes.
House of Lords
29 November 2024
May contain errors — check source documents for definitive information.
The Hares (Close Season) Bill would make it illegal to deliberately or recklessly kill, injure or take hares during a close season (1 February to 30 September). It would repeal the 1892 Hares Preservation Act and create limited defences for landowners or authorised people acting to prevent crop damage under a Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 licence, with a defence if the hare is seriously disabled by another cause and being tended for release. The measure would apply to England and Wales and would come into force one month after passage.
The bill has been introduced in the House of Lords and is currently at the 2nd reading. There is no published record yet in the provided trail of amendments or committee-stage scrutiny.
Generated 21 February 2026
28 Nov 2024
First reading took place on 28 November. This stage is a formality that signals the start of the bill's journey through the Lords.
What happens next?
Second reading - the general debate on all aspects of the bill - is yet to be scheduled.
The Hares (Close Season) Bill would make it an offence to deliberately or recklessly kill, injure, or take hares or leverets during the close season (1 February to 30 September), with penalties of up to six months’ imprisonment or a fine. It would create a limited defence for landowners or authorised persons who act to prevent serious crop damage, provided they have a Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 licence and meet specified conditions, and there is also a defence if the animal was seriously disabled by another cause and is being tended for release. The bill repeals the Hares Preservation Act 1892, applies to England and Wales, and comes into force one month after passage.
No recorded votes for this bill yet.
