ND Snowshoe Hare Hunting Guide

Also known as: Snowshoe rabbit, Varying hare, Alaska hare

Snowshoe hares measure 413-518 mm in length, with hind feet spanning 117-147 mm. They weigh between 1.43 and 1.55 kg on average, with females slightly larger than males. Their fur transitions seasonally: rusty brown in summer and white in winter. The soles of their feet are densely furred with stiff hairs forming the snowshoe on the hind feet. They inhabit boreal forests, upper montane forests, and wetlands with dense cover across North America from Newfoundland to Alaska, extending south through the Sierra Nevada to central California, the Rockies to northern New Mexico, and the Appalachians to West Virginia.

Habitat & Range

Snowshoe hares primarily inhabit boreal forests, upper montane forests, and wetlands with dense cover. The presence of cover is the primary determinant of habitat quality. They prefer young forests with abundant understories in early successional stages. Dense softwood understories support higher densities than hardwoods.

Life History

Breeding runs from late December through July or August. Gestation lasts 35-40 days (average 37 days). Females can have up to four litters per year, averaging three to five leverets. In summer, the hare consumes grasses, clovers, forbs, and leaves of woody plants. In winter, the diet shifts to twigs, bark, evergreen needles, and buds.

Status, Trends & Threats

Northern populations undergo population cycles of 7-17 years between peaks. With climate change reducing snow cover, some hares have adapted by staying brown year-round, while others continue turning white, leaving them camouflaged against snowless backgrounds at increased predation risk.

Hunting Season

Year-round (unprotected species)

References

• North Dakota — Snowshoe Hare