12- or 20-gauge with improved cylinder choke
Close, quick shots
Similar to cottontail hunting, an open choke with 6 shot handles the typical close-range shot through dense cover.
Hunting · Small Game & Birds · Snowshoe Hare
Snowshoe Hare Hunting
A winter-white hare that lives in dense conifer thickets, hunted in deep snow with beagles built for the cold.
Snowshoe hares live in dense conifer swamps, alder thickets, and regenerating boreal forest across the northern U.S. and Canada, and are named for their oversized hind feet that let them travel on top of deep snow that would bog down most predators.
Unlike cottontails, snowshoes turn white in winter, making them exceptionally well camouflaged against snow, and their preferred habitat — thick young conifer and alder cover — is genuinely difficult terrain to hunt through even for experienced beagle handlers.
It's a cold-weather, deep-snow pursuit that demands proper winter clothing and often snowshoes for the hunters themselves, following dogs bred and conditioned specifically to work in harsh northern winter conditions.
- Range
- Northern U.S. & Canada
- Peak season
- Dec – Feb
- Tag access
- Over-the-counter
- Live weight
- 3–4 lb
01
Where to hunt snowshoe hare
Snowshoe hare hunting quality follows dense boreal and northern conifer habitat, with the best populations found in the north woods of the Great Lakes states and much of Canada.
| Place | Why it's worth your time | How you get a tag |
|---|---|---|
| Maine north woods | Extensive dense conifer habitat with a strong hare-hunting tradition | Over-the-counter small-game license |
| Northern Minnesota & Wisconsin | Large public forest tracts with good hare populations, cycling with the ten-year hare/lynx rhythm | Over-the-counter small-game license |
| Michigan Upper Peninsula | Dense conifer swamps and alder thickets with solid hare numbers | Over-the-counter small-game license |
| New Hampshire & Vermont | Classic New England hare hunting in mixed conifer-hardwood forest | Over-the-counter small-game license |
| Ontario & Quebec | Vast boreal forest with abundant hare populations | Nonresident license required, check provincial regulations |
02
How to hunt snowshoe hare: the repeatable method
Snowshoe hare hunting follows the same beagle-and-circle principle as cottontail hunting, adapted for deep snow and dense conifer cover.
- 1Hunt dense young conifer stands, alder thickets, and regenerating cutover areas where hares find both food and cover from predators.
- 2Use beagles or other hounds conditioned for deep snow and cold to trail hares by scent through thick cover.
- 3Position hunters at likely crossing points in open lanes or trails, since hares circle back toward their home cover just like cottontails.
- 4Watch carefully against the snow — a hare's white winter coat provides excellent camouflage and requires close attention to spot even when close.
- 5Move slowly and quietly between drives if hunting without dogs, since hares hold extremely tight in dense cover and flush at close range.
- 6Use snowshoes or skis in deep-snow terrain to move efficiently and keep pace with dogs working difficult conifer thickets.
- 7Hunt during daylight hours when hares are more likely to be moving between feeding and resting cover.
- 8Watch for fresh tracks in snow to identify active areas before committing dogs to a full drive through difficult terrain.
03
Tags, licenses, and seasons
Snowshoe hare tags require only a basic small-game license — the challenge is access to dense northern conifer habitat and cold-weather preparedness rather than any licensing complexity.
- 1Buy a small-game hunting license online from the relevant state or provincial wildlife agency.
- 2Confirm season dates, which typically run through the coldest winter months when snow is deepest.
- 3Check whether your state's hare population is in a cycle high or low year, since snowshoe hares follow a roughly 10-year boom-bust cycle tied to lynx predation.
- 4Identify dense young conifer and alder cover on public forest land using state forestry management maps.
- 5Prepare cold-weather and deep-snow gear in advance, since this hunt happens in genuinely harsh winter conditions.
04
What the hunt is actually like
A snowshoe hare hunt is a genuine winter wilderness experience — deep snow, bitter cold, and dense conifer cover that makes every step a workout even before the dogs strike a trail.
The visual challenge is unique: a hare in full winter white against fresh snow can be nearly invisible until it moves, testing a hunter's eye as much as any calling or scent-based skill in other small-game hunting.
It rewards hunters who genuinely enjoy hard winter conditions — the payoff is a quiet, snow-covered forest, the distant bay of hounds working difficult cover, and a hunt that few others are willing to brave.
05
Gear that decides the outcome
Not a shopping list — the handful of items that change whether you fill the tag and whether the meat gets home in good condition.
Cold-conditioned beagles or hounds
Deep snow work
Dogs bred and conditioned for northern winter conditions handle deep snow and bitter cold far better than standard beagle lines.
Snowshoes
Deep-snow mobility
Essential for keeping pace with dogs and moving efficiently through conifer swamps with two feet or more of snow.
Serious cold-weather layering
Genuine winter conditions
This hunt happens in real winter cold; insulated boots, base layers, and a windproof outer shell are not optional.
Blaze orange over white camo
Safety and concealment
Balancing visibility to hunting partners with concealment from wary hares against snow is a real consideration in this hunt.
06
Meat care and what you take home
Snowshoe hare yields lean, dark meat, slightly gamier than cottontail, typically around 1-1.5 pounds per animal.
Best slow-braised given the firmer texture compared to cottontail, often in a hearty winter stew with root vegetables.
As with all wild rabbits and hares, cook thoroughly given the tularemia risk, and handle carcasses with gloves during field dressing.
Official sources and further reading
Seasons, bag limits, and shell restrictions change every year — especially for migratory birds. Confirm with these agencies before you hunt.
- Maine Dept. of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
Hare population data and northern forest hunting access information.
- National Beagle Club of America
Cold-weather beagle training and hare-hunting tradition information.
- USDA Forest Service — find a forest
Locate national forest land with dense conifer habitat open to public hunting.
- USFWS — Hunting
Federal hunting resources and public land access information.
Keep going
Questions
Frequently asked
- Why do snowshoe hare populations cycle so dramatically?
- They follow a well-documented roughly 10-year boom-bust cycle tied closely to Canada lynx predation and habitat quality — check regional wildlife agency reports to know whether you're hunting a high or low year.
- How is hunting snowshoe hares different from cottontails?
- Snowshoes live in denser, colder, snowier habitat, turn white for winter camouflage, and require snow-adapted dogs and hunters equipped for genuine winter conditions rather than a mild fall hunt.
- Do I need snowshoes to hunt them?
- In deep-snow conifer habitat, yes — without them, moving through two or more feet of snow to keep pace with dogs or access cover is exhausting and inefficient.
- What time of year is peak hare season?
- December through February generally offers the deepest, most consistent snow cover and the full white winter coat that defines this hunt.
- Are snowshoe hares and jackrabbits the same thing?
- No — snowshoe hares are a distinct northern conifer-forest species that turns white in winter, while jackrabbits are larger, open-country hares found in the West that don't change color in most regions.
- What's the best cover to focus on?
- Dense young conifer stands, alder thickets, and regenerating cutover areas that provide both food and thermal cover through harsh winter conditions.
Every hunting guide
Hunting Hub
Where every hunting guide on The Wild10 starts.
Types of Game
Big game, small game, upland birds, and waterfowl — habitat and season.
Big Game
Deer, elk, moose, bear, hog and sheep — where to hunt, tags, and what to expect.
Rifle Hunting
Cartridges, zero, field positions, wind, and shot placement.
Shotgun Hunting
Gauges, chokes, shot size, and lead for birds and slug country.
Recurve & Traditional Bow
Instinctive shooting, draw weight, arrow spine, and close-range craft.
Compound Bow Hunting
Draw length, sight and rest setup, broadhead tuning, and shot process.
Hunting Tips
Wind discipline, stand placement, blood trailing, and meat care.
Keep going
Related reading
Shotgun Hunting
Gauges, chokes, and shot size for birds and small game.
Read →Big Game Guides
Deer, elk, bear and more — tags, seasons, and tactics.
Read →Hunting Tips
Wind, scent, and getting game home in good condition.
Read →Wild Game Recipes
What to do with the birds and small game you bring home.
Read →Top 10 lists
Hunting gear rankings
Ranked picks with real product photos, specs, and editor notes — the buying side of everything covered in these guides.
Best Hunting Rifles
Bolt guns from budget workhorses to mountain rifles.
See the ranking →Best Upland Shotguns
Over-unders and light autos built to carry all day.
See the ranking →Best Waterfowl Shotguns
3.5-inch guns that keep cycling through mud and ice.
See the ranking →Best Deer Hunting Shotguns
Rifled slug guns for shotgun-only whitetail country.
See the ranking →Best Compound Bows
Forgiving, quiet compounds that tune without a fight.
See the ranking →Best Recurve Bows
Hunting recurves that shoot quiet and hold up outside.
See the ranking →Also on The Wild10
Fishing Guides
Fish identification, the knots that hold, lure selection by conditions, and the habits that fill a stringer.
Open the fishing hub →