Meat
Field Hare
A tier
Field hare describes brown hares taken from open farmland and grass margins rather than upland or mountain habitats—the everyday European hare of arable country. Diet of crops and grasses influences a full but not alpine flavour. Still far gamier than farmed rabbit; best in traditional stews and pies. Shot damage and careful paunching affect quality. Autumn and winter field sports seasons structure supply to game dealers.
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Characteristics
Preparations
Traits
History
Enclosure and arable expansion favoured brown field hares as quarry.
Victorian fieldsports made field hare a regular game-dealer item.
Agricultural intensification pressured field hare populations in parts of Europe.
Conservation schemes aimed to recover farmland hares while limited shooting continued.