THE HARE POACHER 57 



In March many keepers are worried by hare poachers. 

 To lose a hare by poaching during the shooting season 



is bad enough, but to lose one of those left 

 The for stock is a calamity to the keeper though 



Poacher ^ ^ e poacher a hare means a meal for his 



family, or a week's supply of beer. The 

 chances are ten to one that a hare snared in March 

 will be a doe for the does run pursued by a pack of 

 bucks, and so go first into the snare. Hare-poaching 

 would be a matter of less concern to the keeper if the 

 buck hares were always taken, for he could often spare 

 a few, as they will race does to the point of utter ex- 

 haustion or death. At rutting times the poacher's 

 task is easy. He selects three or four runs which, 

 from their well-used appearance, are promising, then 

 slips down his snares of brass wire, dulled by exposure 

 to smoke to be the less easily seen by hare or keeper. 

 The poacher chooses runs close together, and should 

 he be a man who goes to work, prefers that they shall 

 be near his line of march, so that he may keep an eye 

 on the snares without stepping out of his lawful path. 



Slouching along, with a lie ever ready on his lips in 

 case he should meet a keeper, he can see when a hare 

 is caught merely by moving his eyes, and without 

 turning his head. And if a hare is caught, he will 

 pass on his way unconcernedly, returning without a 

 sign. Meantime his mind has been scheming out the 

 best way to take possession. Probably he will wait 

 for night and darkness or, instead of going to work 

 the next day, he may devote a large part of it to waiting 



