A step-by-step guide to hunting snowshoe hares in winter

Hunting snowshoe hares can be one of the best ways to spend a winter weekend in the bush, and the action can be downright incredible. And you don’t need a pack of howling beagles to have a successful hunt. You also don’t need to venture into dense Canadian Shield forests. Snowshoe hares actually flourish in cedar swamps, thickets and agricultural areas further south than most folks realize, often surprisingly close to cities and suburbs. I do 90 per cent of my hare hunting in farm fields and ranches just an hour’s drive north of the Greater Toronto Area, for example. And while I don’t have the benefit of using a dog, I still successfully hunt snowshoes on a regular basis every winter. Here’s how you can also enjoy success close to home.