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An Outdoor Life report published Oct. 26, 2026, recounts a winter snowshoe hare hunt in Michigan in which hunters used beagles to track hares through snowy woods. It also describes how changing forest cover affects hare habitat; the account does not provide new population data or establish a change in hunting rules.
Outdoor Life published a first-person account of a snowshoe hare hunt with beagles in northern Michigan, describing how hunters positioned themselves along a snowy fire lane and tried to anticipate where the dogs would drive the hares. The report also outlines how forest growth can affect hare habitat, but it does not announce a new regulation or present updated population figures.
The account follows four hunters, including Ralph Holsinger, who the report says has pursued snowshoe hares for 50 years. The group hunted near young jack-pine woods and a cedar swamp, spreading out along a fire lane while a pack of beagles followed hare scent. The dogs’ calls helped the hunters judge where a hare might emerge, but two animals eluded the writer before another hunter, Joe Covert, shot one as it tried to cross an opening.
The report describes the hunt as dependent on reading terrain and listening to the hounds. Hares may circle through cover on routes that can be wide or narrow, and hunters adjust their positions based on the dogs’ movements. In the episode recounted, the writer waited for a hare that never appeared in front of him; a shot from another part of the group ended the chase.
Outdoor Life also gives general species and habitat information. It says snowshoe hares, also called varying hares, turn white in winter and live across Canada, Alaska and parts of the northern United States, as well as some mountainous areas farther south. The report says young conifer growth can provide food and cover, while a maturing forest with less understory may offer less suitable habitat.
Forest Growth Shapes Hare Cover
The report connects a traditional form of small-game hunting with a practical wildlife issue: the availability of dense young growth. For readers interested in hunting or local wildlife, that helps explain why hare numbers can vary substantially from one place to another and over time. The article describes habitat conditions, not a current statewide census or a measured population trend.
Hare habitat also supports predators. Outdoor Life identifies hawks, owls, foxes and coyotes as animals that eat snowshoe hares. The account says human hunting apparently has little effect on hare populations, but it provides no study, harvest figures or specific comparison to support a quantitative conclusion. Readers should treat that statement as the report’s general characterization rather than a new finding.
The piece matters as a record of how hunters use hounds and habitat knowledge to pursue an animal that is difficult to see in snowy cover. It also makes clear that success is uncertain: even with dogs tracking a hare, hunters may misjudge its route or miss the brief opportunity to take a shot.
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A Hunt Built Around Beagles
The report was published on Oct. 26, 2026, and recounts a hunt from the previous February. Its narrative describes a small hunting party in northern Michigan, including a stop at a local cafe before the group took positions near a fire lane. The winter setting matters because snowshoe hares change to a white coat, while snow and dense vegetation shape both visibility and movement.
Outdoor Life distinguishes hares from rabbits by noting that hares are born fully furred and with their eyes open. It gives average snowshoe hare measurements of 14 to 15 inches long and roughly 3.5 to 4 pounds. The article says hunting seasons exist in 20 states, but it does not list those states, provide dates or explain local rules; hunters need to check current regulations where they plan to hunt.
The article also describes population changes as linked to habitat availability and says rabbit and hare numbers can fluctuate over cycles of roughly 10 years. It does not supply data or a time series for the Michigan area in the hunt. Its habitat discussion includes comments from Ben Tullar, a wildlife biologist with the New York Department of Environmental Conservation, about how forests on abandoned farmland can change as conifers give way to hardwoods.
““Hares rarely do what they are supposed to do.””
— Ralph Holsinger, hunter, as quoted by Outdoor Life
Population Data Are Not Provided
The report does not provide a current estimate of snowshoe hare numbers in Michigan or elsewhere, nor does it quantify the effects of hunting on local populations. Its descriptions of population cycles and habitat changes are general background; the article does not show whether hare numbers are currently rising or falling in the areas discussed.
It is also not clear from the report which state seasons are open now, what dates or bag limits apply, or whether local restrictions affect hunting with hounds. The article is a first-person hunting account, not a regulation notice or a wildlife agency survey. Readers should consult the relevant state wildlife department for current season rules and local guidance.
Check Local Rules and Habitat
Outdoor Life’s report does not announce a follow-up event or a planned change to hunting policy. Anyone considering a snowshoe hare hunt should check the latest rules from the state wildlife agency, including season dates, licensing requirements, harvest limits and any restrictions on dogs or firearms. Those details vary by location and are not specified in the account.
For wildlife information, the next useful step is to consult local agency surveys or habitat assessments rather than infer population conditions from a single hunt. The report’s central observations remain the same: hounds can locate and move hares through cover, while forest structure influences where suitable habitat may persist.
Key Questions
What happened in the report?
Outdoor Life recounted a snowshoe hare hunt in northern Michigan in which four hunters used beagles to track hares through snowy woods.
When did the hunt take place?
The article, published Oct. 26, 2026, describes a hunt from the previous February.
What does the report say about hare habitat?
It says young conifer growth can provide food and cover, while forest maturation and reduced understory may leave less suitable habitat. The article does not give a current local population estimate.
Are snowshoe hare seasons open in every state?
No. The report says 20 states have hunting seasons, but does not list them or provide dates. Check the relevant state wildlife agency for current rules.
Does the article show that hunting has little effect on hare populations?
The report says human hunting apparently has little impact, but it does not provide supporting harvest data or a study. That statement should not be read as a new, quantified finding.
Source: outdoorlife.com
