Hare today, gone tomorrow?

I was surprised to read yet again of the large bags of pigeons Tom Payne is shooting at this time of year (All are safely gathered in, 16 August).

I was more than pleased to read J. Jarvis’s concerns about young pigeons and eggs perishing due to the death of their parents (Letters, 23 August). Some 25 years ago I used to be invited by two estates to shoot hare in February. On one estate we shot on two beats and on both days we would shoot on average 85 hare each day. On the second day we used to shoot a similar number to the first. I now ride round these fields and see very few hare. I hope that in 25 years’ time when Mr Payne and his associates ride round the fields where they are shooting big numbers of pigeons they don’t have the same experience, and the regret that I have of shooting so many.

I would also like to say 51½ years ago, I bought my first Shooting Times and am still reading and enjoying it every week. I also have at least 95 per cent of all my copies in boxes in my loft, and am still collecting. G. Lowe, Bedfordshire

Mr Lowe regrets shooting so many hare as he now sees very few about