Spring into action

Brush up on your long lens skills as the gloves are off for spring’s arrival

The best places to look for hares boxing are open grassy or arable fields, particularly near to woodland fringes or substantial hedgerows, where the hares can usually find shelter.

To increase your chances of finding a boxing match, it’s best to get up and out early, and stay downwind to avoid your scent giving you away. You should definitely leave the dog at home. With near 360-degree vision, hares are likely to spot you if you’re on foot, but seem less worried by cars. If possible, shoot from your car with the window down and a beanbag for support; you’ll need a long telephoto lens of 400mm or more. You can spot hares boxing as their mating season begins, from March to April and onwards.