FURTHER to the controversy on mountain hares ("Hares enjoy a leap in numbers thanks to a healthy grouse season", The Herald, March 23, and Letters, March 24): yesterday (March 25) we were using hounds to try to shoot a fox before lambing and nesting time (I am a gamekeeper in Glenesk).

During the operation we saw hundreds of white hares.

The estate has recently provided new homes for the hares in the form of drainage pipes under the hill roads which they love. There has been more than 40,000 metres done on this estate alone; that's a lot of hare homes. There are more hares here by far than in any time in the 11 years I have worked here and if there's a favourable spring their numbers will explode.

Dave Clement,

Gannochy Estate, Glenesk.