I live fairly close to Dorchester, NH. NH back in the mid 1800's was 90% cleared for farming. Now it is 90% forested. When that picture was taken it was growing back to forested and great habitat for snowshoe hares, our native "rabbits" if you will. We have always had Cottontail Rabbits, a true rabbit in the central to southern part of the state but they are endangered now. Not many snowshoe hares now south of the white mountains due to habitat degradation. Those hares would have been shot in the fall before they turned pure white for winter.