Glossary of Hunting Terms - Hunting the Clean Boot

Glossary of Hunting Terms

Hunting the Clean Boot (Bloodhounds)

Clean Boot Hunting – A sport in which bloodhounds follow the natural scent of a human runner(s) (the “quarry”) without any artificial scent.

Clean Boot – The natural human skin/bodily scent left by the runner(s), rather than animal scent or synthetic scent.

Quarry (Clean Boot) – The volunteer runner(s) whose natural scent the bloodhounds pursue.

Quarry Runner(s) – The person(s) responsible for creating the scent for the bloodhounds by running the designated pre planned hunt route .

Bloodhounds – A breed with an exceptionally strong sense of smell, used specifically for tracking humans (e.g., in search and rescue, policing, and clean-boot hunting).

Master of Bloodhounds (MBH) – The person responsible for the conduct of the clean-boot hunt.

Drag Hunting

Drag Hunting – A sport where riders on horse back pursue drag hounds who are following an artificial scent laid via a ‘drag’. Each route is predetermined and shared with the Hunstman and hunt staff.

Drag – The artificial scent itself (usually aniseed-based).

Drag Line – A single line or section of the artificial scent route laid for Draghounds to follow.

Drag Layer - The person who lays a drag line as a runner, from Quad or from Horse.

Draghounds – Hounds bred and trained specifically to follow strong artificial scents quickly and directly; usually faster and more forward-going than foxhounds.

Master of Drag Hounds (MDH) – The person responsible for organising the drag hunt, the route, and the conduct of the field and hounds.

Trail hunting

Trail Hunting – A practice in which a scent trail is laid for hounds to follow, intended to simulate traditional fox hunting.

Trail Layer – A person who lays the scent trail before the hunt begins, usually on foot or horseback.

Trail - The animal based scent line that is laid

Animal-Based Scent – Natural substances (e.g., fox urine) used to lay a trail that hounds will follow.

Master of foxhounds (MFH) - the Master of a trail hunt

Shared or General Terms Across All Hunting Types

Field – The group of mounted riders who follow behind the hounds during a hunt.

Field Master – The person responsible for leading and controlling the field of riders behind the hounds.

Huntsman – The individual who works directly with the hounds, directing them using horn and voice signals.

Whipper-In – Assistants to the huntsman who help manage the hounds and keep them together.

Meets – The designated place to meet at the start of the day.

Lines – The sections of scent (natural, artificial or human) that hounds follow.

Check – A moment when hounds lose the scent and must work to regain it.

Cast – When the huntsman directs hounds to search for the scent after a check. The Hounds may cast themselves.