Hunting the Clean Boot
Hunting the Clean Boot generally uses packs of blood hounds who follow a natural human scent trail.
The 'clean boot' refers to the absence of either an artificial scent such, such as aniseed or the scent of a live quarry as used in fox hunting. Usually, bloodhound packs are used but other breeds of dog can be taught the skill individually with varying degrees of success. Clean boot hunts have a field of mounted riders following a pack of bloodhounds which trails the scent of runner.
It doesn’t involve the hunting of live animals and was not affected by the hunting act.
There are two ways to lay a scent. Firstly, Bloodhounds have an amazing ability to follow a scent and will simply track a human - this is known as ‘hunting the clean boot’. Secondly, a runner is used to lay a scent about 20 minutes in advance of the hunt. A chemical crystal, mixed with water and oil is used. The runner simply dips a cloth in the scent mixture and drags it along the ground behind them. Animal scents are never used. the hounds are trained on artificial scent and this prevents the 'accidents' so frequently suffered by 'trail hunters' from chasing foxes or deer should they cross the hounds path.
