New Forest hunting hounds follow the scent of human quarry

The New Forest Hounds have switched from foxhounds to bloodhounds and now practice "clean boot hunting", which avoids the use of artificial or animal-based scents.

Instead, the hounds sniff out the runners' sweat as they pursue them across the Forest throughout the season.

They are trained to ignore foxes or any other animals they encounter and instead focus solely on the human scent of Quarry Club members.

The New Forest Hounds have switched to clean boot hunting, which involves hounds pursuing human quarry. (Image: Paul Jacobs)

The group was founded by one of the hunt's joint masters, Will Day, after the New Forest Hounds stopped taking part in trail hunting.

Aged between 14 and 66, the runners notch up many miles during the five or six hunts held each time the enthusiasts turn out.

READ MORE: Government ministers are urged to end the 'smokescreen' of trail hunting

Will, 44, said: "We give the hounds our scent in the morning by giving them cuddles and generally making a fuss of them. That makes them think 'These are the guys we're going to be looking for'.

"They're given more cuddles at the actual meet before the runners are taken by car to the start point.

"At the end of the hunt we give them dog biscuits and congratulate them like you do with a pet dog.

"It's like nothing else you can imagine - you get this adrenaline buzz. There's something about it that makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. All the runners are super-keen to do it again."

The New Forest Hounds have switched to clean boot hunting, which involves hounds pursuing human quarry. (Image: Paul Jacobs)

Fox hunting was banned in England and Wales following the introduction of the Hunting Act 2004, which came into force a year later.

The New Forest Hounds and other hunts switched to trail hunting - but that too is set to be banned by the new Labour government.

Some hunts are said to have laid a trail of animal urine, usually fox.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said: "This government was elected on a mandate to introduce the most ambitious animal welfare plans in a generation and that is exactly what we will do.

"We are committed to a ban on trail hunting, which is being exploited as a smokescreen to cruelly kill foxes and hares."

The New Forest Hounds made the switch to clean boot hunting in 2022 after deciding to "move with the times".

The League Against Cruel Sports said: "The League supports clean boot hunting because no wildlife are killed and the hounds actually follow the trail."