CHAPTER 8

DRAG AND BLOODHOUND HUNTING

8.1       Drag and bloodhound hunting have come to assume an important position in the debate about the future of hunting.  At one extreme, it has been argued that they provide a ready-made replacement for hunting live quarry and that it would be a simple matter for hunters, followers, hounds and horses to switch from one activity to the other.  Indeed, it is often added that those riders who presently dislike hunting would be attracted to drag and bloodhound hunting if they became more widely available.  At the other extreme, it has been frequently argued that drag and bloodhound hunting are completely different from hunting live quarry; that they are artificial and hold very little attraction for most of those who presently go hunting; and that very few would take up these sports even if hunting was banned.

8.2       We thought it was important that we should try to reach some view about where the truth lies between these two extremes since it is critical to judgements about the impact of a ban on hunting on such matters as employment and the social and cultural activities which are presently linked with hunting.  In order to help us establish the facts, we commissioned research from Royal Agricultural College Enterprise (RACE), which looked at drag and bloodhound hunting and its potential to replace live quarry hunting.¹

8.3       In this chapter we also discuss briefly the development of drag coursing, which to some extent simulates hare coursing.

Background

Draghunting

8.4       Draghunting originally developed in this country as a means of testing the speed and ability of hounds by laying a trail over a specified distance.  This, in turn, encouraged the practice of following the hounds on horseback.²

8.5       During the second half of the nineteenth century draghunting became popular in its own right and was actively encouraged by the army.^{3 4}  There are still two surviving "military packs".

8.6       There was a decline in the number of draghunt packs in the early 20^th century, with only six packs recorded in 1957.⁵  But the numbers have risen gradually to sixteen (including three provisionally registered packs), twelve of which have been formed in the last 30 years.⁶

8.7       The scent used, and the way in which it is laid, have varied over the years and are still subject to experimentation.  Historically, it was often the droppings and bed of a fox, flavoured with aniseed.  Nowadays, the drag is typically some absorbent material soaked in human or animal urine and aniseed, but chemicals are also used.^{7 8}  The drag is usually trailed in a bag by a "dragman" or "line layer", either on foot or on a horse, although one pack has tried attaching the scent to the horse itself.

8.8       The "dragman" or "line layer" will set off about half an hour or so ahead of the hunt and will typically lay a line of two to three miles⁹.  The hounds - usually at least 15 foxhounds¹⁰ - will be taken to the area where the line begins.  Once they find the scent, they will pursue it with the mounted field following on behind.  After a rest of some fifteen minutes or so another line will be laid and the process repeated.  Normally, three to five lines are laid in a day.  Because there is no long period of casting around for a scent or drawing a covert for live quarry, draghunts do not usually last more than a couple of hours.¹¹

8.9       The lines laid will normally be predetermined, taking account of the landowner's wishes, and will usually take in a variety of natural obstacles and purpose-built jumps.  The field, however, will not necessarily know the proposed lines.¹²  Greater variety over the line is possible in open country.¹³

8.10     Many draghunt packs operate over enclosed grassland but some operate on hill, forest and open commons.¹⁴   The packs have much larger areas registered to them than foxhound/harrier packs, typically covering five or six foxhound countries.¹⁵  The hunts meet, on average, 24 times each season.¹⁶  This compares with about 50 meets for the average foxhound/harrier pack, excluding autumn/cub hunting.

Bloodhound hunting

8.11     The bloodhound is a dog which has been specially bred for its exceptional scenting ability, in particular its ability to hunt the natural scent of a human being.¹⁷  There are only some 320 hunting bloodhounds in the UK,¹⁸ all of which are bred by the packs themselves.

8.12     The sport was developed in the late 19^th Century with the first Bloodhound Trials being held in 1898.¹⁹  There are now thirteen packs in England and Wales, all of which have been formed since 1970.²⁰

8.13     In the case of a bloodhound pack the hounds follow the scent of a runner ("the clean boot").  The way in which the event is organised is virtually identical to a draghunt, with the runner setting off ahead of the hunt in order to lay a trail.²¹  The hunt, though, is usually slower and less ground is covered.

8.14     Some bloodhound packs hunt mainly on grassland but others, especially in the east of the country, hunt chiefly on arable land.²²

Similarities and differences

8.15     We found that the research undertaken by RACE helped to draw out some of the differences between drag and bloodhound hunting - which are relevant in considering the extent to which either or both might serve as substitutes, or replacements, for live quarry hunting.  As RACE pointed out, the two have tended to be viewed as much the same activity²³ - a view which is reinforced by the fact that the MDBA acts as the governing body for both sports.  In particular, it seems clear that there is much greater emphasis in the case of bloodhound hunting on "hound work" (or venery), whilst in the case of the draghunts there tends to be more emphasis on riding and jumping, although several draghunts have few, or even no, jumps.

Extent to which drag and bloodhound hunting might replace live quarry hunting

8.16     Having noted the differences between draghunting and bloodhound hunting, it is nevertheless sensible to consider them jointly, for the most part, in discussing the key issue of whether they would serve as a satisfactory replacement for live quarry hunting.  This is because many of the main considerations, such as the availability of suitable land, apply to both sports.

8.17     It is clear from the RACE research that much of the previous discussion of this issue has been based on inadequate analysis of some of the key issues, such as the differences in the respective appeal of the sports and their potential for expansion.

Appeal

8.18     We have already noted that it has often been said that drag and bloodhound hunting offer little attraction to present participants in hunting and that relatively few people would switch to them.²⁴  Some support for this comes from some earlier research in which only 14% of respondents with first-hand experience thought that they would take up draghunting following a ban.²⁵

8.19     As part of its research into this issue, RACE looked at the profile of a sample of those who presently take part in the respective activities in order to see whether there were any significant differences.  Their main findings were that:

• there was a substantial overlap between the two groups.  Most respondents had very wide experience of hunting: very few had experienced only one activity or the other²⁶.  But, while many followers of the draghunt or bloodhound packs had been out recently with the foxhounds/harriers, the converse was not usually true²⁷
• in two areas a higher proportion of those taking part in draghunting or bloodhound hunting was female.  It appears that this was related to the fact that these packs were relatively recently established: there was little difference in the area in which the draghunt pack was well established²⁸
• draghunting participants tended to be younger.²⁹  (According to a 1999 BETA survey, live quarry hunting has a greater percentage of mature riders than other equestrian activities.)³⁰
• relatively large numbers of drag and bloodhound hunting participants worked professionally with horses³¹  and they came from households where the average numbers of horses kept was high - over five horses each - and with a greater proportion of ridden, rather than hunting, horses³²
• there were twice as many farmers amongst the foxhunter and harrier participants as there were in the drag and bloodhound group³³
• generally speaking, the drag and bloodhound hunting participants hunted on fewer days, but this may be due to the fact that these hunts meet on fewer occasions and that participants would usually have to travel longer distances.³⁴

8.20     Whilst these findings suggest that there are some differences in the profile of those who engage in the different types of hunting, they do not indicate that participants fall into discrete categories.³⁵  Indeed, the key finding is perhaps the substantial overlap in participation.

8.21     What also seems clear is that neither drag or bloodhound hunting would serve as a natural replacement activity for those who presently go out hunting on foot, for example those who follow the fell packs or beagles.

8.22     The RACE research suggests that, not surprisingly, there are a number of similarities in the things which people particularly enjoy when they go out foxhunting or drag or bloodhound hunting.  Riding across country - often country to which people could not normally have access - ranks very highly for all these activities.  The opportunity to meet friends is also highly prized, although the pattern of the day allows less time for this in the case of drag or bloodhound hunting³⁶.  There are also, however, some significant differences:

• watching the hounds work is rated much less important in the case of those who ride to draghounds
• conversely, the latter particularly enjoy challenging jumps
• the unpredictability of the day is particularly important to those who follow the foxhounds, but rated least important to those who go draghunting³⁷
• both draghunting and bloodhound hunting seem to offer fewer attractions for car and foot followers.  Those who do watch tend to be friends and relatives, who position themselves at strategic points, usually to watch the jumping.

8.23     We have already noted that drag (and bloodhound) hunts generally last no more than a couple of hours, and there is some evidence that these activities particularly appeal to those who do not want - or have not got the time - to give up a whole day to the sport.

8.24     There is a danger in over-simplifying these findings, since there is considerable variation in each of the activities.  In particular, the balance between hound work and equestrian interests, in the case of drag and bloodhound hunting, will often reflect the wishes of the Master and his or her background.  But what this analysis suggests is that, at least as they are presently organised in this country, draghunting particularly appeals to those who want to take part in some fairly concentrated and testing jumping; bloodhound hunting has greater appeal than draghunting for those with an interest in hound work; and foxhunting particularly appeals to those who like the unpredictability of hunting live quarry and the fact that it is suitable for people of widely different horseriding abilities. As one person put it to us, "one of the joys of foxhunting is its uncertainty and variability.”³⁸

8.25     We now turn to the more difficult issue of whether it is possible to address satisfactorily any of the features which might discourage people from switching from hunting live quarry to drag or bloodhound hunting.

8.26     It is clear to us that draghunting does not have to be - as it is sometimes portrayed - "fast and furious" jumping, suitable only for would-be steeplechasers.  As we have noted, there are already draghunts which have no, or few, jumps and it is common for other hunts to provide alternative, easier, jumps or "byes".  Draghunting - and bloodhound hunting - are suitable in principle, therefore, for riders of all abilities, although some terrain will clearly be better suited to different levels of skill.  Nonetheless, it is the case that there is a greater emphasis in draghunting on riding, and jumping, expertise.

8.27     Making draghunting or bloodhound hunting less "predictable" is more problematic.  In part, this turns on the ability to introduce some of the vagaries (and fascination) associated with hound work in foxhunting.  This depends crucially on the ability to simulate satisfactorily the way in which a fox gives off scent and the way that scent subsequently "lies". It seems that there is, in practice, a correlation between the greater strength of the artificial scent in draghunting and the "predictability" of the day.  It is fair to say that there is still a great deal of mystery about the manner in which animal scent is produced and how it interacts with land and air temperatures and the prevailing weather conditions³⁹.  What is clear, though, is that it is not possible to lay a trail artificially which simulates fully the subtlety and complexity of the scent left by a fox as it moves through the countryside.  A practical illustration of this is the fact that, when hounds come across the scent of a fox, they can usually tell quickly in which direction it is moving, whereas draghounds cannot do this in the case of the "dragman" or "line layer".⁴⁰

8.28     It is not possible at present, therefore, to simulate fully the hound work which occurs in foxhunting or hare hunting. A consequence of this is that the hounds tend to be more mute.⁴¹ There is less of the "hound music" which hunting enthusiasts have often cited as one of the joys of hunting.  There are, however, ways in which the hound work - and therefore the experience of the mounted field and followers - can be made a little more varied.  These include:

• lifting the line - the drag can be "lifted" to simulate the casting around that occurs when a foxhound pack temporarily loses the scent of a fox
• "a floating line" - as already noted, in more open country it is possible to have greater uncertainty about where the line begins, so that more hound work is required to discover it
• doubling back, running on stone walls etc. - the person laying the drag can mimic some of the actions the foxes sometimes take when being pursued by foxhounds.

8.29     It seems clear, however, from the discussion which took place at our seminar that, while all of these can be tried, and indeed are already practised by some drag and bloodhound hunts, they cannot simulate very closely the subtlety, complexity and unpredictability of the scent left by a live animal quarry.  This no doubt explains too why, although attempts have been made here and in other countries to "slow down" drag and bloodhound hunts, they have met with limited success.  Drag and bloodhound hunts simply do not have the same "rhythm" as a typical foxhunt.  On our visit to a German draghunt, for example, we were told that it had been their aim, for several seasons to reduce the pace of the day but they had not been able to do so.

8.30     The difficulties over scenting and the relative speed and predictability of the day may explain why there has not been a dramatic increase in the popularity of draghunting in Germany.  Indeed, we were told at our seminar that the UK, even with its relatively small number of packs, is probably one of the leading countries in the draghunting world.⁴²

8.31     We also recognise the force of the argument put to us that, while people may be perfectly happy to "stand around" during a foxhunt as the hounds try to pick up again the scent of the fox, they would not wish to do so if there was no underlying reason: expecting people to wait around simply in order to slow down the pace of the day is not likely to be popular.

8.32     It also needs to be borne in mind, though, that not everyone would welcome introducing a greater amount of unpredictability into the day.  Those who are looking for a quick exhilarating ride might not enjoy the longueurs often associated with foxhunting.

Availability of suitable land

8.33     A key issue in assessing the potential of drag and bloodhound hunting is whether there would be sufficient suitable land available.  On the face of it, there ought to be ample opportunity, in the event of a ban on hunting, to expand since foxhound packs currently hunt some 61% of the land in England and Wales.  Moreover, because of the greater predictability of drag and bloodhound hunting, they can take place in areas which would be unsafe for foxhound or harrier packs, for example near motorways and railways.  But the answer is far from clear cut.  It turns crucially on the nature of the land required - its type, size, ease of access - and even more critically on whether farmers and landowners would be willing to make it available.  Turning first to the type of land required, we have already noted that drag and bloodhound hunting can take place in very different types of countryside.  There is no reason in principle why they should be any more restricted in this respect than any of the existing mounted live quarry packs.

8.34     An important limitation, however, is the amount and type of land required for laying lines.  Again, on the face of it, this might not appear to be a problem since the lines can be planned in advance and because, unlike in the case of the foxhound packs, they can be laid nearer railways and roads, although there is still the risk that the hounds may go astray by, for example, following the scent of a deer.  But there are the following difficulties:

• because the participants have essentially come out to ride over a pre-planned course, they would not be content with the kind of intermittent to-ing and fro-ing that can often occur in a foxhunt where, for example, the riders may go back and forwards between two coverts.  Nor would they want to be taken on roads or lanes if this could be avoided.  They are also more likely to want to ride over different courses rather than following the same course on a number of occasions each season
• similarly, because the ride is usually continuous, a lot of ground is covered in a short time
• because the scent of the drag or human runner does not have the same qualities as that of a fox, it is not possible to lay lines very close together, to "double back" or to run them across each other (except perhaps at right angles).

8.35     Taken together, these limitations mean that drag and bloodhound hunts tend to need long, fairly straight lines, which will usually mean having to cross land belonging to a number of farmers, all of whom will have to give their consent.

8.36     Another practical difficulty is that, in some areas, the drag and bloodhound hunts rely heavily on foxhound packs to erect and maintain jumps.  If this voluntary labour disappeared, the drag and bloodhound hunts might have difficulty in providing sufficient jumps in some areas.

8.37     Ease of access is also an important factor.  The lines need to begin and end in places which can be reached by participants and followers.

8.38     We now turn to the question of whether, assuming sufficient suitable land was available, farmers would be willing to allow it to be used for draghunting or bloodhound hunting in the event of a ban.  The evidence submitted to us by the MDBA⁴³ indicated that their members currently have great difficulty in opening up new country.  The RACE research surveyed a number of farmers in different areas in an attempt to establish whether there were differences in their attitudes to allowing the various types of hunting on to their land and, if so, why.  Although the findings need to be treated with some caution, the research suggested that:

• farmers with arable farms are much more likely to allow access to the foxhounds/harrier packs than to drag or bloodhound packs⁴⁴
• the most frequent single reason farmers give to explain why they do not, or might not, allow access for drag or bloodhound packs was that the packs did not kill foxes⁴⁵
• the answers were not related to farm size or owner/occupier or tenant status.⁴⁶

8.39     A suggestion that has often been made is that farmers would be more willing to allow access to drag or bloodhound packs if they were able to charge.⁴⁷  The survey of foxhounds/harrier and drag/bloodhound participants carried out by RACE⁴⁸ indicated that the majority agreed that it would be acceptable in principle for farmers to do this, although it is impossible to say how acceptable the participants would actually find this in practice.  As far as farmers are concerned, the RACE survey⁴⁹ suggests that a substantial proportion of those who do not, or would not, allow drag/bloodhound hunting would reconsider their position if offered a direct payment.

8.40     We are doubtful about the practicability of a payment system.  There might be some instances in which it would work satisfactorily.  It seems more likely, however, that it would be difficult to devise and operate a system that would apply equitably amongst a substantial number of farmers, the use of whose land might vary considerably; and that any sums which would be large enough from the farmers' point of view would increase considerably the cost to participants.

Costs

8.41     Apart from the additional cost involved if farmers had to be paid, drag hunts would no longer benefit, in the event of a ban on hunting, from being able to kennel their hounds with the local foxhound pack, as several do at present.  It is conceivable, therefore, that a ban on hunting might put at risk the viability of a number of existing draghunts.

Suitability of horses/riders

8.42     It has been argued that, because of the more testing nature of bloodhound and, especially, draghound hunting, many of the horses currently used for foxhunting would be unsuitable.⁵⁰  Similarly, many of the riders would not be accomplished enough to cope with the amount of jumping usually involved.  We think that there is some force in this argument, although, as we have noted, drag and bloodhound hunting can be more varied than is sometimes suggested.

8.43     It is clear, as we have said at the beginning of this chapter, that much of the previous debate about the viability of drag and bloodhound hunting has been motivated more by their apparent usefulness as a means of attacking or defending hunting than by any objective assessment of these sports.  The RACE research, together with other evidence we have received, has been helpful in throwing light on many of these issues.  Nevertheless, any conclusions are bound to be tentative since they involve trying to predict what a number of different players - participants and would-be participants, farmers and others - would do in a hypothetical situation.  It was put to us, for example, that there would be a reaction against drag and bloodhound hunting in the event of a ban on live quarry hunting.  Indeed, it was said that the publicity given to drag and bloodhound hunting in the context of a ban had already led to some resistance by farmers and others.  The circumstances in which a ban was introduced might also affect attitudes.  No doubt many farmers' attitudes would harden if there was a bitter campaign against a ban.  On the other hand, a period for adaptation might make it easier for foxhound/harrier packs to transform themselves into draghound packs if they chose to do so or for others to take over at least some of the hounds and kennels for this purpose.

8.44     Drag and bloodhound hunting are different from live quarry hunting.  In particular, they involve the laying of a man-made trail.  They lack the unpredictability and, consequently, some of the interest associated with a live quarry.  The hound work, especially in the case of the draghounds, is less subtle and complex.

8.45     There would be greater incentive, in the event of a ban, to expand the number of drag and bloodhound packs and the level of participation in both sports.  Because bloodhounds are in short supply, and are not easy to breed, any growth in the short term would mainly come from using foxhounds for draghunting.  The scope for expansion is impossible to predict with any accuracy at present because the existence of hunting as a complementary activity means that there has been little motivation in practice to develop the sports.  The popularity of horse riding, however, suggests that greater efforts would be made to develop substitute activities in the event of a ban on hunting.  The kinds of opportunities that drag and bloodhound hunting already offer in some areas might be expanded.  There is some scope for adjusting the level of skill required in drag and bloodhound hunting to riders of different ability levels.  There is also possible scope for developing other forms of cross country riding, possibly on a fee-paying basis.

8.46     Some of the evidence we received suggested that there would be considerable reluctance on the part of farmers to make available sufficient, suitable contiguous land and that this could considerably limit the growth of these sports.  It is questionable whether the possibility of making payments to farmers would overcome these difficulties.  A payment system would not be easy to devise and operate and would be likely to increase significantly participants' costs.

8.47     A few of those who presently take part in live quarry hunting already go drag or bloodhound hunting as well.  In the event of a ban, some more would take up one or other of these sports.  And, no doubt, if more diverse types of draghunting were developed, some new recruits would come from those who do not presently hunt live quarry.  But others would either not give these sports a try or would not persevere with them.  In particular, they offer little attraction to non-mounted participants and followers.  Evidence from elsewhere, in particular Germany, suggests that draghunting and bloodhound hunting would not change materially or experience a major upsurge in popularity.  Instead it would be simply one - and not necessarily the most important - of a number of equestrian activities to which participants in mounted hunting might turn in the event of a ban.

8.48     Drag coursing is a relatively recent development in this country, although it is popular in Australia (where live hare coursing is banned) and also takes place in some other countries, including Germany and Finland.  There are believed to be four clubs currently operating in England and Wales, all based in the West Country, where there are generally fewer hares than in the East of England.

8.49     The sport takes the form of a race between two dogs (generally greyhounds, lurchers or whippets), as part of a knock-out competition.  The dogs chase a drag resembling a hare, which is pulled by a cable.  (In the example we saw the cable was attached to the wheel of a motor car, which had been jacked-up off the ground: the speed of the engine was increased as necessary by the "driver" in order to keep the drag just far enough ahead of the dogs).

8.50     The dogs race a course of at least 350 yds and the first past the post is the winner.  Apart from the obvious fact that no live quarry is involved, the main difference between drag and live coursing is that the former is usually a straight race to the finishing line.  Although the drag can bounce from side to side as it hits rougher ground, the action does not simulate the jinking and twisting of a hare.  Nor, therefore, does it test the skill and agility of a dog in "turning" a hare.  But there seems to be some evidence that some dogs at least find it more interesting than conventional racing on a greyhound track.

8.51     Drag coursing is at present fairly rudimentary in this country but it could no doubt be developed considerably, as has clearly happened in some other countries.

8.52     In the event of a ban on live hare coursing, drag coursing might have some appeal, especially to those owners of greyhounds who are essentially interested in racing their dogs.  It would have less appeal for those people who particularly enjoy the contest between the hare and the dog.

8.53     It is unlikely that either drag and bloodhound hunting or drag coursing would of themselves mitigate to any substantial extent any adverse effects on the rural economy or the social life of the countryside arising from a ban on hunting.

² MDBA1, 4

³ RACE, 2.2

⁴ MDBA1, 4

⁵ RACE, 2.2

⁶ Ibid, 2.2

⁷ Ibid, 2.1

⁸ MDBA1, 5

⁹ Ibid, 5

¹⁰ RACE, 5.1

¹¹ Ibid,Table 5.2

¹² Ibid, 5.3.3

¹³ RACE, 2.1

¹⁴ MDBA1, 5, 6

¹⁵ Ibid, 10

¹⁶ Ibid, 10

¹⁷ Ibid, 5

¹⁸ Ibid, 1.9

¹⁹ Association of Bloodhound Breeders 2,1

²⁰ RACE iii, 13

²¹ MDBA1, 5

²² Ibid, 5

²³ RACE, 10.1

²⁴ CA1, 32

²⁵ RACE, 2.4.3

²⁶ Ibid, 4.1.5

²⁷ Ibid, 4.1.5

²⁸ Ibid, 4.1.1

²⁹ Ibid, 4.1.2

³⁰ BETA, 7.03 (NES Chart 22b)

³¹ RACE, 4.1.4

³² Ibid, 4.2.1

³³ Ibid, 4.1.4

³⁴ Ibid, 4.1.5

³⁵ Ibid, 10.4

³⁶ Ibid, 7.2

³⁷ Ibid, 7.2

³⁸ Mr J A Cunningham

³⁹ RACE, 9.1–9.2

⁴⁰ Ibid, 9.2.3

⁴¹ MDBA1, 5

⁴² Seminar, 28 April 2000, Session 1

⁴³ MDBA1, 10

⁴⁴ RACE, 6.2.1

⁴⁵ Ibid, 6.3.1

⁴⁶ Ibid,6.2.4,6.2.3

⁴⁷ RSPCA1, 14

⁴⁸ RACE,7.3.4

⁴⁹ Ibid, 8.3

⁵⁰ MDBA1, 11–22

We welcome your comments on this site. Prepared 12 June 2000