The Clean Boot Hunting Association
The Association that leads, not follows.
The Clean Boot Hunting Association (CBHA) was formed to promote and support hunts wanting to hunt the clean boot. Unlike other hunting associations it does not seek to be a 'governing body' however it will only recognise hunts that sign up to the CBHA's Format & Protocols that ensure the sport is carried out in an unequivocal, legal, humane and publicly verifiable manner.
The CBHA was the first association to publish their rules that ensure hunts do not operate in secret and in particular, rule number 4 is key to ensuring hunts don't just say they are hunting legally, but ensure hunts can be checked up on by anyone at any meet without prior notice. This rule is unique to the CBHA.
The CBHA was the first hunting association to have a public Facebook page where there are often lively discussions about hunting the clean boot. You don't have to be a member to join in the discussions from whatever your point of view, but abuse if not tolerated.
So what is Hunting the Clean Boot?
Hunting the Clean Boot is a hound sport that uses hounds to pursue human runners that neither wear nor drag any form of scent enhancement; the hounds are quite literally hunting the human scent.
Historically, as a sport this has been done mainly with one or two bloodhounds on leads starting anywhere between 1 and 24 hours behind a human runner purely for the enjoyment of the hound owner, but the sport developed before WWII into a sport similar to traditional foxhunting, but where a pack of bloodhounds were used to provide sport for horse riders following the hounds over natural countryside, following the runners, with no wildlife being involved.
This sport should not be confused with draghunting, which involves hounds hunting and artificial scent painted or sprayed onto the ground. Both sports can provide a great ride to follow, but hunting the clean boot has the bonus of being able to watch the hounds working out the scent of the runner/s.
The sport is now moving on and developing as breeds of hounds other than bloodhounds are being trained to hunt humans adding variety to the sport available not only for riders, but for people who want to hunt on foot as well.
The Northern Counties Foot Hounds are the first pack of hounds to hunt the clean boot on foot with mainly Basset and Basset cross hounds. Some followers like to run behind the hounds, while others like to be directed to a viewing point where they can see the runner/s and then watch the hounds. Watching these little hounds work out a line is truly fascinating.
