Frequently Asked Questions About The Coakham Bloodhounds
Do the Coakham Bloodhounds hunt animals?
No we do not and have never hunted animals – ever since the hunt was set up in 1976 we have only ever hunted human runners, following just their natural scent.
What is “hunting the clean boot”?
Hunting the “clean boot” means that our hounds follow just the natural scent of the runners, there is no additional scent used as there is in drag hunting and trail hunting.
What happens when the hounds catch the runners?
The runners suffer nothing more than a good licking and the hounds get rewarded with plenty of biscuits!
What happens to your retired hounds?
We run a very successful rehoming scheme for our retired hounds, and also for the young hounds that may not be able to hunt for some reason. To ease the transition to pet homes, hounds
earmarked for rehoming are transferred to our Huntsman’s home where they can become accustomed to a more domestic life before the right home is found for them.
The Coakham Bloodhounds are one of the oldest Bloodhound packs in the UK, and they hunt over a wide area in Kent and Sussex. They hunt "the cleanboot" (ie the unadulterated human scent left by a man or woman running ahead of the pack). Hunting with a pack of bloodhounds is one of the least artificial method of hunting organised quarry, and, whereas a fox will run freely, a human quarry can make more effective use of the increasingly urbanised countryside. The hounds hunt by scent alone, unlike many other breeds of hounds that hunt by sight.
First Time Out?
Read our First Time Out Guide to help make your first hunt with the Coakham Bloodhounds both enjoyable and safe.
Print 