Draghunting vs foxhunting

[Sooty]

I was talking to someone the other day who used to hunt prior to the ban, and who has since started draghunting. To my surprise, she said it is much more fun, as with foxhunting there is a lot of standing around, while draghunting is much faster. This was not the reaction I expected, has anyone else experience of both types of hunting?

 

[Tilly06]

Yes a friend of mine found this to be the case too, she said it was a lot faster, as the trail has already been laid and so a lot of galloping etc! She said she enjoyed it but it was pretty hard going as your nearly always on the go x

 

[UKa]

not really on this forum but just saw this - I only know draghunting as fox hunting had been banned for long where I grew up and to me it certainly was great fun (not been on "real" hunt here so no comparison), I suspect what your friend says about the comparison could be true though;

 

[buckybee]

Our harrier pack used to hunt hares and foxes before the ban and now lay a trail (and cheat a bit sometimes!).

I don't think you can ever beet a really good days fox/hare hunting, but I think we'd all admit there are some days which are pretty boring.

I think drag hunting is more consistent and you're guaranteed a good day (jumping/galloping around-wise). Although it is a bit more predictable. Depends what you are into I suppose, but I think its more fun from a riding point of view.

 

[wurzel]

But not happening on my fields unless Foxes are killed.

 

[druid]

Yep, I switch between both as one local pack drag (although we are offically a harrier pack) and one fox hunt.

Dragging - not for the faint hearted, more injuries (horse/human), faster paced, bigger fences/ditches/hedges. Guaranteed run each time out. Limited country... farmers don't want you on there unless you're carrying out a service.

Fox - "easier" in that there's almost always an opt out gateway for the trot-alongs (Not so dragging). Lots of standing around but far more country to cover.

 

[buckybee]

We've not really had that prob from any of our farmers, but we never really killed many foxes to begin with so thats probably why..

If anything its opened up more country cos we can go nearer to main roads.

 

[Sooty]

That is the big snag, and I was wondering how it worked. Unless drag hunts can take enough money to offer conservation services to a farmer, there is really little incentive for anyone to allow a drag hunt on their land.

 

[flying_change]

TBH, not really a surprise. Very often when us antis suggested that hunters could go draghunting, we often got the reply that the pace was too fast.

Which always struck me as silly... as it's a 'designed' event, you can make it go as fast or as slow as you like, have big fences, or small fences, or no fences.

RS

 

[Tempi]

ive done both, drag hunting is definately a lot faster as there isnt much hanging around. but, i loved real hunting as part of it was the standing around, having a fag and a swig from your hipflask!! Spent many a chilly day ontop of a hill chatting away to mates whilst waiting around out hunting.

 

[flying_change]

I fail to see why it's so difficult to arrange a draghunting day so that you can stop for a fag / swig once in a while.

RS

 

[severnmiles]

Its a bit like comparing fillet steak to rump steak, its just not the same F_C!

 

[buckybee]

It is possible and they do have fag breaks, just not quite so often, I suppose there doesn't seem much point in standing on the top of a hill for half an hour just for the sake of it.

They are quite different though and some people will prefer one and some the other - maybe like the difference between rugby league and rugby union (not sure what that is but sure there is one!).

 

[Shoveller]

From what I have seen of packs hunting trails post ban, the biggest problem isn't where you take it, or how far you go, but the fact that it is all or nothing. At the hound trailing in Surrey last Sunday, I was struck by how the hounds just ran along the line at full speed, many of them not even speaking.

To me this has no real appeal, I would much rather see the hounds in full cry and having to work the line slowly at times. To the best of my knowledge, no one has yet managed to devise a way of making the trail have slow bits in it, and of course it is not unpredictable.

 

[druid]

You'd need several trails as the hounds will not check off a strong scent eaisly (as a continuous drag scent usually is..)

 

[RunToEarth]

Well im in the same pack as buckybee and dragging is different to "proper" hunting. We never were big on foxes being a harrier pack but this season has certainly been a lot faster. Farmers have been great with the change and we do have a lot more choice now.

 

[flying_change]

So set several trails with breaks in them, or some weaker trails.

 

[Hercules]

''So set several trails with breaks in them, or some weaker trails.''

Alternatively, continue hunting in the traditional fashion whilst following a duster.

 

[Ereiam_jh]

"So set several trails with breaks in them, or some weaker trails. "

How do the dogs/huntsmen know which is the false trail and which is the real one?

Does it matter?

 

[wurzel]

Main roads ?!!!

I take it you don't hunt when its wet ?

 

[buckybee]

Yes - I'm not talking the A1! The houds are taking to it pretty well, come and see them doing there work if you want to disagree?

 

[wurzel]

I am only interested in Foxes and Deer being killed so I will have to decline.

 

[buckybee]

Don't really understand what your problem is??

I'm a pro, but proper hunting is not possible in our country (was getting hard before the ban anyway - cos of our country)

I think i know your kind - have to kill kill kill - met a few in my time, mainly ugly huntsman (mentioning no names AG!)!!

don't like that atitude, old fashioned IMO. Giving us a bad name.

 

[druid]

RS...the trail is laid by a rag carried on a rope at about hock height to the horse...it doesn't touch the ground. So how do you make a weaker trail? Or several different ones? The scent will be there no matter where you go/how you carry the rag....

 

[flying_change]

I'm stunned to think that you feel that these things are not possible. Get your imagination working ! [he said in a friendly way]

1) more riders setting the trail.

2) weaken whatever mix the cloth is soaked in.

 

[Hercules]

Alternatively, you could continue hunting foxes in the traditional manner whilst 'following' a trail. The police don't know the difference, the Huntwatch reptiles don't know the difference, the majority of the field don't know the difference.

Everyone wins except LACS.

 

[wurzel]

My problem is i don't want loads of horse churning up my fields unless they kill foxes.

Simple.

And I don't think you DO know my kind.

 

[Ereiam_jh]

Is it actually illegal for the hounds to follow a wild mammals trail? It doesn't say that in the act.

My woods full of deer paths, is it illegal for my dogs to follow them. They generally do and so do I because it's the easiest way through the undergrowth.

Can they follow the path but not the scent? Or can they sniff the ground while they follow the path?

How am I meant to stop my dogs searching for animals?

Is it cruel?

 

[sorona]

I never hunted pre ban so i only know drag hunting and as i hunt int he new forest it is pretty unique as you are not on farm land but on open heath and inclosures. Dragging is incredibly fast and there have apparently been far more accidents and injures since the change. There is certainly less time to get cold but there are ways of making the hunt slower by by having shorter runs, having more of them and using slower dogs I guess otherwise how can they aim the days towards children, oaps and newcomers?! A friend has jsut statted trail laying and is loving it, she loves hearing the hounds speak as they are making ground, she says it is a huge buzz, trying to watch where she is going, making sure the trail is set properly and not crossing and making sure the hounds are not so close they are hunting the horses down and not the scent. Sounds great fun to me, however I'll stick very clsoe behind the master, that is enough excitement for me on a day dragging