Since the inception of the Hunting Act 2004, many hunts wanting to retain their infrastructure as well as their hounds, members and activities, have been hunting within the law by changing their activities to Trail Hunting.

The aim of Trail Hunting is to simulate traditional hunting as practised before the Hunting Act came into force. During the Autumn and Winter months, packs of hounds and their followers (mounted and on foot) meet and go hunting - the general conduct of the day remains as it was prior to the Hunting Act and keeps the traditions and practises alive.

When Trail hunting, the huntsman sets off with the intention of finding and encouraging the hounds to hunt the laid trails using their noses. When the hounds find the scent and start to follow it, they will use their voices to produce a sound which is called “speaking”. This indicates to the huntsman and followers that the hounds have found a trail and are following it.

The hounds are encouraged and controlled by the Huntsman and Whipper In (helps the huntsman to control the hounds), in the same traditional methods of using the voice and the horn.