False scent

A false scent or false trail is an incorrect scent which may mislead an animal which hunts by smell, especially a hound. This may be the result of deliberate interference by a hunt saboteur or it may be a form of control by the master.[1] Aniseed, a red herring or the entrails of a rabbit are commonly used for this purpose.[2] The term "red herring" comes from this practice.

  1. ^ Michael Billett (1994), A history of English country sports, p. 22
  2. ^ "Pathfinder", Hugh Dalziel (2005), Breaking & Training Dogs, p. 162