Fox Hunting in Eastern Kentucky

s I vsS *~ Í?^^-N % fc k V &ntó S IL \ ? -^) *M — JlA Fox Hunting in Eastern Kentucky by Parley B. Flanery, Jr. Fox hunting in Eastern Kentucky is quite different from the sport of the same name as performed in Great Britain or New England where gentlemen and ladies don red coats and riding breeches, mount well-bred steeds and go chasing after scores of hounds in an early morning search of the elusive and cunning fox. There are no cries of "tallyho" in the East Kentucky version of the fox hunt, but the sport is just as entertaining and eventful to the mountaineer as it is to his counterpart in County Sussex. In contrast to the English version of the hunt, the Appalachian hunter wears denim overalls and high topped shoes, walks to the summit of a mountain ridge late at night and sits and listens while his hounds chase the fox. It is not certain how the fox hunt as performed in Eastern Kentucky and throughout Appalachia evolved into a spectator sport, or more accurately put—an auditor sport, but several obvious factors lend themselves well to this evolution. Generally speaking, the mountain man was not wealthy enough to afford a fencejumping riding horse, and even if he were, the mountainous terrain in his homeland would have prohibited an equine chase. Furthermore, the agrarian nature of his 47 vocation as herdsman and farmer left precious few daylight hours to devote to a non-productive pastime; the fox hunt, through necessity, was therefore converted into a nocturnal event. The height of the hunting season is in early spring, but a number of dedicated sportsmen report that they engage in fox hunting the year round. Only when temperatures are dangerously cold or extremely hot and arid do they refrain. Well bred foxhounds have the uncanny ability to track the scent of a fox under extreme climatic conditions which allows the avid fox hunter to enjoy his avocation during any season. ^ A typical hunt begins with a group of men and their eager, leashbound, Walker hounds traversing the rugged mountain ridges until they reach a suitable campsite. Then one hound, called the start dog, is unleashed. The start dog is usually older and more experienced in flushing out or "jumping" the fox. Once the start dog has located a fox and has begun the chase, the other hounds are released. * The resulting chorus of barks, yelps and howls are literally music to a fox hunter's ears. The primary enjoyment to a fox hunter during a hunt is listening to the hounds, with their distinctive voices, and trying to ascertain which dog is in the lead. Arguments sometimes ensue over whose dog is leading the chase and whose dog has gotten off the trail and has started running some other game. To accuse a proud fox hunter of having a dog that would run a rabbit at night means sure embarrassment and insult to the dog's owner. Unlike other hunting events, the intent of the fox hunt is merely to chase the animal, not to kill it. In fact, fox hunters are content to listen to a race for hours without ever actually seeing the fox. Even the dogs rarely see the animal; they rely on scent rather than sight in their chase. It is a sad occasion to a true fox hunter when the race termimates by the fox being killed, even though it means that his dogs have exhibited superior cunning and speed. It is generally accepted that the best breed of hound for fox hunting is the Walker, but other breeds such as the Black and Tan, the Bluetick, the July, the Trigg and even the Bloodhound have been used with varying degrees of success. á The Walker foxhound is a result of experimental crossbreeding conducted by the Walker family of Madison County, Kentucky. 4 The first Walker hound was registered in 1867. 5 Nearly all the favorable attributes necessary to please a demanding fox hunter are found in a Walker foxhound: a sensitive nose, stamina, speed, intelligence and a loud and entertaining voice. There are two species of foxes commonly found in Eastern Kentucky: the grey and the red...