Friday, Feb. 14, 2025

Hunting With The Rough Riders And Special Forces


With the Arapahoe Hunt snowed in for the longest period of time (more than nine weeks) in its nearly 100 years of history, we ventured south for hunting in southern Colorado and northern New Mexico.
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With the Arapahoe Hunt snowed in for the longest period of time (more than nine weeks) in its nearly 100 years of history, we ventured south for hunting in southern Colorado and northern New Mexico.

These parts were once home to the 1st United States Volunteer Cavalry, one of three volunteer cavalry regiments raised for the Spanish-American War and the only one of the three to see action in 1898. The original nickname for the regiment was “Wood’s Weary Walkers,” later becoming known as the “Rough Riders,” then “Roosevelt’s Rough Riders.”

Hunting coyotes in this desert home of the Rough Riders seemed fitting, since the word “coyote” was borrowed from Mexican Spanish, which itself borrowed the term from the Aztec word cóyotl, which may have meant “singing dog.”

We hunted with Caza Ladron (N.M.), Juan Tomás Hounds (N.M.), and the newly organized Fort Carson Hounds (Colo.). These hunts have some rough riding country, and a sure-footed horse is a necessity. When asked how this hunt country differed from our wide open rolling plains, I affectionately termed their members the “rough riders” as they stick to their saddles like glue through these often rocky, hilly countries.

On Feb. 24, we were graciously hosted by Caza Ladron. Guy McElvain, MFH, outfitted us with lovely, warmblood sport horses for us to hunt, as we met at the Buckman fixture under threats of snow in the forecast. The temperature warmed from a windy and cold 28 degrees to a nice 55-degree sunny, but windy day.

Professional kennelman Daniel Woods hunted 131⁄2 couple of American, English and crossbred hounds. Brian Gonzales, MFH, introduced us with a warm welcome and we were off into high desert mesas and river valleys thick with brush, cholla cactus and yucca.

Hounds worked several cold lines, taking us twisting and turning across arroyos and ditches. There are a few paneled fences, but barbed wire is not common at this fixture, so jumping is not often necessary. However, the drop banks and rocky hills at a gallop proved to be more than enough challenge, that even the most courageous of riders would find their adrenaline rush in a day. Don Gonzales provided a graceful lead and carried a bone-handled hunting whip, made from the wood of a cholla cactus, an appropriate choice for this rough country.

The next morning, we drove to the Diamond Tail Ranch, also just south of Santa Fe, to hunt with the Juan Tomás Hounds. Juan Tomás Hounds were established in 1970 and Helen Kruger, who has been an MFH there for nearly as many years, greeted us. Huntsman James A. Nance, jt.-MFH, graciously offered his personal horses and hosted our hunting.

I was given a very pretty 17-hand, gray Thoroughbred, aptly named the Gray Bomber, who was very sure-footed throughout the day and never winded by this rugged country. My wife, Rebecca, rode a “mountain horse” of Mrs. Nance’s, and this little roan knew the country on autopilot. This hunt is also a family affair, as James L. Nance led the field, with son Adren Nance and Mrs. James A. Nance whipping in.

The country consists of 25,000 acres bordering an Indian reservation. We hunted behind 10 couple of mixed foxhounds, including several that had lion-hunting breeding in their backgrounds, and one Plott hound. The country is wide-open high desert with varied terrain from rocky foothills to sandy brush-covered mesas, only a few man-made jumps but many “ditches” and banks.

You thank God for a sure-footed horse after three hours hunting in this country. One check included looking at Indian pottery shards and knives on the top of a ridgeline, which James L. Nance explained was an old Indian site. I could almost hear a coyote howling, wondering how long humans had heard their songs from this very ridge.

On March 4, we drove just south of Colorado Springs, Colo., to hunt with the relatively new Fort Carson Hounds. Gary Worrall, MFH, said that we would be hunting behind 10 couple of Walker hounds that were experts at following cold lines and known for their superb voice.

This description proved accurate as we hunted a portion of the 300,000 acres available at this Turkey Creek fixture. The hounds chased two coyotes, and the field had a nice view of one of them. Then, the field viewed two more coyotes as we exited the hunt country. This country features some of the sandy arroyos of the New Mexico fixtures, as well as wide-open pastures and galloping country.

Field Master CWO Doug Bell, who is active-duty U.S. Army Special Forces, led us. He carried a radio, not for purposes of keeping with hounds, but for informing the Army Range Control of our locations. At the opening of the meet, he warned the field not to become separated from the hunt, as live artillery firing was occurring on land adjacent to the hunt territory.

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As we put hounds into cover on a tank track, there was no need to repeat this command to any of the field. I am embarrassed to admit that our horses were out of training, as this was their first hunt in some nine weeks due to the snow cancellations at our country. After we were slow to arrive at a check, he suddenly appeared from nowhere, and we were politely encouraged to, “Please close the field,” which was said with a military feel of “closing the ranks.”

The hunt was concluded by a radio broadcast, “Range Control, this is Foxhunt, mission completed and exiting the range.” I doubt if another hunt can top the feeling that this type of radio broadcast leaves you with as you hack home.

Although many, if not most, of the members are civilians, the military feel of the hunt was unique, and one that surely left us feeling safe. The hunt breakfast featured German beer imported specially by the regiment and was located next door to the cavalry stables.

Mission Valley Hunt
17885 Nall St.,
Stilwell, Kansas 66085.
Established 1927.
Recognized 1930.

Tommy Jackson Finds Pot O’ Gold On St. Patrick’s Day
On March 17, Huntsman Tommy Jackson led the members of the Mission Valley Hunt on a merry chase, including a joyous run ending in a long view of a golden coyote—a St. Patrick’s Day surprise.

After several weeks of canceled hunts due to an icy winter, members arrived early at the Black River fixture in Miami County, Kansas, the southernmost fixture of the Mission Valley Hunt Club. The formal dress code was suspended slightly, to allow for “the wearin’ of the green,” and many members put their imaginations into their green attire.

The weather was perfect for hunting, cool and overcast, but not cold or wet. Twenty-seven riders, plus a staff of six whippers-in aiding Huntsman Jackson, headed off shortly after 10 a.m., moving west down the hill from the barn.

The hounds were walked to the far southwest corner of the fixture, in a fallow corn field. Blowing his horn to start the hunt, Jackson cast the hounds north through a wood that borders two farm fields. At the end of the wood, whipper-in Christine Bondank viewed a coyote running north ahead of the hounds. The huntsman and then the riders in the field viewed the golden coyote—let’s call him the pot o’ gold—just as he entered the next wooded area, with hounds in hot pursuit.

Jackson led the field east, to the lane at the edge of the farmed area, and then north on the lane bordering the wire fence that separates the fields from the wooded hills. After stopping several times to listen to the hounds as they ran the coyote north, Jackson quickly ran back to the west, and plunged into the woods to
follow—with the field following close behind.

No Wet Feet!

Hounds, huntsman and riders then went, in fits and starts, picking their way through the woods, with one hound and then another sounding a wail, finding a scent. But Jackson was relentless, encouraging, cajoling the hounds. Suddenly, the hounds found the line again, and ran due west, toward the river, toward the edge of the hunt country. If the quarry crossed that river, the run would be over.

But the pot o’gold inexplicably stopped at the river and turned to the south—perhaps fear of wetting his paws surpassed his need to survive. In any event, with hounds and horses in close pursuit, the coyote ran south along the edge of the river. For more than a mile of perfect galloping with perfect footing, Irish eyes were smiling, watching and listening to a perfect pack do its job. As the field approached the southwest corner of the field, again about ready to run out of real estate, the golden coyote popped out of the woods and ran east, directly in front of a laughing, happy field.

But that did not end the fun or the run. The hounds followed the coyote as he ran east, and back into the woods, essentially a full circle from where the run began nearly 40 minutes before. This time, the pack ran across the lane, and up the hill into the woods.

Jackson followed into the woods, while Fieldmaster Sandy Longan led the field around the edge, to the north. Stopping the field to listen for Jackson’s horn, the field saw a different coyote strolling east out of the woods and away from Jackson and the hounds. The “golden” quarry obviously outran the hounds too, to run another day.

The field ran north, all the way to the State Lake at the north edge of the fixture, and then worked its way back to Jackson and the hounds. Several more runs followed, and, after three hours, the hounds worked their way back to the trailers and a well-deserved rest. At the end of the beautiful day, the riders thanked and congratulated the huntsman for a golden hunt. All hands agreed, it was a “lucky” day.

Another Great Day

When March blew in like a lion but with warmer temperatures, Mission Valley Hunt staff, members and hounds were happy to be out. And the coyotes seemed to be celebrating our return as well, showing us some good runs.

March 21, the first day of spring, found a balmy day with good footing but with a stiff southerly Kansas wind that did not bode well for scenting. As the field left the kennels, the hounds happily searched for pockets of scent, which were plentiful. However, as the trail led out into open fields, the wind erased the sign, but the pack soldiered on, working every cover and speaking occasionally to a lingering trace.
After traversing Fin and Feather from east to west, the field stood atop a gentle hill on the far side of the Lost Eighty, listening to houndwork along the small creek to our right.

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Sharp-eyed Fieldmaster Longan first spied a racing coyote 100 yards ahead, sprinting south toward Knoche’s. The hounds followed in a matter of seconds, with Firefly in the lead. Longan led the field over the coop and into Knoche’s pasture. Midway through the pasture, the coyote swung left and headed east with the pack strung out behind like a kite with a long tail.

As he entered Fin and Feather near its southern edge, the coyote turned left once again, heading north now, in and out of varied cover followed by hounds, huntsman and field. The field reached the northern boundary of Fin and Feather and raced down the wooded hill, across the creek and into the fields of the Red Barn.

The coyote stayed along the creek where only hounds could go, so the dwindling field pounded out onto 287th Street and headed west. After crossing the wooden bridge, the field—down to an intrepid five—took a quick dogleg turn into a large fallow soybean field and raced diagonally across to the creek crossing at Hammond’s in time to view the continuing chase still headed west toward Knight’s.

Shortly after, the hardy coyote turned south again, taking the hardy followers back through the Lost Eighty and across the same coop they’d jumped at the start of this run. The pack was still on and the leaders had changed several times, but it was the veteran Goober who showed the way at the end until Jackson called them off.

For a day that had not promised anything exciting due to the high winds, all participants experienced a classic coyote chase that included a huge circle and had been treated to a view of equally classic hound work. All hounds came in, as did all field members who had dropped out during the fast and furious chase, and they hacked to the kennels, grinning about this celebration of spring and foxhunting.
   
Nick Badgerow & An Old Foxhunter

Bear Creek Hounds
1539 Bear Creek Rd.,
Moreland, Georgia 30259.
Established 2001.
Registered 2003.


Bear Creek Hounds Hosts First Junior Hunt

An impressive field of 33 junior riders attended the Bear Creek Hounds inaugural junior hunt on March 4.
The riders had been to Bear Creek two weeks previously to attend a seminar about foxhunting, its traditions, protocols and safety considerations. The seminar included a tour of the hunt barn and kennels as well as walking out on horseback with the hounds and staff.

The meet was held on the 1,200-acre Bear Creek Farm, home of Hal and Linda Barry. MFH Hal owns the hounds, and they are kenneled on the farm in a new facility that can house up to 150 hounds. The terrain is mainly wooded with some open land that makes for good viewing as well as providing a solid habitat for fox, coyote and bobcat, all of which are acceptable game.

Interested parents crowded onto two tally-ho wagons and watched with anticipation as the large field left the meet. In all, there were close to 50 horses and 50 foot followers, including new and experienced
foxhunters from many different walks of life.

The huntsman drew a pack of 18 couple, and the whole field was invited to pose for photos with the hounds and staff before moving off. Three flights of riders—assigned according to ability and experience—witnessed hounds try their best to find a good scent, but with a strong wind blowing, the odds were stacked against a good run. The first flight enjoyed some cantering, however, and tested their mettle over some demanding obstacles.

Midway through the hunt, the riders came upon an elegant table laid with flowers, snacks and drinks, plus apples for the horses. Several of the parents had prepared the tailgate rest stop.

Back at the meet, a hearty hunt breakfast had been laid on, and it was clear from the smiling faces that all had enjoyed in spite of the cold temperatures.

There were prizes for best turned out and best junior foxhunter, which were judged by professional trainer, Kelly Barrett, and hunt supporter and member, Julie McKee. Other touches included a presentation to each rider of the medal of St. Hubert, patron saint of hunting. At the breakfast, each junior guest received an embroidered T-shirt to commemorate the day.

Lura Lain Moody won the best turned-out prize for first flight, while Grace Schultz took the first-flight best suitable pair prize. Lauren Balentine was the best turned-out in second flight, with Nicole Newsome the second-flight best suitable pair. In the hilltopper section, Hannah Upton was voted the best turned-out, with Jillian Vester taking best suitable pair. Jenny Caras took home the heart and soul award, with Balentine finishing as the best junior foxhunter.

Thanks go to Susan Cutler and Cathy Stephenson for taking the lead in organizing the event and to Sophie David and Judi Conger for taking the responsibility of leading the first and hilltop flights.
   
Guy Cooper & Martha A. Woodham

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