Land right covenants for foxhunting (MD)

[firefoot]

Hi all,

I am trying to find more information on land use covenants for foxhunting, specifically in Maryland but other states would work, too. I am just having a really hard time weeding through info about hunting licenses and furbearer trapping. I am specifically looking to see if there is a specific law or court case that has upheld these land use covenants. Does anyone have a better idea how I should be searching?

In case I’m not clear, at least in the area of Maryland where I live, property deeds can be sold with land rights by hunt clubs in perpetuity, so no matter who owns the property, it is deeded that they must allow the hunt to be on their land, at least parts of it. I am interested to see how this impacts keeping open spaces and ag land in the face of more housing developments, etc. I am also interested to see how this has been contested and enforced.

Thank you for your help!

[Equibrit]

I would think you need to be clawing through county land/legal records.

[Willesdon]

Perhaps talk to your local hunt, if you haven’t already done so.

[jawa]

Deep Run Hunt in Virginia has several areas of our hunt country that had deeded access for fox hunting. You may contact one of the masters and they may be able to help you.

[Equibrit]

This may help;
https://elcr.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Guide-to-Equestrian-Friendly-Conservation-Easements-with-links.pdf

or

https://repository.uchastings.edu/cg…gs_law_journal

[lesson_junkie]

Try getting in touch with the MFHA. The other source would be land conservancies.

[FitToBeTied]

Paul Melon’s Estate Rokeby Farm had covenants added to permit Piedmont or Orange County to foxhunt their even if parcels were sold.

[Madeline]

Check with the Cheshire Conservancy. They’ve had covenants to protect hunting for more than 60 years that I know of.