I just stumbled across a 30 minute documentary on fox hunting, made in 1975.
Here’s the description:
Features the legendary huntsman Melvin Poe and the hounds of the Orange County Hunt near The Plains, Virginia. Narration by Alexander McKay-Smith from Lord Peter Beckford’s 18th century classic Thoughts on Hunting
Excellent!
That’s THE foxhunting documentary to have! It was done by the Tom Davenport early in his professional film maker career. I think it was the first time that a film camera was carried on a horse and had viewable results.
The photography is wonderful, the storyline is well done, and it was far ahead of it’s time. The back-stories are even more fun…
AND Melvin Poe is still hunting today at age 90 (saw him out this morning with Old Dominion.) (He was on foot.) (We hunted ‘his’ territory near his house in Hume and hunted ‘his’ fox in the woods behind Joan Fleck’s house.)
AND the documentary won many prizes as it was considered very cutting edge.
AND it featured dog-cam’s too.
AND my CotH hunt weekend peeps may get a chance to meet Melvin and his Bath County hounds (who live in a kennel at his house in Hume.)
(They hunt 2x a week in Bath County August-end November, but they stay fit by hunting in Hume Dec.-May and in early August.)
AND I’ve watched that video 1,000 times, minimum and it still gives me goosebumps every time to hear those hounds open.
AND Va. peeps can buy that dvd at the local IGA.
: o )
AND there is a book about Melvin Poe too. Written by the late Peter Winants, long time editor and publisher of CotH and longtime librarian etc. at the National Sporting Library. “Foxhunting with Melvin Poe” is a classic.
AND any of my CotH peeps March 17-20 who want to pick up a copy we’ll go over there maybe Friday afternoon and he’ll sign for you!
Me too. I have the old tape of the horn calls, too. That’s how my niece learned them - we’d pop that tape in when driving to the kennel for hounds walking, and I’d quiz her. 
I gave some thought to Poe after watching the video and calculated he must be dead by now. Glad to hear he isn’t and is still involved with hunting!
Altjaegar,
Melvin isn’t just alive, He is STILL jumping instead of using gates!
He is very tuned to his hounds, speaks their language in their own dialect. There is nothing like him. For Mr Arundel’s funeral, he played “gone away” on his cowhorn. It’s a whole 'nother world, with him.
He and his brother are still willing to sit with the likes of myself at Warrenton Hunt night and answer questions/give a bit of advice/tell a good story. Very neat to be in the company of one of the all time great huntsmen from the US.
Is Melvin still making that good ol’ wine? Very refreshing after a hard day of hunting or showing hounds…
Cool beans!
I saw that video on one of my many visits to the Museum of Hounds and Hunting at Morven Park mansion over in Leesburg area.
Bucket list for me was being able to say I’d hunted with the Poe’s…check! Melvin, Albert, Larry and now Clydetta (best whip in the business!!) Yaaaayyy!!
If you shoot them in the lungs with a .22 mag they may run up to 150 yards before keeling over… so keep your eye on the fox as it runs off…Need some more tips on this…
Melvin Poe still hunts at the age of 90? Oh,it’s awesome. My friend told me that his father quitted hunting only at the age of 60, and he gave his son a riflescope and rifle, which was purchased at a Store WelcomeGet two years ago. still work well. I don’t know much about fox hunting, but I’m interested in anything about wildlife and this kind of sports. Maybe someday I will take a rifle to go hunting.
We have a guy who hunts with us (never misses a hunt) who’s 87 - still jumps every fence, incuding the odd full wire. His “child bride” wife (she’s 74!) is alongside him every hunt. They still breed and break in their own youngsters. People like that are truly an inspiration. Makes the idea of growing old not so bad after all.
I have a friend who is 85 and quit hunting two years ago. She says she “hates” Melvin Poe. She really wishes she could still ride to the hounds but has truly become afraid of falling. Her horse has a bad habit of stumbling and she doesn’t want to start a new one. She still goes out with the foot packs though.
By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. You may also receive promotional emails from The Chronicle of the Horse. You can opt out at any time.
For Customers
Company
Terms of Use
