So I really enjoy looking at photos of various hunting territories. I’ve only been to a few fixtures up here and I feel like am missing out on the rest of the country!
Here’s your opportunity to share about your favorite fixture thus far in your hunting career! If you have photos to share? Even better!
Our hunt has several fixtures, but there are two that I really enjoy. One is our “home” territory, the Perry Plantation, which is where our JtMFH’s live and our kennels are. The second is Alma del Zorro, which is owned by one of our members who generously lets us hunt it. Both fixtures are beautifully paneled and tons of fun.
Unfortunately I don’t have the kind of membership where i can post pictures, but if you go to our website www.mistymorninghounds.com there is a link to a photo gallery. Click that and there is link to go to the photographers website where there are tons of photos from about 4 of our territories.
I have also hunted with Midland and Belle Meade, and with Southcreek in Tampa FL. They all have lovely territories.
I whip in to Lonesome Palm Hounds as well, and their territory is gorgeous. It’s on the St Mary’s River in NE FL and parts of it actually roll. So you can go from a trail that looks like Florida Flatwoods to a trail that looks like N Ga in a few hundred feet, with lots of water crossings and all sorts of neat things.
Twice I’ve hunted at Kansas fixture in the Flint Hills. This photo is of a girlfriend from Va who came out last Nov to hunt w/ me. She was mounted on a darling former polo mare a friend loaned me. Look at this view: http://pets.webshots.com/photo/2609156400052639572jHkpyr Hit the “next” button and 3 or 4 more photos are there which I took w/ a cheapo camera while hunting. The photos do not even begin to show the depth of the terrian, those “rolling hills” can sneak up on you. I have a pretty good sense of direction but could have absolutly become lost if separated from the group out there where the horizon never ends. The hounds got on one or two coyote that day making for a nice hunt!
Well, now, your topic said ‘most exciting’ fixture,’ and then you explained you were looking for ‘favorite’ fixtures. For the latter, too many choices, I will just say wherever I am hunting on a given day is my favorite fixture for that day! For sheer beauty of the country, hard to beat Piedmont’s Friday country, or Green Spring Valley Country. I do have some favorites in terms of memorable runs, alas that country is long since paved over.
To respond to the ‘most exciting and why’ question, I suppose I’d have to go with the Red Rock Hounds wherever they happen to be hunting. Galloping up and down 1000 foot ridges makes even the hairiest jumps back east look pretty tame. And where else can you:
Get roped into whipping in the first time you show up to hunt with them, never mind that you don’t know the country and have only once ever hunted coyote, decades prior, in Virginia where technically they didn’t exist at the time, and unlike the other staff, don’t have a radio.
Snap pictures of wild horses as you hunt along. And occasionally need to herd or shoo the wild horses away when they threaten to mingle with the hounds.
Have even more exciting than usual hunting anecdotes, like the time the whipper-in decided to take a potty break…so, dismounted, found convenient rock, dropped pants while holding horse’s reins…and heard the cougar just behind her, that she hadn’t noticed til just then, start growling at her. Now, normally that might make you pee in your pants except of course, hers were dropped! Horse decided he’d leave, she expeditiously got the pants up while remembering the rule to NOT run…happily the horse didn’t go too far so it all worked out. But that is exciting, dontcha think?
Ooops, I tend to forget just how many fixtures some of you have been too! :lol: Either /or will do!
Holy crap. That’s the best I can come with in response. Simply amazing story! Thanks.
[QUOTE=SLW;3124112]
Twice I’ve hunted at Kansas fixture in the Flint Hills. This photo is of a girlfriend from Va who came out last Nov to hunt w/ me. She was mounted on a darling former polo mare a friend loaned me. Look at this view: http://pets.webshots.com/photo/2609156400052639572jHkpyr Hit the “next” button and 3 or 4 more photos are there which I took w/ a cheapo camera while hunting. The photos do not even begin to show the depth of the terrian, those “rolling hills” can sneak up on you. I have a pretty good sense of direction but could have absolutly become lost if separated from the group out there where the horizon never ends. The hounds got on one or two coyote that day making for a nice hunt![/QUOTE]
Been there-Done that
Got my cropper T-shirt 
[QUOTE=Beverley;3124528]
For sheer beauty of the country, hard to beat Piedmont’s Friday country, or Green Spring Valley Country. [/QUOTE]
When I saw the topic, those two hunts were the EXACT ones that come to mind. I’ve been going through and becoming more familiar with Green Spring, and the more I am just in complete awe of all the beautiful country, which I didn’t realize existed just outside Baltimore!!! Piedmont is the same way, just beautiful, expansive country.
Red rock hounds
That was my one and only hunting home for 10 years, til we moved to the Boise area where this isn’t any hunt.
I was on the hunt with the mountain lion - it was in McDermott, Nevada on a HUGE ranch, we chased him for a good while, but never sighted.
We also had the hounds working in tall willows, and out popped a herd of deer!! My poor horsey about jumped out of her skin! We also treed a porcupine and chased some coyote!
Each night was spent at the only bar in town, much fun was had by all!
Our home fixtures were fabulous, too. Any time you can go to NV, it is a trip to remember, makes me miss it. Now the closest thing I do is event and ride in the mountains, and that is great fun, too.
Happy trails.
[QUOTE=Samrdr1;3124838]
Been there-Done that
Got my cropper T-shirt :-)[/QUOTE]
Ooops! I can see how that could happen out there. Trappy footing in some places w/ the washouts not quite visable until you are right on them. Such beautiful country out there.
Hmmm…had to be hunting with the South Dorset on the USPC International Foxhunting exchange. We wound up hunting on cliffs above the English channel with the sun shining at 60 degrees (and they said it was always raining in england:), the views incredible, and the hunting pretty darn good as well. Other than that just galloping down a lane with my hunt on a crisp fall day…never gets old
Green Springs Valley qualifies for me in more ways than one…yes, it’s gorgeous! But the huge run, up and down hills and over some coups but even more vertical 3’6 jumps (honest sizes) were hefty, but when they (and I) sailed over the four board four foot high pasture fence (through the middle of the horses) and disappeared into the woods…that qualifies as my most exciting moment in hunting!!
I’ve been fortunate to have a lot of exciting hunts…an especially memorable one was at the Duke of Beaufort Hunt in England many years ago when we hunted with mounted police escorts!! (because of the protesters)
There are so many good hunts in the south…chasing coyote wide open for an hour also qualifies…you do that often at Live Oak, Midland, Bear Creek and Belle Meade to mention a few …
My personal goal is to hunt as many hunts as I possibly can…I’m up to 27 so far…but these new diesel gas prices may clip my wings a little <frown>
the almost crashed
memorable for sure, but I don’t want any more exciting than that.
less where than what.
Home turf!
Sometimes our own home turf can hunt excitingly! Sometimes there’s that day when all the stars are in alignment ie: temp, footing, scenting, weather, horse, you, colleagues etc. Sometimes your home fox takes you on a memorable trip around the territory and you feel like you’ve gone to a new country. Sometimes you & your horse are one. Both bottomless and smiling!! I’m remembering one where it all came together. My draft cross kept up with all the tb’s. We sailed over everything. It takes my breath away to recall that hunt. Long gallops, great hound work, fun people. I am priveleged to have been there.
I’m not sure the most “exciting” hunt has to be an away hunt experience!
Burwell, Nebraska
Our hunt is based in eastern NE, but twice a year we travel to the Sandhills in the middle of cattle country. Very similar to the Flint hills of KS I’m told. We love to travel to different hunts and welcome visitors any time to ours as well ! This is amazing country and always has some “exciting” moments. There is a series showing us pulling quills from some unfortunate hounds who found a porcupine. . . I’ll attach a link to one of our member’s photo sites - there you can view pics from our last hunt just past weekend, as well as our 15th Anniversary hunt there last fall - http://larrystavaphotography.smugmug.com/
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