GREEN CREEK – Hound voices echoed across rolling green fields as the notes of the hunting horn cut the morning sunlight. Though it wasn’t a good day for hunting, hundreds of fox hunting fans were treated to a beautiful day of viewing tri-colored hounds working a drag scent, along with the picturesque beauty of riders in scarlet and black coats on horseback.

The Green Creek Hounds celebrated the opening of formal hunting season Saturday, Nov. 11, with a blessing of the hounds, a drag hunt, five “Tally Ho Wagons” and a traditional hunt breakfast.

Green Creek Hounds Huntsman, Tot Goodwin MFH, said it was the north wind that made for poor scenting that day. However, in spite of the north wind, Goodwin said the hounds followed the drag scent very well.

However, in the last cast of the day, the hounds struck the drag, but deer had crossed the fox scent distracting the hounds who took off across the field toward a dense cover next to a tally ho wagon. Hunt staff members galloped after the hounds shouting, “ware haunch!”

“The last drag the hounds got on a herd of deer,” said Goodwin. “We lifted them and went back to the drag again. That’s good training for them [the hounds].”

The hounds quickly responded,  and thrilled spectators in the tally ho wagons were treated to the sight of 40 or so tri-colored American, English and Crossbred fox hounds working a line at the edge of a beautiful green field.

Goodwin said he was proud of how well the hounds performed that day. He said, since the day was not good for scenting, they worked hard to create a good show for the spectators riding in the wagons. 

“We had a long hack (walk from the horse trailers) to the blessing site,” said Goodwin. “The hounds sat very well during the blessing.”

Green Creek’s social director, Elaine Hobbs, said the tally ho wagons have become a fun tradition for Green Creek’s opening hunt. Those, who for one reason or another could not ride that day, enjoyed the beauty and pageantry from the comfort of a flatbed trailer while sipping champagne and feasting on delicious catered snacks. Hobbs said Saturday’s opening festivities included more than 200 spectators on five different tally ho wagons.

In accordance with tradition, Green Creek Hounds invited the Rev. Alan Leonard of St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church in Boiling Springs, S.C. to invoke the traditional blessing of the hounds, asking God to look after all those on the hunt and to allow the “. . . wiley fox, without whom this sport would not exist, run to live and give good chase another day.”

After the blessing, Goodwin re-mounted his dark brown Thoroughbred, Baratton, blew two short quick notes on his horn and the hounds and staff moved out. Folks loaded onto the tally ho wagons, and the field of 60 or so riders dressed in scarlet and black coats headed to the first covert.

During a couple of “checks” (the huntsman stops and calls the hounds back into a pack before heading off to a new covert) former Mecklenburg Hunt Master Kathy Gruhn entertained the spectators on the number four tally ho wagon with information about hunting terms and what the hounds and staff were doing.

Gruhn explained that the hounds’ lineage goes back to the 1600s and that the spectators were asked not to speak to or pat the hounds. “They are called hounds, not dogs,” said Gruhn with a warm grin. “They’re especially trained and busy working.” She added that Green Creek hunts red, gray and red-sided gray fox as well as the coyotes that have moved into the area.

Green Creek Field Master Anna Dalton explained that while the hunt usually hunts wild fox, on opening hunt day, they lay the drag scents (fox scent dragged on the ground) so the spectators could see the hounds work.

“It gives people a chance to experience what hunting is about, hear the hounds and get good photos,” said Green Creek Hounds Joint Master Christi Fowler MFH.

During the day, the hounds followed three separate drags and marked two dens, where the fox typically goes to ground (the fox stops running and goes into a den). The hounds marked the den and Goodwin praised them for a “job well done.”

After the day of fun and pageantry, everyone returned to the Watson House, provided by the landowner, Roger Smith, for a delicious brunch catered by Patty Otto and the Hare and Hound restaurant.