Well, the Bad Boys Tour is completed, and although maybe not as socially outrageous as the BGT, from a hunting purist's point of view, it must be termed a complete success!
7 days hunting in 8 days, with 5 different packs!!
All the packs that were visited must be commended on being able to show sport in as poor weather conditions as there were - possibly the worst scenting week this season, I'm sure!
On a personal note, I must thank Adrian Smith, and Grosvenor Merle-Smith of the Bull Run Hunt for arranging and providing a quadruped upon which to hunt, when my own became a tri-ped. Very many thanks for that, and all other hospitalities you so generously extended towards us as a group.
We drove the first 800 miles from Nova Scotia to New York City in 4-wheel drive, through blinding snowstorms, icestorms, and minus 55 degree temperatures. Not an auspicious start! Once the other side of NYC, the weather abated somewhat in intensity, although many areas were subjected to freezing rain and ice. In fact, "The Hunting Box", owned by Cliff and Laura Hunt, where we were scheduled to stay in the Blue Ridge Country was surrounded by ice. The Blue Ridge and many of the neighbouring packs had not hunted for over a week!
Two of our number, who were flying in, were delayed for 6 hours at Montreal Airport, and when they did eventually arrive, it was without all their luggage - including of course all their hunting clothes. (So if you're serious about going on a hunting trip, wear your hunting clothes on the aeroplane is I guess the moral of that story!) The luggage showed up 2 days later, in the meantime they had to rely on the largesse of several people, and an expensive visit to several local tack stores!
What a bad prognosis for a start to a weeks hunting!
Saturday found us commuting south to hunt with the Bull Run. Scent was patchy, to describe it kindly, and Adrian Smith the 1st Whipper-In and Kennel Huntsman was hunting hounds, as Grosvenor was away in pastures greeener. (And considerably wetter, from what I hear). Adrian and his hounds did darned well to push a couple of foxes around, and ultimately to ground.
Sunday saw us commuting once again, this time to go with the Rappahannock from "The Hill". Foxes were (too) numerous, and scent again too patchy to show good sport. I personally viewed 6 different foxes, having been kindly invited to ride with a Whipper-In. Hounds worked well, but with such difficult conditions and so many foxes, were somewhat inclined to split. The social aspect of hunting was big on this day!
Monday has been ably reported upon by both Betsy and Jennifer, with it's brace of running foxes, something I have never seen happen for that length of time. It was indeed a scorcher of a day, with hounds hunting hard. Adrian showed wonderful ability in being able to stay well within touch of hounds, even though they were hunting in covert. This is a difficult thing to do, and shows the mark of an able Huntsman to successfully predict the direction of travel of fox and hounds within covert, and be able to keep with them.
In one of our more intelligent moments, we realized that commuting from the Blue Ridge country south to hunt each day was not sensible, so on Monday evening we moved to a new barn in the Culpepper region. (Inevitably, we then ended up heading north for much of our subsequent hunting!)
Tuesday marked a day off, primarily as a result of not being able to find a pack going out! After the mud and hard running of Monday, there can be no doubt that the horses were appreciative of it too. An afternoon visit to the Bull Run Kennels, and walking out hounds, was a pleasant interlude.
Wednesday marked a bad day for me personally. It started with pulling on a still wet boot, a struggle at the best of times, never mind when wet, and then having succeeded, finding a thorn in there, resulting in the required repetition of the process. This was closely followed by ripping my breeches, finding my mare to be "off", and trying to take photos at the Meet only to find that my camera batteries were dead! Some days one wonders why one bothered to get up....
Everyone else's day was good though. Today was the day for a visit with Mike Turner's Snickersville Hounds. Scent had improved somewhat, and there were some excellent bursts with this wonderfully voiced pack of PMD's that resulted in putting 3 foxes to ground. I was especially impressed with the "deer proofness" of these hounds, having seen a herd of 30 deer (I counted 'em!) come out in front of hounds, without a hound saying a word about them. Very impressive!
Thursday saw us out once again with the Bull Run, at "Walnut Hill", a new section of country they are developing. In time it will be very good country, but right now it is frustrating for a Huntsman because the quantities of wire prevent the easy ability of keeping up with hounds. Scent had once again returned to it's "patchy" status, and there were not as many foxes at home as one would maybe like. I understand that there have been deer-hounds playing in the area recently, and that many of the foxes have packefd their bags and gone on a brief vacation. Having said all that, hounds tried hard, and the prospect of what this section of country will become in time made for an encouraging day.
Friday resulted in a fast but short day with the Loudon West. This was the first time their hounds and horses had been out for a while, and there was still much ice to be seen around. Everyone was pleased to be out though!
Friday evening was the "FOL Live" at Moseby's. A Kilt was indeed seen, and there was much laughter, fun and merriment to be had, as well as serious hunting talk. It was really super to meet a bunch of "names", to which I can now put faces!
Saturday saw a split in the BBT pack. I went once again with the Bull Run. Hounds found within the first ten minutes, and ran very hard for the next 45 minutes or so, and were travelling very fast when outside covert. A very exciting morning, although scent deteriorated latterly, as did sport accordingly.
The main BBT pack went with the Piedmont from Old Wellburne, where an excellent day was had, with hounds hunting a selection of foxes hard for a total of about 4 hours.
Interspersed with hunting during the week, I had visits to the Bull Run, Blue Ridge and Orange County kennels, where it was most enjoyable to talk "hound stuff" with the Huntsmen.
The trip back up to Nova Scotia was, in comparison to the trip down, completely boring!
The Bad Boys Tour was then, at least from the perspective of the Bad Boys, a great success, and I can assure you that there is already much discussion under way about repeating it next year!
Many thanks on behalf of the BB's to everyone whom we met, and for the wonderful hospitality extended to us.
We look forward to seeing you next year!
Jos Mottershead, per The Bluenose Bad Boys
Just a few words of elaboration on Saturday's spectacular hunt at Piedmont:
Early on in the day's hunting, hounds were screaming as Randy Waterman jumped a coop and galloped out of sight of the field. Following hard, the field soon happened upon Randy flat on his back on the ground. He had galloped headlong into a windfall where a branch had caught him mid-chest and promptly sent him flying.
Dr. Paul Johnston, heading up a slpinter faction of the BBT I that chose to join Piedmont that morning, was one of the first to reach Randy, who remained on the ground with the wind knocked out of him. Piedmont staff use radios, and Randy requested the fieldmaster to call for an ambulance and also tell the whips to stop hounds. The fieldmaster attempts to make some sense out the growing chaos - trying to find the good doctor out hunting that morning and get him up front while sending radio messages to staff and emergency services (just how does one order an ambulance whilst in the hunt field?) Hounds are still screaming, horses and riders milling around, concern for Randy mounting. Meanwhile, Paul gallantly informs Randy that his color is returning and his pulse seems to be OK and most importantly that "if you were a horse, I wouldn't shoot you."
At his point, plans change. (Perhaps Randy was so relieved that he
wasn't going to be shot after all?)
His horse is brought up. Randy can barely rise; Paul practically
drags him to his feet and onto his horse. Once there, the Pied Piper
of Piedmont resolutely continues the chase for another three hours.
Over something like 50 or 60 fences, nonstop. The end of the day
finds only 6 of the original 28 that started that morning still with
hounds and staff....
Hey Carla, Sami, this is what we are up against!
Shall the BGT III throw down the gauntlet?
Perhaps...a series of skirmishes with the final battle to be fought on
the fields of Piedmont next fall?
Something along the order of the foxhound match years ago....Dennis,
you started this thing, any suggestions for a panel of judges?
Susan Monticelli
Jos:
My reports confirm you had one heck of a trip. Some real foxhunters came
down to show the boys and girls in Virginia they really do hunt in Canada.
I understand at the Piedmont Hunt you had three of the only five people who
finished after a fantastic day. One of you brought the huntsman Randy
Waterman back to life after a tough fall and then the hunt continued though
horrible rain and cold. Who were these three giants?
All the other packs raved about you as well.
Best, Dennis Foster
It was indeed! We met super people, and were treated with super hospitality.
These three were Allister Marshall, our MFH from the Annapolis Valley Hunt;
Dr. Paul Johnston, our Whipper-In (and Veterinarian, and in this instance
resuscitator); and Bruce Rand, one of our keenest hunting farmers.
Once again, and on behalf of us all, I would like to say "thank you" to
everyone that we met - We'll be back!!
Jos
(Who heard it from firsthand from one of the Musketeers
themselves...NOT through the grapevine!)
Who WERE Those Guys?