Fox hunting USA

Subject: Fox hunting USA
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 10 Nov 04 - 12:35 PM

Further to my recent thread,
1. how common is Fox hunting in the US
2. how far back does it go
3. does it have an associated collection of songs?

Subject: RE: Fox hunting USA
From: MMario
Date: 10 Nov 04 - 12:48 PM

1. not very
2. 1700's - maybe a hair earlier.
3. nothing noticiable that I know of.

Subject: RE: Fox hunting USA
From: Rapparee
Date: 10 Nov 04 - 01:23 PM

Fox hunting is usually associated with the "horsey" set, but it's also done in some rural areas, especially in the South and in the Appalachians.

In the latter case, it's usually done at night. The fox hunters bring their dogs and turn them loose; the hunters stay around a fire, swap stories, and drink weak tea. Eventually, one of the dogs will pick up a scent and start to "sing," and the pack will chase the fox to earth. Then the hunters will walk to wherever the fox is and shoot it.

I have a vague memory that somewhere I might have a song related to this, but I'm not at all certain of it.

Foxes were and are more usually trapped for their pelts.

Subject: RE: Fox hunting USA
From: GUEST,Russ
Date: 10 Nov 04 - 01:53 PM

The Folk Music index lists a number of fox chase songs. Fox chase tunes from the American southern mountains tend NOT to be songs about fox chases but imitations of fox chases.

Subject: RE: Fox hunting USA
From: Maryrrf
Date: 10 Nov 04 - 08:03 PM

Here in Virginia (not Appalachia - but in the countryside around Richmond)- when I was a kid my dad would go "fox hunting". I begged and begged him to take me with him. One time he put me and my brother in the back of the old pickup truck (yes, they did that back in those days - no carseats) and took us to the "fox hunt". It was pretty much as Rapaire described, except the old geezers just sat around the fire drinking and listening to the dogs chase the fox - trying to guess where he was by the sound. They actually had a fox in a croker sack which they took out and let loose before letting the dogs out - to give him a head start. For all I know he may have gotten away. I guess that would be the poor folks version of fox hunting - some of the wealthier folks in Virginia still "ride to the hounds".

Subject: RE: Fox hunting USA
From: Peace
Date: 10 Nov 04 - 08:28 PM

Yes. The pursuit of the inedible by the unspeakable. (Thank you, Oscar.)

Subject: RE: Fox hunting USA
From: GUEST,Roger Hayes
Date: 10 Nov 04 - 08:43 PM

Hopefully America will follow Britain's lead and ban this barbaric 'sport' as quickly as possible.

Subject: RE: Fox hunting USA
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Nov 04 - 08:51 PM

I've lived in the upper midwest for 50 years and have ridden horses for 40 and I've never even heard of anybody up here who's ever seen a Fox Hunt much less been on one.

Subject: RE: Fox hunting USA
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Nov 04 - 09:22 PM

Exactly, dear fellow Guest. Fox hunts are extremely rare in the U.S. unless you're in a few places in Virginia.

Subject: RE: Fox hunting USA
From: GUEST,Tara
Date: 10 Nov 04 - 09:24 PM

Americans don't hunt dumb animals. We just elect them President.

Subject: RE: Fox hunting USA
From: Peace
Date: 10 Nov 04 - 09:25 PM

LOL

Subject: RE: Fox hunting USA
From: GUEST,Mancunian
Date: 10 Nov 04 - 11:29 PM

If you can't hunt George W. then why not shoot him? It's called pest control here in the U.K.

Subject: RE: Fox hunting USA
From: Wilfried Schaum
Date: 12 Nov 04 - 03:30 AM

Have a look at this fine song (Arkansas)

Subject: RE: Fox hunting USA
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 13 Nov 04 - 03:17 AM

Thank you Wilfried.