Our Country

The history of hunting in France and the United Kingdom suggests that the landowners actually started the tradition of mounted hunting. The need to control vermin and provide meat — deer, boar and hare — for the noblemen’s table led to organized hunting, first by professional gamekeepers and then by landowners attracted by the thrill of the chase.

Today, as suburbia encroaches upon open land in the United States, the cooperation between landowner and those who love to hunt has never been more essential to the sport. It is obvious that the territory needed for successful mounted hunting is so large that only a small part of it is owned by a hunt or by hunt members. Most of the country over which the Bear Creek Hounds hunt is owned by non-members, and their permission to hunt over properties must be secured and maintained.

The Bear Creek Hounds enjoy the best of all worlds when it comes to hunt territory from wide open fields to heavily wooded areas.  In their home county of Coweta, the hunters find a private paradise of wide vistas of rolling open fields mixed with closed heavily wooded area and creeks in all directions.  The meticulously maintained trails have been planted over the years with rows of pines, blackberry bushes and rows of flowering bushes.  The farm increased the appeal for flora and fauna this past year by planting hundreds of flowering trees across landscapes for more wildlife habitat.  Sunflowers, corn and pearl millet are just a few of the crops blanketing this new area of the farm.  Each year more land is being obtained by members of the hunt to help preserve the area.  This fixture while extremely beautiful provides a challenging hunt in so far as the terrain is heavily timbered, there are numerous coops and other jumps and in some places the area is quite trappy. 

The Cedargate fixture has and continues to provide some thrilling hunts behind the numerous coyote that are residents in that area.  Cedargate is a working cattle farm with rolling farmland bordered by the Chattahoochee River with acres and acres of territory.  Hounds have been known to run at least 8 - 10 miles on a coyote before losing the scent.  Hunts held here always provide for a fast pace for the first flight and many opportunity for viewing to those that hilltop or watch from their vehicles. 

In the Southern half of the Georgia, Dooly and Sumter Counties have opened up to the hunt and have been the source of some great hunting as well as hospitality that is truly amazing.  The hunt meets at the various fixtures have become a community event supported wholeheartedly by the Landowners and interested parties.  After the crops are harvested in the fall, open fields and wide sandy lanes become our hunting grounds.   The terrain is very open and flat for viewing the hounds work but there are occasional ditches to maneuver.  With small coverts and plantations of pine there are many hiding places for game in the area.  The hunt is honored to have permission to cross over 20,000 acres in that country.

New territory has opened up to the hunt in western Alabama as more newcomers to the sport embrace the tradition of the sport.  Thousands of acres along the banks of the Tallopoosa River have been preserved for indigenous wildlife while preserving open lands for farming and hunting. The land is managed for timber production, cattle, and hay crops.  The fields and forest are crossed with multiple streams and there are over one hundred miles of trails, fire lanes, private roads, and public roads over which to chase the abundant game. Several vistas offer fantastic views of the hunt country.  It is a rugged country with many hazards, so caution is advised. A strong sense of responsibility for the land and wildlife management is truly reflected in the territory.  A recent parade of hounds in the Wadley Centennial Celebration was a great success in educating the people of Wadley about the sport.

With each new fixture, Bear Creek Hounds is adding more enthusiasts to the sport of mounted hunting. As a gesture of respect and appreciation, the Bear Creek Hounds landowners are invited to all hunt functions, including meets, breakfasts and parties. One time farmers or western riders and even nonriders are now hunting with us and enjoying all the sport has to offer. Our success in obtaining the new fixtures has come with new friendships which carry over in the success of hunting for the entire sport.  Many onlookers often come to see the sport and join in the camaraderie of the hunt. 

But members of the Bear Creek Hounds know that the beauty and excitement go only so far, that hunting exists only by virtue of landowners’ permission. They know it is incumbent uponevery member to see that this permission is not abused and that the interest of the landowners is carefully guarded.  While some may scoff at the riders’ old-fashioned formal dress and courteous manners, these traditions are a show of respect from the members of the Bear Creek Hounds to the landowners for their generosity in allowing the hunt to use their farms and timberlands.