Epp Wilson, MFH and huntsman of the Belle Meade Hunt brings hounds to the first draw to kick off “Gone Away with the Wind” Hunt Week. Whippers-in Lucy Bell (left) and Natalie Gilmore flank the pack. / Lauren R. Giannini photo
“We have arranged to have ten coyotes on standby for your hunting pleasure today,” announced Joint-MFH Charlie Lewis as he welcomed guests to the opening meet of Belle Meade’s “Gone Away with the Wind” Hunt Week. It was Monday, January 27, 2014 in Thomson, Georgia. The footing was perfect and the sun was shining.
The following day it snowed, closing schools, paralyzing the Atlanta area, and prompting the governor to declare a state of emergency. The Belle Meade hosts were resilient, however, improvising substitute activities for members and guests for the very few events that had to be modified.
Hunt Week guests had come from the Blue Ridge Hunt (VA), Bull Run Hunt (VA), Golden’s Bridge Hounds (NY), Marlborough Hunt (MD), Millbrook Hunt (NY), Montreal Hunt (PQ), Moore County Hounds (NC), the Potomac Hunt (MD), Toronto and North York Hunt (ON), and the Whiskey Road Hounds (SC).
The Meet
The Belle Meade hounds typically meet at three o’clock in the afternoon. In the warmish environs of north Georgia, Senior Master and huntsman Epp Wilson likes to hunt as temperatures are dropping and scent is improving. Of course it often results in riders hacking back in the dark, and even jumping fences after sunset—an adventure in its own right for many followers!
Belle Meade offers four fields to accommodate all sporting preferences. “The first flight goes at coyote speed,” says Master Epp, “and the second flight goes at fox speed!”
Both first and second flights jump the fences. The third flight is for the fast hilltoppers, and a fourth hilltopping flight is offered for less experienced or less adventurous riders or riders on green or unfit horses.
The Whippers-In
Epp uses many whippers-in and deploys them in six positions. Four are perimeter positions on the compass points—north, south, east, and west. The perimeter whippers-in maintain their stations at the points of the compass and often go in pairs or even threes when visitors accompany them.
“If I were to station them left, right, front, and rear,” says Epp, “when the coyote reverses direction some of them would remain pretty much where they are, and the others would have to gallop flat out on the perimeter of the circle just to get back in position! The compass points work better for us.”
The perimeter whippers-in range widely on the flanks. Their job is to stay between the hounds and trouble, whether it be highways, deer leases, or any other land to avoid on that particular day. Terry Cooper and guest Adam Furacin from Golden’s Bridge went north; Lucy Bell, John Bell, and Ann Sprinkle went east; Dick Dozier, Philip Green, and guest Mike Paget from Moore County were on the west flank; and Bud and Tracy Eichel kept to the south.
The two remaining positions for whippers-in are in the middle of the circle, close to Epp. They act as first whippers-in, correcting splits and bringing hounds forward. Natalie Gilmore, Whitney Williams, and Barbara Lee filled those posts this day.
Road whips are very important for the safety of hounds at Belle Meade. They stay in touch by radio, watch for coyotes crossing the roads, and are quick to control traffic where hounds are crossing. Chandler Tolbert, Mike Coke, kennelman Chuck Terry, Milton Goldman, John McNeil III, honorary field secretary Raymond Morris, and Joint-Masters Charlie Lewis and Gary Wilkes were wheel whips this day.
“There’s an advantage to having many whips,” said Epp. “It reduces the size of the field!”
“We have arranged to have ten coyotes on standby,” announces Charlie Lewis, MFH to assembled members and guests prior to the meet. Gary Wilkes, MFH listens in amusement. / Nancy Wilson photo
The Hunting Day
It was warm as hounds moved off, and with the ground dry (for the only day that week), scenting was spotty to start. Road whip Milton Goldman tallyhoed a coyote crossing the road. As Epp brought hounds on, they picked up a line and he allowed them to hunt. It soon appeared to be another coyote and with hounds struggling on the line, Epp picked them up and brought them forward to the view. Despite the difficult scenting, hounds pushed this coyote through much of the hunting country for a good forty-five minutes.
As the afternoon waned, scenting conditions improved. Another coyote was found and run for the better part of a half hour. It was a fine start to the sporting week. As a red sun sank slowly and darkness fell, hounds were speaking in “George’s Woods” (named for George Thomas, MFH of the Why Worry Hounds in Aiken), carrying the large field back to the meet and dinner at Boots Hall. Tommy Lee had a fire blazing in the outdoor pit with chairs in a circle surrounding the blaze. It was the perfect place to sit, sip, soak up the heat, catch up with old friends, and make new friends while darkness fell and dinner beckoned.
Posted February 4, 2014