Andy Bozdan hunting the Camargo foxhounds on foot over wet country.
The author, as we reported in our last issue, is the new huntsman at the Camargo Hunt (OH). During his career, Andy Bozdan has served as huntsman in England, Australia, and the U.S. Recently, he’s been whipping-in at the Blue Ridge Hunt (VA). Foxhunting Life asked Andy what it’s like to carry the horn again and be The Man in Front!
So, after a couple of seasons whipping-in to Graham Buston at Blue Ridge Hunt, I took up the horn again at the Carmargo Hunt in Kentucky and Ohio. I can remember one or two of my friends jokingly asking if I’d remember how to blow the horn, or get on the right side of the horse, etc. But it is, for sure, very different when you take on a pack and suddenly … your it!
Everything becomes your responsibility, and very quickly you have to make decisions on the care of the hounds, how best to hunt the country, and plan ahead with a breeding program. To be honest I’ve been so busy since I arrived here that I have barely had time to stop and think!
Learning the new country is also something I needed to do as quickly as possible. Some huntsmen like to ride the country on a horse, some on a four-wheeler, and some on foot. Each has its merits but I don’t think you can beat walking it. Sometimes if it’s a large area to cover I’ll go out on a four-wheeler but get off and go check out certain areas then move onto the next piece of country. As I go I’m not only learning my way around but I’m also looking for signs of game and also which way I might draw a particular piece of covert. All that leg work pays off come the season because you will get your hounds onto a coyote or fox much quicker, and when hounds hit and go you will know how to go to stay with them!
The country here in Owen County in Kentucky is very hilly with many small valleys and gullies. The one thing I know for certain now is that I need hounds with cry and plenty of it. If your hounds run mute or if a few speak but not the pack then they can be three fields or valleys away from you before you realize. So cry is one of the most important things I know I need to breed for.
I was very fortunate to be allowed to take several draft hounds from Blue Ridge. One of those, Treasure, has just whelped my first litter. I used a doghound from the Tennessee Valley Hunt called Belmont. Treasure is registered as Traders Point, but was bred by Graham at Blue Ridge. Her sire was Ullswater Crowner, a Fell hound, and her dam was Blue Ridge Tartan. Both hounds were incredibly good in their work. Tartan was very much admired at the 2017 Bull Run/Rappahannock Hound Trials, being chosen as the Huntsman’s Choice. I also have Fingal and Jasper, two excellent hunting hounds. Jasper has just been put to another Blue Ridge bi*ch called Rosary, and I await the happy day sometime soon in August! These two litters, from proven bloodlines that should produce what I’m seeking, will be my foundation for the future.
We now have one litter on the ground and I can’t wait to see how these hounds hunt in a year or so. We also have another litter due in August and that will help me breed the type of hound I need for this area. It probably sounds strange to anyone who has not hunted hounds, but once I am with my hounds and about to move off I’m very much in my happy place. Yes, there are all the expectations, and not just from the Masters and the members but importantly from myself. I like to try to learn something about my hounds and their quarry every time I hunt them. Even regular walking out can tell you a lot about a hound or the pack if you have the eyes to see it.
There are some monumental changes happening here at Carmargo. A new hunt complex is being built. The horse barn is almost finished, and construction of the house and kennels is about to begin. So it’s very exciting to be part of the group of people who are involved in making that happen.
Here in our Owen country we already have several thousand acres of contiguous hunt country, and are slowly but surely gaining more. This will be a huge benefit to me, the hounds, and the members. We also have our hunt country back in Ohio at Indian Hill which is again very wooded and hilly but has plenty of game. The future here for the Carmargo Hunt and me—and Erin, who will once again whip-in to me—looks very promising, and I am eagerly looking forward to getting started hunting again very soon.
Finally, I would like to say a public thank you to the Masters of the Blue Ridge Hunt, Anne McIntosh and Jeff LeHew, who knew I wanted to hunt hounds again and did everything they could to encourage me to do so if the opportunity arose. Also to Graham Buston, who I believe to be one of the best huntsman currently in the USA. Not only did I enjoy working for him but I learned a lot from observing they way he did things.
One of the many things I learned by watching Graham was to trust your hounds and to be relaxed with them at all times, particularly when out on exercise. Graham will hold his hounds up at the start of a walk but prefers them on in front of him during the walk. If a car comes he only needs to say, “Behind,” and all in the pack are behind him in seconds. Not something you can do easily if the roads you use are busy, but letting them run on in front of you is part of building that trust between hounds and huntsman.
All my hunting life I have been fortunate to work under some very good huntsmen and, as importantly, houndsmen! There is a difference!
So how was it taking up the horn again? I have been asked. My reply … like falling off a log!
Posted July 23, 2019