This fall photographer Allison Howell traveled to six different Opening Meets in six states to photograph Big Sky Hounds, Fort Leavenworth Hunt, Live Oak Hounds, Belle Meade Hunt, Chula Homa Hunt, and Briar Creek Hounds. She’s had a hectic start to the season so far! And imagine all the air miles she earned this fall.

Big Sky Hounds

Allison’s first Opening Meet was with the traveling pack for Big Sky Hounds in Three Forks, Montana on September 29, 2024. Big Sky’s huntsman and MFH is Angela Murry, and she has kennels in both Montana and Tennessee. The winters in Montana can be brutal, and Angela has the southern kennel to escape Montana’s below-zero temperatures. Big Sky’s Montana country north of Bozeman is mostly cattle ranches and mountainous foothills. The hunt club was recognized by the MFHA in 2018, and the pack is mostly Walker Hounds with a few Western Hounds (foxhounds crossed with sighthounds).

Fort Leavenworth Hunt

Allison’s next Opening Meet was for Fort Leavenworth Hunt in Stillwell, Kansas on October 12, 2024. Fort Leavenworth’s Opening Meet was at the end of their hunt week and featured joint meets with Juan Tomás Hounds from New Mexico. Steven Thomas, MFH and Huntsman, hunted the hounds with Adrian Nance (MFH and Huntsman for Juan Tomás). Fort Leavenworth’s country is prairie and pasture lands. They have crossbred hounds and were recognized in 1966.

Live Oak Hounds

The next week Allison visited Live Oak Hounds’ Opening Meet in Monticello, Florida on October 19, 2024. The meet was held at the home of Masters Marty and Daphne Wood. Professional Huntsman Guy Allman took the pack of English and crossbred hounds out for a wonderful day in the pine woods and creek bottoms of the Florida panhandle. Live Oak Hounds were recognized in 1979.

Belle Mead Hunt

Allison’s home hunt is Belle Mead Hunt in Thomson, Georgia. Their Opening Meet was held on November 2, 2024, and is famous for having incredible attendance on numerous Tally Ho wagons. Epp Wilson, MFH and Huntsman, hunted their crossbred hounds in their country of pine woods, Georgia swaps, and creek bottoms. Belle Meade was recognized in 1970.

Chula Homa Hunt

The very next week, Allison flew to Chula Homa Hunt in Vicksburg, Mississippi on November 9, 2024. Petra Kay, MFH and Huntsman, took the pack of crossbred hounds out to their country of croplands, pastures, and Mississippi River bottoms. The hunt was recognized in 1993.

Briar Creek Hounds

Allison’s last hunt to visit for their Opening Meet was Briar Creek Hounds in Wolfe City, Texas on November 16, 2024. Marcella Norman, MFH and Huntsman, took their crossbred hounds out on the Texas ranchlands. The Opening Meet was a joint meet with Big Sky Hounds. Briar Creek Hounds is a farmer’s pack and was established in 2021.

Visiting so many different hunts for hunt weeks and long Opening Meet weekends, Allison had some exciting adventures. Here is a video showcasing one of the risks one takes when venturing out into unfamiliar territory. Her time out following Fort Leavenworth in their Flint Hills country was memorable. From Allison:

“The Flint Hills country is incredibly beautiful, but full of hidden dangers if you’re not watchful. This year the grasses are unusually tall due to spring rains and really hide narrow deep drops. We ran smack into one yesterday with the Ranger even looking for them. Stuck, we were fortunate that the mounted AAA showed right up with a tow named Coal. That mule pulled us out with a rope around the saddle horn!! Another great adventure in foxhunting photography.”

Allison Howell’s website is Allison Howell Images.