Out of the Stick Pile

Details: Picture of the Week; By Joanne Maisano

Click image for larger version. / Joanne Maisano photo
Following the foxhounds of the Blue Ridge Hunt from their meeting at the Reid Family’s Stonebridge fixture the other day, photographer Joanne Maisano got herself in the right place at the right time. Camera in hand, watching hounds mark the stickpile, Joanne shot an action sequence that wildlife photographers dream about. Be sure to click the image for a larger version. You don’t want to miss the expressions on the faces of every living creature captured in that single moment. Not a word of text is necessary!

(Front to rear) fox, hounds, and huntsman Graham Buston

We’ve selected a series of photos from Joanne’s action-sequence to present a slide show of what transpired, and one version of what might have been running through the fox’s mind during its escape. Click on the readmore link (below, open to everyone), then click on the first image (below) in the sequence.

Late for Dinner

Details: Picture of the Week; By Norman Fine

fox hunting vole

No, not a diving contest, though a pretty one. The winning photograph in the Comedy Wildlife Photography Contest is Angela Bohlke's photo of a red fox hunting for a vole in Yellowstone National Park. Bohlke won a seven-night safari in Kenya as well as a camera prize package from Nikon. Next year’s competition opens on June 1, 2017.

Posted January 10, 2017

Stretching Out

Details: Picture of the Week; By Mark Houliston

Click image to enlarge. Mark Houliston shot the action with a Canon EOS 1D X, EF28-300 f3.5-5.6L IS USM shutter speed 1/1000th second

Two hours into the Blue Ridge Hunt meet at Fox Spring Woods Farm, huntsman and hounds were east of the meet and drawing north. I'm familiar with this area as I have walked much of the land with the Nantucket-Treweryn Beagles. I drove a half mile north to a clearing where foxes have been viewed in the past and waited. After two minutes of scanning the fields I saw a fox running towards me through a riding ring, down a hill and under two fences, finally turning east and disappearing over a hill as my camera captured every step. I lowered the camera, looked back to the west in anticipation of the arrival hounds and huntsman, and was greeted by a second fox that ran nearly the same line as the first. I followed the second fox from left to right, capturing every step. I lowered the camera once again and waited thirty seconds before hounds, whipper-in, huntsman, and finally the field took up the chase.

Posted December 23, 2016

Fall Hunting with the Lambo Beagles

Details: Picture of the Week; By Janet Ladner

Click photograph to view larger image.

Janet Ladner captured this stunning scene at Gwennap Head near Land’s End, Cornwall, hunting with the Lambo Beagles (UK) along the cliff tops towering above the Celtic Sea. Next stop, Ireland.

Foggy Cubhunting Morning

Details: Picture of the Week; By Denya Dee Leake

Denya Dee Leake shot this dramatic photo and recorded the cry of hounds with her smartphone. Hounds found a fox near the kennels, sang all the hound music that one could wish for, and pushed their quarry hard through the course of the morning in a huge circuit and finally to ground back near the find. A fine school for the young entry and an exciting start to the Blue Ridge Hunt's 129th season. More than twenty riders and staff, along with car followers, braved the early hour start on the morning of September 3rd, 2016.