We tend to think of England or the East Coast when we hear of hunt clubs using horse and hound. In fact, we’d be limiting ourselves. There are hunt clubs in the western United States where much of the land is either government-owned, held by ranches with grazing leases on public land, or limited private holdings.

Northern Arizona is Grand Canyon Hounds country where acreage is vast, few roads or fences offer obstacles, and the fox has been replaced by the wicked smart and very elusive coyote.  Established around 2005, the Grand Canyon Hounds initially hunted in the Coconino National Forest, but the club discovered that open grasslands were preferable, and that meant approaching ranchers about using their land recreationally, and conscientiously.

The Hound packs were built by the graciousness of member hunts of the Master of Foxhounds Association. Originally, the hounds came from approximately 15 hunts and included different breeds of foxhounds including American and English. Currently, the pack is made up primarily of American bloodlines because of the belief that a lighter framed and lower scenting hound performs better in the arid conditions of Northern Arizona. Most of the hounds’ bloodlines go back to the Potomac Hunt in Maryland, and include the Penn-Marydel and Running Walker strains.

“The Hounds” by Ostinelli & Priest. Find this and other wonderfully whimsical sculptures here.