A hound 's howl breaks through the cold rainfall . Dozens more hounds emerge from a stand of trees and bound across a field in search of a fox 's scent . Horses carrying riders in red and black coats follow from a ways behind , quickly disappearing again over a hillcrest , minutes away from Baltimore 's growing suburbs . The Elkridge-Harford Hunt Club has roots dating back to 1878 , but records show organized foxhunts took place in Maryland as early as the 1790s . In order to preserve a pastime that requires vast open space in the midst of one of the world 's densest regions , the club has managed to protect a patchwork of land that is larger than Manhattan . According to the website of the Masters of Foxhounds Association of America , there are nearly 160 organized foxhunting clubs in the U.S. and Canada . And while the sport 's ban in Britain over animal welfare concerns 10 years ago is still debated , the American hunt is a chase - the intent is not to kill a fox . In many places red foxes are a rarity in the US so the hounds chase coyotes - a distant cousin of the fox - instead . But from dress to decorum , many of the traditions remain unaltered from its inception . On the hunt : Hounds wander in a field as huntsman Geoff Hyde , top center , and members of the Elkridge-Harford Hunt Club prepare for a fox hunt to begin in Monkton , Maryland , in January . Trek : Members of the Elkridge-Harford Hunt Club follow a path during a hunt . In order to protect a pastime that requires vast open space in the midst of one of the world 's densest regions , the club has managed to secure a patchwork of land that is larger than Manhattan . Trophy : A stuffed fox is displayed on a shelf in the Elkridge-Harford Hunt Club clubhouse in Monkton , Md . The club has roots dating back to 1878 , but records show organized foxhunts took place in Maryland as early as the 1790s . Getting ready : Huntsman Geoff Hyde leads a group of hounds out of their kennel at the Elkridge-Harford Hunt Club as they head out for a fox hunt . Animal companion : A member of the Elkridge-Harford Hunt Club holds the reins of his horse after a January 3 fox hunt in Monkton . Dress to impress : A member of the Elkridge-Harford Hunt Club puts on boots in this December photograph as he prepares for a fox hunt . Lead the way ! A a member of the Elkridge-Harford Hunt Club leads his horse out of a barn for a December 14 2014 fox hunt . The American hunt is a chase - the intent is not to kill a fox . Where is it ? A hunting club member rides a horse through a stand of trees during a November fox hunt in Maryland . Remembered : Hunters from years past are seen in photographs on a wall inside the Elkridge-Harford Hunt Club 's clubhouse . Trek : A hunting club member is seen through trees during a fox hunt . Clear the path : A hunting party comprised of Elkridge-Harford Hunt Club fembers makes its way around car traffic during a fox hunt in Monkton . It 's all in the details : The Elkridge-Harford Hunt Club 's logo - complete with a fox face - adorns buttons on a jacket . Come on in ! A man walks past a fox-shaped doorknocker at the entrance of the clubhouse during a tea party following a hunt . Celebration : Elkridge-Harford Hunt Club president Jay Young , second from right , talks with members at a tea party in the clubhouse after a hunt .
According to fox , there are nearly 160 organized foxhunting clubs in the U.S. and Canada . And while the sport 's ban in Britain over animal welfare concerns 10 years ago is still debated , the American hunt is a chase and the intent is not to kill a fox . The Elkridge-Harford Hunt Club has roots dating back to 1878 , but records show organized foxhunts took place in Maryland as early as the 1790s .