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 us 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 
us canada britain american the elkridge harford hunt club foxhunts maryland
according to the  masters of foxhounds association of america, there are nearly 160 organized foxhunting clubs in the us 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 