Longreen Hounds Meet Bobcats At Opening Hunt 28 Horses and Riders by Nancy Brannon, Susan Walker contributed to this story Longreen Foxhounds held their 49th annual Opening Meet and Blessing of the Hounds Saturday, December 2nd at Buford Hall in Glendora, Mississippi. Mr. and Mrs. T. C. Buford and their foxhunting daughter Donna Spell provided hospitality for the hunters at their home, built in the 1920s. A rising sun with rosey pink clouds scattered across the horizon portended a good weather conditions for foxhunting. As Huntsman Susan Walker traveled with hounds and horses in her truck and trailer from the kennels in Rossville, Tennessee to the site of the meet, she was surprised by the sight of a bobcat, as it sprang across the road ahead of her. This was her first “view” of a live bobcat, and little did she know, would be the first of several views to come for the day. By late morning, 28 horses and riders gathered at Buford Hall, along with followers on foot, to enjoy the stirrup cup. Staff gathered the hounds from the trailer for the blessing from Rev. Samuel Johnson Taylor, of the Sumner, Mississippi Presbyterian Church. The backyard of Buford Hall opens into a wide expanse of Delta fields. Longreen also hunts the neighboring Sturdivant property, which lies in the bend of a big bayou. Hounds, staff, field, and car followers all headed west for 1 1/4 mile to the first covert. Hounds went into the woods along the floodway west of the Dunavant property, some of them “flagging” (sterns in the air with tails wagging), and then “ gave tongue” (baying at the smell of quarry). They had something! A flash of dark reddish grey with long legs and a compact body was seen ahead and to the left of the pack. It was a bobcat. Hounds struck on the scent, but the run was short-lived. The pack cast and searched to pick up the scent again, but this bobcat had vanished. Hunting continued south, detouring around an unexpected ditch and crossing a dam. Deer were sighted, but only part of the pack voiced and staff prevented a run on the deer, which are taboo for foxhounds. There were heavy briars and undergrowth along the floodway, which horses are not happy about crashing through. But the huntsman has always ridden through the covert with the Longreen pack, so hounds are not used to going in on their own. Then, another flash of reddish grey came right under the Huntsman’s horse’s front feet! Another bobcat bounded off in front of Susan, and she quickly called hounds to the line. Unfortunately, they hit the scent line at a wrong angle and Susan could not get to them through the briars. So, off they went - to heel. Whipper-in David Deeken quickly stopped them and harked them back to the Huntsman, where they hit the line well. They roared off in full cry, but in a matter of minutes the scent was gone again. This bobcat had bounded across the vast floodway, but hounds were not able to follow it across the water. Hounds caught the scent on some of the tall sedge grass along the edge, so riders knew where it had gone. The Longreen hounds have not run bobcat before, so it is a new smell to them and they were encouraged to work it. Temperatures began to fall as the wind increased, making scenting more difficult. Soon it was time to head back to Buford Hall with all hounds, riders, and horses accounted for. The return trip took hounds and riders along the Dunavant waterway. There, a spectacle had drawn people’s attention all during the hunt: thousands of snow geese, white geese with black tipped wings, flying over the flooded field. And in the sky, there were several "Vs" of honking geese making such a clamor! It was a breathtaking sight to behold! Meanwhile back at Buford Hall, volunteers had prepared a banquet table with all of the delicacies brought by the participants at the meet. The feast included ham, turkey, dressing, potato casserole, broccoli casserole, smoked salmon, fruit, tossed salad, cheese balls, corn, and lots of desserts. There was such a wide variety of good food to eat. Rev. Taylor had followed some of the hunt with the car followers and waited for most of the hunt participants to gather before he blessed the meal. Riders were thankful for a safe day in the beauty and spectacle of God's creation, with friends who enjoy the sport. Riders ate, visited, and surmised about what happened to the first bobcat. Some thought it had gone into a nearby drainpipe. The evening’s sunset on the delta, where the eye can see a broad horizon, was as awesome as the sunrise had been. Scattered clouds caught the retreating sun's rays, first pink, then rosey, then clouds turned a deep crimson. Those who drove home through Charleston, Misissippi, found themselves in the midst of a Christmas parade, floats and all. The end of a full day with horses and hounds marked the beginning of another season and next year, 2007-2008, will be Longreen’s 50th season. Founder of the hunt, Bart Mueller, age 91 always called them, “Those long-eared, long-legged, bugle voiced hounds of Longreen.” Future hunting events include a full season of hunting, new territory to explore, a joint meet to help Shawnee Hunt in Illinois celebrate their hunt week in February, and a centennial hound trial on March 13-14, 2007. Photos from the Opening Meet hunt by Patrick Jacks are available on line at http://www.vividmemoriesphotography.com. Photos of Opening Meet taken by Melinda Barnett can be seen at http://www.AboutMemoriesPhotography.com.