North Carolina’s History of Hunting With Hounds

Whether it is a deerhound running the swamps of eastern North Carolina, a foxhound at full cry in the Piedmont, or a bear hound calling treed in the shadows of the mountain, the culture of dog hunting is intertwined with North Carolina’s identity and history. Hunting with the assistance of dogs in this state dates to pre-history when Native Americans would use canines to assist with hunts. Hounds were later introduced by colonists and were used to pursue various animals. There is written record from period publications in the early 1800s that describes the use of hounds for the pursuit of fox and deer.

In 1989, the North Carolina General Assembly designated the Plott hound as the official state dog. Originally developed from boarhounds of Germany, the Plott hound originated in the Balsam Mountain area of the state. The hound was used for protection and helped to round up free-grazing livestock but, more importantly, was used to hunt bear. Bear hunting provided meat for the table and a source of grease for various uses to early settlers in the remote mountains where self-sufficiency was required.

The culture of hound hunting is celebrated in North Carolina with a street festival in the small town of Saluda every July when the town hosts Coon Dog Days. This festival celebrates the loyal hounds, which are used for hunting and are known for their low baritone bark and an amazing sense of smell.

The real celebration of the hound is witnessed through the various hunts, field trials, hunting clubs, and kennels across North Carolina that keep traditions of hound hunting alive. It is these clubs and individuals who keep the dogs in the woods achieving that for which they are bred. These hunters are entrusted with continuing the tradition and hold a responsibility for its continuation into the future. North Carolina’s landscape has changed over the years. Fragmented land ownership and the state’s population increase have created challenges for wildlife populations and hunting methods. To ensure the future of hunting, hunters must be ethical and responsible in all their actions.