The North Hills Hunt, first established in 1965 and recognized by the MFHA in 1968, is Nebraska’s first recognized fox hunt. Since Nebraska is long on land and short on population upon which to draw membership, the NHH is heavily reliant on volunteers. It is incorporated as a 501(c)3 non-profit educational organization, with a strong Board of Directors helping the Masters. The Hunt has had 16 Masters of Foxhounds, including current Masters Dr. Luke Matranga, Jim Sophir, and Dave Keffeler.
NHH maintains land, kennels, clubhouse and a pack of cross-bred hounds near Missouri Valley, Iowa, and hunts farmland near the kennels, flatland river bottom country near Yutan, Nebraska; rolling farm and timberland in southeast Nebraska, and open range in the sandhills near Burwell, Nebraska. It is a live hunt, pursuing red fox and coyote from October until April.
In 2000, NHH hired its first professional huntsman, Englishman Matthew Cook. When he left to hunt hounds in Rome, Italy, NHH brought in Irish native Mary Walker from her previous position in Rome, Georgia. In 2007, NHH hired newcomer Tyce Mothershead as kennelsman and the hounds were hunted by Steve Evans, and in 2008 Tyce was moved up to the position of professional huntsman.
The North Hills Hunt maintains hunting traditions such as an annual ball, hunter paces and trials, hound shows, and educational programs.
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