It's not unusual for a lot of visitors to the South to wonder what these large, fenced sections of woodlands that have signs proclaiming them to be a "Fox Preserve" are.

Having grown up here in the eastern part of North Carolina, I knew that the pens held foxes but I have to admit that I didn't really understand exactly what it was that was going on there. I knew that sportsmen took their fox hounds there to let them chase foxes inside the enclosure but that's about as far as my knowledge of the mission of fox pens went.

When a friend invited me to attend a large occasion (let's call it a "fox chase" or a "field trial") at the Bay City Fox Preserve located near Bayboro, it gave me the chance to see for myself just what was going on in one of these fox pens.

George Jones and Ronnie Ireland, the owners of the Bay City Fox Preserve, directed my novice's questions at one of the dog owners while they went about overseeing the event with the Hound Master, Frankie Martin.

Terry Smith of Greenville proved to be quite patient as he attempted to answer the questions I had.

The occasion was the Fourth Annual Fox Chase, Speed and Drive. The field trial was sponsored by the Vandemere United Methodist Church and was held to raise money for cancer research through the well-known Relay For Life. It's well-known that some schools and charities have raised considerable sums of money through fishing tournaments and deer hunts but using a field trial for fox hounds as a fundraiser is both effective and interesting.

After four years of successfully sponsoring this event, it's obvious that the Vandemere United Methodist Church in cooperation with the Bay City Fox Preserve know what they're doing.

The "trial" began at 6:30 in the morning when some 149 fox hounds with large numbers painted on their sides were released inside a wooded 350-acre tract enclosed by a fence. The object of the chase was to let the hounds pursue red foxes, gray foxes and coyotes and be graded for their individual hunting abilities and skills. The winners are rewarded with spectacular trophies and the Relay for Life benefits from the $25 (per dog) registration fee that the dog's owners pay.

Several foxes and coyotes had been released inside the enclosed area for the specific purpose of being chased by the dogs. This is not a contest to see which dogs are best at killing foxes. As a matter of a fact, it's considered to be very undesirable to have one of the dogs even harm one of the foxes. Some describe it as being a contest between dog owners, trainers and their dogs to see whose dogs were best bred and trained for the specific job of chasing foxes.

Before any animal lovers get all bent out of shape about the poor coyotes or foxes, let me stress that there is no intention on the part of the field trial for the foxes or coyotes to be harmed. To quote one of the contest officials, "If the dogs should harm one of the animals they're chasing, that part of the chase is instantly over. The foxes and coyotes are valuable to the owners of the fox pens and we don't want them to be harmed."

There are small, man-made, enclosures within the pen where coyotes or foxes could find a safe haven when they want to get away from the dogs. The dogs can't get close to them in these dog-proof escape pens and, according to some, the foxes actually enjoy the chase.

The foxes have been observed leaving these safe areas and taunting the dogs into beginning another chase. If the foxes don't want to be chased any more they simply returned to their safe area and stay there until the hounds have been removed from the fenced area.

The actual fox pen has gravel roads that follow the line of the fence that completely encompasses the area. More roads cross within the enclosed area.

Stationed at strategic points on the interior and perimeter roads were judges that graded the individual dogs on their performance as they chased foxes. The judges observed the numbered dogs' actions as they crossed the roads or trails and graded the dogs' individual performance levels accordingly.

Such things as the dogs' voice, running ability, pack leadership, ability and stamina were scored by the judges, placed on a score sheet and relayed to the central bookkeeping spot where computers were used to keep a running account of each dog's score.

The foxes and coyotes were released in the pen under the strict supervision and licensing of the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission and, between chases, were well fed and rested. The owners of the fox preserve actually purchase the animals from professional trappers for the specific purpose of creating well organized field trials. This is a sporting event that's quite different from the type of fox hunting that formerly occurred in England where the animals could to be killed by the dogs.

After the competition ended at just before noon, the dogs' owners began the process of gathering in their dogs and the members of the Vandemere United Methodist Church began their part of the festivities.

This was a well-attended event that attracted several hundred onlookers along with the owners and trainers of the fox hounds. Numerous youngsters were among the onlookers and the Vandemere UMC even supplied the youngsters with small trophies noting their attendance at the event.

Three pigs had been roasting on a grill for hours and several tables were laden with some of the finest cakes and pies that the ladies of the church had cooked to be auctioned to raise money for the Relay for Life cause. Other tables contained door prizes (and several tons of dry dog food in 50 pound bags) for the raffle. All money raised through the field trial went directly to the Relay for Life fund. More than $5,000 was raised for the Relay for Life and cancer research.

Be it hunting deer, bear, quail, ducks or foxes and coyotes with the aid of dogs, this is a sport that's deeply rooted in the United States and particularly, in the south.

There are numerous wildlife conservation organizations that support hunting with dogs and even contribute to the North Carolina Sporting Dogs Association which lobbies the Legislature on the behalf of those dog hunters.