History

ROSE TREE-BEAUFORT HUNT - Est. 2025

The Rose Tree-Beaufort Hunt is an organization whose guiding principle is to always do what is best for hunting. Over the years, this ethos has grown and strengthened the hunt as it expanded both territory and membership through the foresight to relocate to more abundant hunting country, and later through a series of mergers.

Fifty-five years after its move westward to York County, the Rose Tree Hunt's Master Mike Shupp asked Sean Cully, MFH and Huntsman of the Blue Mountain Hunt, to carry forward the legacy of the hunt. Sean, his wife Maryann, and their children were honored by the opportunity to become stewards of an organization with such a long and distinguished history, and in 2015 established the Rose Tree-Blue Mountain Hunt. Under Sean's leadership, the hunt continued its tradition of strengthening the sport through strategic growth, including a merger with the Saxonburg Hunt that expanded its territory. That same philosophy carried forward when Brian Kiely, MFH and Huntsman, assumed leadership in 2024 and, together with Tracy McCormick, MFH, unified the hunt with the Beaufort Hunt in 2025 to create the Rose Tree-Beaufort Hunt.

BLUE MOUNTAIN HUNT - Est. 1999

Blue Mountain Hunt was a farmer pack started in 1999 by Sean Cully. For 10 years Sean hunted his July and Walker hounds on foot. In 2009, he began hunting his pack on horseback. In 2011, BMH became a registered hunt with the MFHA. BMH was then recognized in 2014. As Master and Huntsman of his own pack of hounds for many years, Sean developed a fast, hard-driving hound that is also easy to control.

BEAUFORT HUNT USA - Est. 1929

The Beaufort Hunt USA was organized in 1929 by Ehrman B. Mitchell, a Harrisburg native who along with his sister Mary Gallagher owned a 1,000-acre tract of land north of Harrisburg in the Linglestown Valley. Permission to use the name and hunt livery of the Beaufort Hunt was granted by England's Duke of Beaufort. The hunt grew in both territory and membership from those early beginnings, enjoying a strong base of dedicated hunting and social members who take great pride in the history of the Beaufort Hunt.

ROSE TREE HUNT - Est. 1859

Rose Tree Hunt is the oldest subscription hunt in America on record. Rose Tree began in 1859 and hunted in the vicinity of Media, Delaware County until 1960. In 1960 the hunt relocated to York County with Joint Masters John Richard and William Elliott. RTH has remained in York County since.