In fact, he much preferred chasing the fox with dogs to hunting with a gun.
Fox hunting in the Virginia of that day was a widely followed sport.

It was brought over from England and perhaps its greatest devotee was old Lord Fairfax, with whom Washington hunted when still in his teens.
Fairfax, whose seat was at Greenway Court in the Shenandoah Valley, was so passionately fond of it that if foxes were scarce near his home he would go to a locality where they were plentiful, would establish himself at an inn and would keep open house and welcome every person of good character and respectable appearance who cared to join him.
The following are some typical entries from Washington's _Where & how my time is Spent_: "Jany.

1st.

(1768) Fox huntg.

in my own Neck with Mr.
Robt.