FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Modern foxhunting is a recreational sport focused on the "thrill of the chase" rather than the harvest of game. Our hounds hunt the scent of a fox or coyote, and we do not kill the quarry. Once the hounds follow a scent line, usually out of territory or into a hole, the huntsman redirects them to a new location.

Each hunt typically consists of 6–14 hounds and between 6 and 20 mounted riders. Our hunting territory usually encompasses over 500 acres of adjoining private farmland.

Our hunting season generally runs from late August through March, with a break during Virginia's deer rifle season.

We hunt on Saturdays and occasional bye days, weather permitting.

Because we hunt primarily in the winter, our activities do not largely overlap with the growing season and do not disturb dormant cropland. If riders encounter a planted field, they are strictly instructed to ride the extreme outer perimeter to avoid soil or crop damage.

Our huntsman trains our hounds to ignore livestock, and riders are required to give cattle a wide berth to avoid disrupting the herd. We use radio communications to pass vital information regarding gate status and livestock locations; all gates are left exactly as they were found.

Virginia landowners are protected under the Equine Activity Liability Act (Chapter 62 of the Code of Virginia). This law states that an equine activity sponsor or "any other person" (including corporations or partnerships) shall not be liable for the death or injury of a participant resulting from the intrinsic dangers of equine activities.

Per the Code of Virginia (§ 3.2-6203), receiving monetary compensation changes the threshold for liability. By not providing payment, we ensure you maintain the highest level of statutory protection under the state's liability limits.

Landowners often find it beneficial to have "additional eyes" on their property. Our riders can alert you to downed fences, open gates, or sick and injured livestock, such as a recent instance where fox hunters alerted a farmer to the birth of a twin calf that may not have otherwise survived.

Capping is paying a one-day fee of $50 to ride with the hunt as a guest. It allows non-members to join the field without committing to a full season membership.

Please contact the Hunt Secretary for the current fixture card and directions to the meet location. Fees go toward supporting our hounds.

No, but you should be able to comfortably walk, trot, canter, and control your horse outside the ring. Hilltoppers provide a slower, non-jumping field for newer riders.

No worries! Every horse and rider has to start somewhere. Summer mounted hound exercises and early-autumn hunting provide relaxed, low-pressure opportunities to introduce your horse to fox chasing.

At every hunt, there is a non-jumping, slower group called Third Flight or Hilltoppers. This group follows at a more leisurely pace, making it an ideal setting for young horses or new riders to experience the sport safely and confidently.

Yes. All guests must sign a liability waiver before hunting, submit their negative Coggin’s, and acknowledge the hunt’s safety rules.

All mounted hunters are encouraged to purchase a Virginia Special Fox Hunting License and a National Forest Permit.

Carry proof of your license either on your phone or on your person in case you are stopped by a DWR Officer.

Yes, the more the merrier! But all riding guests must be registered and pay the capping fee. If you are bringing a non-riding guest contact the Hunt Secretary to confirm arrangements on having them car follow.

An independent pack is a hunt club that is not recognized or governed by a formal hunt association. Instead, the pack operates on its own, sets its own rules, and manages its own hounds, staff, territory, and membership without outside oversight.

No, but a comfortable level of riding ability is expected. You should be able to walk, trot, and canter safely, and control your horse in open fields. Third Flight provides a slower, non-jumping option for less experienced riders.

We encourage members and guests to wear helmets and we require helmets if you and your horse will be jumping.

While we value tradition, we value your health more! On particularly cold or wet days, the formal dress code may be excused in favor of warm winter coats or waterproof rain gear.

Absolutely. We prioritize your comfort and safety. We do not require English tack and welcome riders using whatever equipment they feel most secure in.