Landowners
Foxhunting is an outdoor sport rooted in history, which once served the very practical purpose of ridding farmers of the pesky fox. Modern foxhunting is a recreational sport enjoyed by people who love to get outside and surround themselves with nature. Foxhunters do not kill their quarry—modern foxhunting is all about the thrill of the chase. Foxhunters share with other game hunters a deep appreciation of the great outdoors.
Foxhunters are mounted on horseback and follow a pack of dogs in pursuit of the scent of fox or coyote. The person in charge of hunting the hounds (the “huntsman”) encourages the hounds to start searching for a scent. The huntsman communicates with the hounds using voice commands as well as simple notes blown through a brass horn. Once hounds find fox or coyote scent, riders follow the hounds while they track until the scent is lost or leaves the territory. The hounds are typically about 10 minutes or so behind the game. Mounted outriders (“whips”) are strategically positioned around the perimeter of the hunting territory to ensure the hounds stay on track, in territory, and to help watch for game. Their radio communications assist the huntsman in interpreting the movements and sounds of the hounds relative to the quarry. Once the hounds have followed a scent line to its conclusion, the huntsman praises the hounds and then redirects them to a different location to try to source more game.
Mounted spectators during a foxhunt are called the “field.” These riders do not have an official job like the huntsman and the whips, but ride along to watch the hounds work. The field is divided into groups according to the speed that they follow the action. “First flight” follows directly behind the hounds and huntsman and therefore rides the fastest. “Second flight” takes a slightly slower track, and “third flight” often positions themselves on top of hills to watch the action unfold below, rather than following the hounds directly.
The sport of foxhunting attracts a wide variety of people. Many foxhunters were equestrians first and then fell in love with hunting from horseback. Some foxhunters were outdoorsmen and hunters first and later began riding in order to foxhunt. Children as well as adults enjoy the action. The hunt club is subscription based, with membership dues going directly to the care and maintenance of the hounds. While there is variation in how foxhunting clubs are structured and governed, Fort Defiance Hounds is an entirely volunteer organization. Each participant, including the huntsman and whips, engages strictly for the love of the sport.
Fort Defiance Hounds hunt Tuesdays and Saturdays from August-March, weather permitting. Hunts usually last for 2-3 hours, with approximately 6-20 riders and 6-14 hounds participating in each hunt. The territory which we hunt is usually 500+ acres of privately owned farmland where landowners have granted permission for foxhunting to take place. Usually, multiple adjoining landowners make up this 500+ acres, as there are fewer swaths of land this size in modern days under one landowner. The hunting schedule is arranged weeks to months in advance with landowner input and permission. Riders carry a Department of Wildlife Resources hunting license, just like other hunters, and the DWR defines our legal hunting season. We typically hunt a given property 1-3 times per month during the hunting season, with landowner approval. After hunting, we often gather and enjoy a potluck style tailgate to rehash the day’s events with friends.
Fort Defiance Hounds does not own any land. Like most hunters, we rely on the generosity of landowners who grant permission for foxhunting on their land. Landowners who allow foxhunting are typically crop and cattle farmers who enjoy enabling the survival of an outdoor sport which draws people together and into nature. Like deer hunters, we have public access to national forest land, but the rocky, mountainous terrain of national forest makes this land difficult and even treacherous to follow hounds at speed from horseback. A combination of open fields and woods, with a natural water source, is an ideal landscape for foxhunting.
Since our hunting season is primarily during the winter months, hunting does not largely overlap with the growing season and therefore does not disturb dormant crop land. When faced with a planted field while hunting, riders are always instructed to ride the perimeter of the field so as not to damage any crops.
Foxhunters commonly traverse through pasture containing livestock. Our hounds are trained to not interact with livestock, and riders provide cattle with a wide berth so as not to disrupt the herd. Riders are careful to leave gates as they find them. Radio communication during the hunt passes along vital information about gates, livestock, and crops.
Virginia landowners are protected from liability during foxhunting by the state, per Chapter 62 of the Code of Virginia, titled Equine Activity Liability. The code states:
“…an equine activity sponsor, an equine professional, or any other person, which shall include a corporation, partnership, or limited liability company, shall not be liable for an injury to or death of a participant resulting from the intrinsic dangers of equine activities…”
As a further liability shield, Fort Defiance Hounds requires participants to sign a waiver, which specifically states that landowners cannot be held liable. Fort Defiance Hounds also carries liability insurance, and landowners can be named on the policy as “additional insured” at their request.
Landowners who allow foxhunting are not monetarily compensated, as compensation changes the threshold for liability (3.2-6203 Code of Virginia). Through their generosity, landowners play a vital role in the survival of an outdoor sport which is threatened by development and the shrinking existence of open land. Landowners often find it useful to have additional eyes on their land who can alert them to potential issues such as damaged fences or gates, or sick or injured livestock. Landowners commonly enjoy watching foxhunting from their land, and often join us for the potluck tailgate afterwards to socialize and enjoy the company of fellow outdoorsmen.
Fort Defiance Hounds hunts in the Shenandoah Valley, and we are always seeking to build new relationships with farmers and landowners. We would love to talk to you further about gaining the opportunity to hunt across your land. We are happy to answer any questions you may have about this fantastic hunting sport.