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| photo by Sue Kelleher |
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| Off to the first draw |
Hunting by permission of the Masters. Please call: Mrs Donna Rogers,
MFH 540-338-4031 or 703-431-9555 Capping fees should be made payable
to Loudoun Hunt West and are payable at the meet. CAPPING FEES (LIMITED TO 4)
WEDNESDAYS AND FRIDAYS - $75 SUNDAYS - $100 JUNIORS 16 & under
- Free
Attire has always been rigidly conventional for two
main reasons. 1. Over the years people have been hunting, a form of clothing has been developed that comes closest to
the most practical under the average conditions of weather and terrain encountered in the hunt field. 2. There's a feeling
of tradition, especially by those who watch the spectacle, of people properly and conventionally dressed for the event. With the LHW for the cubbing season,
which usually starts at the beginning of September, all field members as well as staff are dressed in informal ratcatcher.
This usually consists of a tweed coat, cut as a short riding coat, vented at the back to prevent bunching up on the saddle.
Breeches can be tan, buff or basically any other color than white. Boots can be brown or black; as tradition
dictates, brown boots are worn only during the cubbing season. Most riders own a black pair only and these will
suffice for cubbing. The same goes for gentleman that have been awarded their colors, as well as staff members, and
have brown tops to their boots; it starts to get rather expensive if one has a brown pair, a brown topped pair and
a black pair so brown topped boots are deemed acceptable for cubbing with the LHW. The hat should be either brown
(for cubbing only) or black. The shirt with a necktie or colored stock (with a plain gold pin) or choker. Again, with the LHW, when the weather is still pretty warm at the start of the cubbing season
coats can be optionally worn at the Masters' discretion. Beginning with Opening Meet, Masters of most hunts prefer that their fields dress more formally than
in cubbing. With the LHW formality is the order of the day for Opening Meet and for all Sunday meets thereafter.
For our Wednesday and Friday meets attire is informal ratcatcher Regular field
members wear a white stock (with a plain gold pin), canary waistcoat (optional) tan breeches, black boots without tops, black
coat with plain black buttons (3) and a black hat. Gentleman that have been
awarded their colors (and button) wear their red coats with brass buttons (4) with the hunt insignia on them (they
also have 2 large buttons at the back of the coat, at the top of the two vents, and 2 or 3 smaller ones at the cuff)
They also wear white breeches, brown topped boots, a white stock (with a plain gold pin) and a canary vest (optional) Ladies that have received their colors, and button, do not wear a red coat but carry the colors
of the hunt on their black coat collars. Their black buttons (4) have the hunt insignia on them, usually
in white. Those ladies remain in tan breeches and a white stock. All gentleman and ladies
that have received their colors and buttons are entitled to have small brass buttons with the hunt insignia on their waistcoats. As an aside, huntsman have 5 brass buttons on their red coat (with the 2 at the back and 2 or
3 at the cuff) Masters' and professional whippers-in have 4 buttons. Spurs have always been considered as part of the hunt livery. They should be of the Prince of Wales
style and be blunt, not rowelled, with the straps matching the boot color. Regularly worn, riders will get used
to not bothering their horse with them until necessary.
HUNTING LICENSE REQUIRED By law anyone following hounds in Virginia MUST have a hunting
license carried on their person at all times. Keeping it in your wallet, truck or trailer is considered hunting without a license. Junior members must also carry one and what
kind of license depends on the child's age. Guests must also purchase a hunting license,
even if they plan to cap for just one day. To minimize expense, the Virginia resident may purchase a license for the county in which they intend to cap. Or, if the person
intends to hunt for three days, the individual can purchase a three day license. Out of state residents coming to Virginia to follow hounds must purchase
a non-resident hunting license. This applies
to anyone hunting on foot, mounted or following by car. People following hounds on foot, mounted or by car WITHOUT a weapon (firearm, muzzle loader, crossbow, bow, trap, shotgun) are exempt from
the hunter safety education requirements in Virginia.
It's a good idea to take the class anyway as it's full
of information about our laws and regulations and it could help educate other hunters about hunting with hounds. A
mounted or foot hunter who carries a pistol, even if it's just loaded with pellets/rock salt, must comply with the hunter safety education requirement. The course is free
and is offered all over the state throughout the year. A
conservation police officer (or any law enforcement officer) may enter onto private property to check licenses under the Open Fields Doctrine. No warrent or probable cause is
required The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries provides a website for obtaining hunting licenses. You must have access to a printer in order to print the license
from the website.
To obtain a hunting license online click here
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