cap limit to non-members?

[bigbaytb]

Do most hunts limit how many times a non-member caps with a hunt? Ours allows unlimited rides during the summer rides and fun activities, but can only cap 2x a season once cubbing starts. Then either join or don’t ride again til summer.

I’m the perpetual marketer/salesperson and am always trying to get more people in this fun sport in my area. I feel that more people would cap (and thus raising money for hounds) or more may join but that they take longer to decide than in 2 rides. Some people compete during the summer and miss the summer rides too.

Am I on target, or off base?

[JSwan]

There is a reason hunts limit caps - and it’s not to discourage new members.

It’s because in order for the hunt club to meet its expenses (and a well run club has a lot of expenses) they must be able to rely upon a revenue stream. And that means dues.

People who cap but never join don’t become part of the club in the sense that they participate in club activities, have a vested interest in seeing the club succeed and continue, get to know the territory and hounds (very important), know the landowners and become part of the hunting community.

What some newcomers do is cap around a lot before deciding which hunt club suits them. That’s a good way of checking out a club, seeing if you like the territory, determining if you have a lot in common with the members, and if it’s a good “fit” for you and your horse. And you do it without making that extraordinary commitment to pay membership dues (which sometimes includes an initiation fee).

There are a lot of ways to introduce yourself to the sport - but each club has its own territory, style/method of hunting, and each club has its own personality. They’ll all welcome guests, but they have to balance that with the needs of the club.

It’s fun to cap with other hunts - you get to see how the huntsman hunts his/her hounds, you get to ride in their wonderful territory, and you get to know other foxhunters.

A newcomer doesn’t have to just cap with one club and then join - cap with a few and then decide which club suits.

[bigbaytb]

Ah, Thank you.

That gives me a much better way to explain to non-members why it’s limited.

Unfortunately, in our area, there is no other hunt club for 100 miles.

[JSwan]

@bigbaytb;5117414

Unfortunately, in our area, there is no other hunt club for 100 miles.

That’s awful. I hope more clubs will be organized in the future.

[Beverley]

Adding to what JSwan said- typically where I have hunted, the limit was 3 caps per season- but if someone joined during that season, the caps were credited against the dues owing.

Prospective members were indeed required to cap first- to make sure they were not a danger to themselves, or others, or hounds. So it presents an opportunity for ‘both sides’ to decide whether joining is a good thing!

Following up on the reference to people who cap but never join- I am tell you as a former secretary/ treasurer that we (‘secretaries’ that is) were all too aware of ‘professional cappers,’ people who would cap as often as possible and then move to the next hunt after wearing out their welcome. Or people who were skilled at ‘forgetting’ to pay their capping fee and seeing how many freebies they could swindle. Either of those larcenous scenarios in my opinion shows disrespect to both a hunt’s members and its landowners. Rest assured that we secretaries had tricks of the trade for dealing with them, heh, heh, heh…

The flip side is that a member of any given hunt is always welcome to cap with a neighboring (or even far away) hunt if the basic courtesies are followed. The biggest reason for contacting a secretary (or MFH) to ask to cap on a particular day is to make sure that the place where hunting will occur can accommodate the expected number of members and guests. Sometimes there are landowner considerations and/or parking considerations that come into play, and it’s not a question of not wanting a guest to come, but maybe that day wouldn’t be best for the particular hunt.

For those who might be ‘on the fence’ still after a couple of caps- you might want to point out that car following is free and unlimited!

[Jaegermonster]

Our hunt allows unlimited capping during cubbing. Once the formal season starts, non members may cap 3 times, not including Opening and Closing Hunts, so really they get 5 caps. They may also attend all the summer activities and so on, paying the appropriate charge where applicable.

I think that is more than reasonable, and for all the reasons that J Swan stated.

We have also started offering a new membership category this season, a half membership. You may join either the first half or the second half of the season for a reduced fee. This was done to accomodate people who are only here for part of the year (such as winter visitors etc) and people like vets who are very busy during breeding season, and so on. Half members are not eligible for colors or staff positions, however.

[jawa]

Your hunts insurance may also be affected by membership numbers and by the average number of participants capping each year.

We allow 3 caps per season.

If you want you can become a social member and cap 6 times.

Or if you decide to join, your caps go to your membership dues.

If you go to Horse and Hound they have and interesting thread on how some hunts do a split fee for dues.

 Least amount is for those that will only hunt opening, closing, and  
 weekdays.

 Next amount for weekends only.

 And finally the most for full members who hunt on any day.

Depending on the size of the hunt this could be a paperwork nightmare keeping up with who is “allowed” to hunt which days. You could go on that BB and see how they manage the situation.

[bigbaytb]

thanks all!

I’m always curious how other hunts do things. Helps me be a more knowledgable member!

[Jaegermonster]

@jawa;5117768

Your hunts insurance may also be affected by membership numbers and by the average number of participants capping each year.

This is true, at least thru MFHA insurance. The premium is set by the expected number of people hunting per hunt for the season, so if all of a sudden nobody joined and just capped it would be a mess in so many ways.

[JSwan]

Completely forgot about insurance -yep - definitely a huge factor for hunting as well as any hunt related activity/function.

[rivenoak]

GCH allows one cap per season.

PVB doesn’t have a limit and we will accept a “cap 'til membership” situation. About 9 caps will pay your dues for the year.

However, someone on this plan isn’t counted as having paid dues until then; for our joint meet in CA, if they aren’t paid up, they’ll still have to pay the cap to hunt with us there.

PVB has a small membership & usually a teeny-tiny field, especially on weekdays. Being this lenient works out ok for us. We’ll really work with someone to get them out hunting.

[SLW]

My hunt has a cap limit of 3 hunts per person. They could use them up three hunts in a row or drag it out to one hunt a year for three years.

[Ravencrest_Camp]

[QUOTE=SLW;5121898]
My hunt has a cap limit of 3 hunts per person. They could use them up three hunts in a row or drag it out to one hunt a year for three years.[/QUOTE]

I think this is the first time I have ever heard of it being a life time limit.

Whenever I have seen a limit on the number of hunts one can cap, I assumed it was for the season, and not over ones entire life time.

[littlecreek]

Hamilton Hunt allows unlimited capping during cubbing but once formal hunting starts there is a 3 ride limit, except for Juniors (under 18) who can cap all season as much as they wish. Another thing the HH does offer tho is any cap fees will be applied to a membership and we do offer an introductory membership. That gets the person all the cubbing they wish to attend and 5 formal hunts. If they want to cap beyond that they can but most then decide to take out the “full meal deal”. The introductory is only available to new members and for only the one year. It’s been pretty popular and seems to be a way to ease someone into becoming a full fledged hunting addict!

[wateryglen]

just my 2 cents!

It’s 3-6 caps limit per season in our area of Virginia. I know a coupla hunts that do unlimited caps during cubbing. Remember, some hunts need the money and some don’t need large fields so they use cap limits and high dollar cap fees to limit field sizes and #'s of guests. I know one that’s trying a “waiting list” for cappers on weekends. Some hunts will let you go beyond the limit later in the season but you have to ask. Remember, cappers aren’t members who work for the hunts interests so aren’t usually prospective members in our area. There a lotta moochers here. Professional cappers in a way. Never pay dues with anybody but hunt all season by jumping around.
Also many hunts offer associate memberships with neighboring hunts to bypass initiation fees and offer a weekends only hunting option. Social memberships run about $250/yr and will usually give you more caps. Like a 3 cap limit hunt WILL give 6 caps to social members but it might have some limitations on their use.

[amc2]

Mosthunts limit capping. I feel it is less to discourage membership than it is to ENCOURAGE membership

Hunting is a great, social and close knit community. I’ve met my best friends through hunting.

[ladybugred]

I don’t know if there is a limit on the hunt nearest me, they do however REQUIRE four caps before you can become a member.

[sar2008]

[QUOTE=jawa;5117768]
Your hunts insurance may also be affected by membership numbers and by the average number of participants capping each year.

We allow 3 caps per season.

If you want you can become a social member and cap 6 times.

Or if you decide to join, your caps go to your membership dues.

If you go to Horse and Hound they have and interesting thread on how some hunts do a split fee for dues.

 Least amount is for those that will only hunt opening, closing, and  
 weekdays.

 Next amount for weekends only.

 And finally the most for full members who hunt on any day.

Depending on the size of the hunt this could be a paperwork nightmare keeping up with who is “allowed” to hunt which days. You could go on that BB and see how they manage the situation.[/QUOTE]

jawa, your in my area so I am going to direct this question to you. It has been about 4 years since I have hunted. I used to frequent Middleburg, Piedmont, Snickersville and Orange. I had a membership to Piedmont and Orange and capped as a guest to landowners in Snickersville and Middleburg.

I would like to potentially join a hunt again. Obviously, since located in Waterford, those four hunts are too far. But I am considering Loudoun, Loudoun West, Fairfax and Blue Ridge. Is there a general rule to be able to cap with them first to see which one I would like to join? Also, I don’t know anyone that hunts with any of these. Am I able to go not as a guest, but by myself?

[jawa]

Sar2008,

I am located in central Va. I can’t speak for the hunts in the area, but looking at their web sites several seem very welcoming. I would call the secretary or contact at each hunt and see if they can accommodate you for a hunt to test out the waters.

Best of luck and happy hunting!