High Capping Fees

[ISR]

I am very new to hunting in the US, after been lightly exposed to it in Devon, UK. I capped numerous times with East Devon, Silverton, and a few joint meets out on Dartmoor. Each time my cap was 20 quid, or about 30 USD.

I have to admit, I am a bit shell shocked by the high capping fees of 100, 150, 200+ fees in the MD/VA areas. Is their any patricular reason for the high caps? It would seem to me, from lurking on this forum that many of the local hunts are steeped in tradition, and try very hard to mirror the traditions of the sport’s orgins. Why then are the high cap fees (and subsequent high membership fees) not also reflected?

I do realize that keeping the hounds, paying salaried employees requires fees, so perhaps another question might be, how to the UK contigingency do so on a shoe string budget?

[JSwan]

This area is one of the most expensive places in the entire country. Everything from vet care to land prices to property taxes to kennel licensing… The cost of living is exorbitant. Many clubs are entirely self funded, and volunteers work their butts off trying to keep membership reasonable. Other clubs have a Master or Masters who can help defray some of the costs. Others have a combination. Still, the costs of running a decent club are very high.

Factored into capping fees are insurance costs. Hunt insurance premiums are very high as well. Even with our recreational use and equine activity liability statutes, each guest actually costs a club money. The clubs insurer factors in the estimated number of guests.

There is no intent to discourage guests, especially juniors. Junior caps are lower. I don’t know how UK clubs operate financially; I’m not sure there is a way to make a fair comparison. The cost of running a club varies a great deal even within one state. Clubs differ across the country. But this area, Lordy is it horribly expensive.

[Trakehner]

Hmmm, cheaper to eat at McDonalds than Maximes.

Depends on where you hunt. Podunk hunts charge little, you still have a great time but the cost is less.

Most Brit hunt capping fees aren’t 20 pounds.
Burkely is $103-135
Kimblewick is $111
Quorn (the oldest GB hunt) is $207

Irish hunts can be equally as expensive…so what? As with anything, when someone asks, “what does it cost to foxhunt?”…the answer is, “It depends on who you hunt with.”

[gkittredge]

If i divided my annual budget by the number of times we go out, each fixture costs about $1,000.00. (One thousand) in juat operating expenses. No paid staff.

Kibble, kennel heat, taxes, insurance, mfha dues, diesel fuel, vet, electricity - just the annual stuff. Forget the capital costs of the kennel, the land, fencing, hound truck, tracking collars, etc.

Capping fees and membership fees are not high enough.

[ISR]

Fair enough, like I said, i’m not oblivious to the costs of maintaining the kennels, I meant no disrespect.

My natural follow up question would be, who has the lowest capping fees in this area? I’m less concerned with prestige or lineage of hounds, and more concerned with enjoying my time with fellow enthusiasts without taking out a second mortgage.

[Trakehner]

Weekdays are often cheaper, so is the pre-season hunting (cubbing) which can be a real bargain. There are also the hunt weeks where the various hunts open their doors to prospective members.

Do you have the money to join a hunt? They can be pretty reasonable.

[KateDB]

ISR,
If you are interested in coming out with a hunt in the MD/VA area, I’d be happy to speak with you off-line. Our capping fee is a bit less than some of the prices you have mentioned, though not much!

[FitToBeTied]

ISR,

You don’t say where you are but that matters. Some hunts have pretty low capping fees during cubbing season. These can be as low as $50 if you hunt during the week and stay away from the weekends.