I noticed that in the opening meet photos of the Snickersville hunt that one of the whippers-in was wearing a red arm band. Many hunts do allow women who have colors and are staffing to wear scarlet. But traditionally women never wore scarlet and I know some hunts still hold to this tradition. It does seem to assist the huntsman and even the field to distinguish the ones staffing that days hunt (especially in wooded areas). Was wondering what your hunts might be doing in this regard? Do your ladies wear red? Do they wear an arm band like the Snickersville whips appear to? Or do the ladies whipping-in or leading the fields still wear black or blue hunt coats only? What about someone assigned to staff who has not received thier colors yet?
It was not only the whips, but also the 2nd Flight Field Master (see Photo 5 in the first set, and Photo 6 of the 2nd set) who wore a red arm band so that the field members could distinguish staff in that huge crowd. It was an easy thing to spot, making it so very simple to pay heed to immediately. 
Other than gentleman with colors, the only ladies that wear scarlet are our Master’s. Our whips and Field leaders are introduced at the beginning of the hunt, and that’s it. But we tend to have a small field with very few guests.
Edit to add: I was reminded that our whips wear white britches, regardless of gender, which is non-traditional for ladies
All staff, regardless of sex, wear Scarlet in the hunt I’m with. I don’t know how or why they arrived at that decision. But I think the result is good - regardless of “tradition”. They are more easily visible.
We often share the land with deer hunters - who are required to wear blaze orange. Though I don’t whip in, I’m glad to know that our whips are somewhat visible to other humans; especially in the dense brush and woods that comprise some of our fixtures.
I was required to wear scarlet when whipping in with two different hunts. I’d have been happy in a black coat, but it does look nice when staff matches. And I can attest that wearing red can be comforting when you trot around a turn in the woods and see that you are in a bow hunter’s sights!
For cubhunting, a few seasons I recall we wore matching red turtlenecks.
Our staff wears scarlet regardless of gender. During cubbing all staff still wears scarlett.
Our staff has grey helmets.
Also, during cubbing, we have special green shirts with the initals of our hunt on the collar
All staff, regardless of sex, in our hunt wear Scarlet coats. They need to have their colors before they are even considered to be whips. Mostly, it is because they need to have knowledge of the country.:yes:
I’m not sure why one needs a special mark to distinguish staff. Our staff are working, that’s how we know they are staff. Everyone else is in a group behind the master. We have pretty small fields and professional whippers-in; I don’t know if that makes a difference.
PVB’s staff wears nothing different than a member with colors. But somewhat like what Xeroxchick said, they’re working, so you can figure out who’s whipping in that day. And the same people tend to have the same positions, although it depends on who’s there on a given day and with which horse.
It sounds like this year we are going back to having an assigned Field Master, though. For the past few years, if we’ve had one, they’ve been announced at the beginning of the meet, and you just had to remember who it was.
We’re a small group, so it works out fine normally. Guests are usually well-tended by the member who brought them.
Scarlet
Our Staff wears Scarlet regardless of gender during formal hunting. In cubbing season, they wear solid green coats.
[QUOTE=J Swan;2824101]
All staff, regardless of sex, wear Scarlet in the hunt I’m with. I don’t know how or why they arrived at that decision. But I think the result is good - regardless of “tradition”. They are more easily visible.
We often share the land with deer hunters - who are required to wear blaze orange. Though I don’t whip in, I’m glad to know that our whips are somewhat visible to other humans; especially in the dense brush and woods that comprise some of our fixtures.[/QUOTE]
In our hunt, you must have colors to be staff, so the colors thing is not an issue. Only staff wears scarlet, unless you are a guest and are entitled to wear it with your home hunt, and all in the field wear black.
And I agree with JSwan. It is a good safety thing.
In my hunt, all staff wears Scarlet regardless of gender. All others in black, to include gentleman with colors.
In our hunt only the male staff wear scarlet coats. There is one female master, who is the first field master that chooses to wear black. I think she is pretty strict in traditions, and I believe her mother was the same way. I believe she doesn’t wear white britches either, but I could be wrong…
During cubbing, staff wears green polos with the logo on them.
I’m curious.
For each person who responded - do you know if your state requires hunters to wear blaze orange (or other color designed to stand out)
- When hunting any game species during the firearms deer season, every hunter or person accompanying a hunter shall wear a blaze orange hat or blaze orange upper body clothing that is visible from 360 degrees or display at least 100 square inches of solid blaze orange material at shoulder level within body reach and visible from 360 degrees. Hats may have a bill or brim color or design other than solid blaze orange. Hats shall not be in "camo" style, since the latter is designated to prevent visibility. A logo, which does not detract from visibility, may be worn on a blaze orange hat.
- [B]Blaze orange is not required[/B] during the muzzleloading deer season(s) or by waterfowl hunters, individuals participating in hunting dog field trials and [B]fox hunters on horseback without firearms[/B].
- Hunters hunting with archery tackle during an open firearms deer season, in areas where the discharge of firearms is prohibited by state law or local ordinance, are exempt from the blaze orange requirement.
Yeah, but there was that season in the mid-80s, before they fixed the flaw in the law, where we had to wear blaze orange over our scarlet coats. Boy did that look ugly. I tended to keep my little orange vest in my pocket, but the game warden did walk all the way across a big field one day to gently but firmly make me put it on. It WAS handy to throw over the top strand of a wire fence for jumping, saved wear and tear on the coat!
Glad I was living/hunting in PA at the time. No blaze orange requirements.
I already knew the law in Virginia - I was asking other folks about the law in their state.
Because, as Beverly referenced - there is a reason staff in Virginia don’t have to wear blaze orange over their coats (at least after that one season!) The “blaze orange” requirement was created - but foxhunters were included even though we already wear a bright color. It was an oversight that was later remedied.
Scarlet is the “blaze orange” that is specific for our sport. I know it’s traditional for females not to wear scarlet - but for staff - perhaps it’s a good idea so other hunters can see you. I’d hate for the gubmint to decide that we have to wear blaze orange - it clashes horribly with red. 
