How Often Does Your Hunt go Out?

[Jaegermonster]

Our hunt has a “main territory” that has the home of the JtMFH’s and also the kennels, and the barn for the MFH/huntsmans horses. Everyone else (incl staff) supplies their own horses and comes from wherever. Other than the professional kennelman, this hunt has all volunteer staff.
We have several other territories that everybody trailers to, the JtMFH/huntsman brings the hounds and her horse in her trailer.
In the past we have done potluck breakfasts on Wednesdays and members took a turn signing up for saturdays, but there was some discussion this year about that changing. We are getting bigger and it’s getting expensive.
With this hunt, all hounds wear collars.
This hunt goes out every Wednesday and every saturday from 1 Oct to around 10 March, with one sunday hunt to have brunch at the country club for our breakfast and this season one other sunday meet to have a joint meet with the other hunt I belong to.

With the other hunt i belong to, there is one territory that you hack to from the kennels.
The hounds go in a separate hound truck.
The kennels are at the JtMFH’s home, other than the professional kennelman, all staff is volunteer, again, everyone supplies their own horses etc.
All breakfasts are potluck.
No tracking collars.
this hunt goes out every wednesday and every sunday from 1 Oct to 10 March, which is totally awesome because I get to hunt all the time with both hunts, as someone else said, I’m very fortunate to have somewhat flexible hours right now and a great supervisor

[wateryglen]

differences in hunts!

Hunts that are more well heeled can afford to hunt more often and have bigger parties and such. In order to hunt 3-4 times/week; the hunt needs to have enough horses & hounds& staff maintained to handle that. It costs a lot of money to maintain a hunt kennel etc. So a larger hunt might have more money or a smaller less. And the amount of land they have also dictates their hunting frequency and/or how far they go or how long they stay out. Hunts with smaller territories might only hunt 1-2 times/week. Larger 3-4 times. Some hunts have open memberships and some are owned by a single individual who allows friends to join him & enjoy his pack. So how it goes has a lot of variance. Thats’ why learning about a hunt you want to join might be very advantageous! Certainly you need to investigate if they have a “second flight” or hilltoppers field and if so, on what days. Some hunts only have them on weekends. Many hunts only have tailgates or parties on weekends after hunting. And it’s important to see if the people are a match for you! Afterall you’re there to have fun!!! :yes:

I think learning about their territory is very, very important also. You might want to see if it’s doable for you & your horse. Some hunts have flatter or deeper going or mountainous terrain or swamps or cactus or whatever. The kinds of fences (height, types, frequency) might matter so there is no standard or norm for hunts. Here in Va. there’s the usual chicken coop type jump at around 3’ built by most hunts say 80% of the time. But that varies from hunt to hunt as to how trappy they are which can be dictated by the terrain or most of all the landowner or the builders or the livestock!

I find that very often, like fishing, the stories about the jumps sizes are often…maybe…slightly…exagerated!! :winkgrin: Did I just say that???

[Ponyclubrocks]

Two hunts a week (Wednesdays and Saturdays) and two hound walks a week during hunt season which runs from the end of August to the end of March. A lot of the winter meets get canceled for ice or extreme cold, but we still meet for the social events even when the hunt has been called off. The food committee puts in too much time and effort to toss all that good food just because the temps drop 20 degrees in one night!

I take off from work and hunt as many of the Wednesday’s as I can. I am retiring soon and then I will make them all!!!

[Ponyclubrocks]

We have a home territory where the kennels are located, and it is really beautiful and a blast to ride, we then have about four other territories that we use during the season, two close and one 50 miles away and another nearly 80 miles away. Expanding/preserving territory is always a top priority for the board.

[SEPowell]

Our hunt here in Western NY hound jogs Mon-Sat and beginning in July we cub Mon, Wed, Thurs and Sat. Opening meet is the last Sat in Sept and then we hunt Mon Wed and Sat through Oct and Nov. After that we hunt the same days informally for as long as we can which is often into Jan and maybe longer. So for at least 6 months I think I’ve died and gone to heaven.

[SLW]

We hunt Weds and one weekend day- Cubbing begins next week and runs until Opening Hunt in mid/late October. Last hunt of the season is the first or second weekend in April.