I started thinking about this primarily in relation to hill-topping fields, because they tend to go more slowly, but I suppose it can happen to 2nd flights (and, presumably, in certain cases, even to first flights).
How often do you simply have no idea where the hunt has gone because they’ve taken off at Mach 11 and left you in the dust?
Tell me your stories about hunting for the hunt.
If your master knows the territory he/she can usually find them again. We hunt the same game often enough that you start to recognize the patterns they run. So to your question, it happens now and then but is no big deal. Sometimes all the fields get left in the dust and then it is almost a contest to see which field finds them first! It’s always amusing when third flight gets there first!
My oldest horse usually can find the hounds for me even if they are a couple of miles away. I find a hill and watch his body language. He’s usually right. He’s always found the way back to the kennels for me even when I was sure we were going the wrong way.
There have been a few times when due to circumstances beyond anyone’s control, there are only a few of us in the field–and Masters are whipping so we have had to do our best–and it is always a day when the hounds strike fast and everyone is gone! :lol: We do our best and since we are all familiar with the territory, we know places to check and listen. And with luck hear something and head off that way. For me, whether we find them or not(just the way it works sometimes) I am just happy to be out. One never knows what the day will bring! 
I remember as a little girl
hunting with ODH and Jimmy Atkins, we had to ride as hard as we could or you would be lost for the day! The country was a lot more open and the hounds flew! Of course there were no second fields or hill toppers ! These days it seems like you can almost always catch them at a gate or check, but on occasion the hounds can disappear! Especially if it’s windy and we’re at a wooded fixture with lots of dry leaves and sometimes the “chatter” can make it hard to hear too!
Been there,done that,hated it sometimes!
Oh the pressure when you’re a fieldmaster! :eek: That’s why the hill topper fieldmaster needs to be an experienced member, experienced hunter and have a good sense of humor! :yes::yes: They are truly gods/goddesses of hunting. It’s MUCH HARDER to lead HT’s than a first flight; believe me.
It helps tremendously if the FM is riding an experienced fieldhunter because indeed they will help you find the hunt via their "ear radar". Mine saved my ass many times once I learned to trust him. But he also would perk up to a cur dog bark in the distance so you gotta know your horse. I'm not so trusting about the way home thing tho'. But I do believe horses do learn territories and will speed up when "going home".
You need to establish a plan with the hunt staff/huntsman for when ya'll get separated so they can help get you caught up. They can blow the horn more often. Slow up the draw or even hold up a bit or take a break. But YOU need to be committed to trying to catch up earnestly and hoofing it if needed. The hounds shouldn't have to wait for you. Close up. Don't make a habit of this either. Remember the first flight has a right to thier good day hunting and if the HT's can't move on then maybe that's a big problem. It's hard to hunt walking. So a good relationship with your master & huntsman is essential & mandatory.
Learn/know the territory well, very well. On off days, go tour by car. Walk it/hike it/ride it (IF permitted only of course) to learn it. Get a map and learn it. Learn which way is north to the road or south back to where you parked for example. Learn/look for landmarks/fences & farms/mountains. EX: When you hunt a certain area; X mountain is always to the west and when we departed it was on our left thru the first draw. You need a good memory.
Make sure you always keep a sense of direction.
Some hunts use different FM's for different meets which is really helpful. Often they are landowners who know it well and if they are knowledgeable about hunting then all the better. Or the regular FM can team up with the landowner and work together to show the field a good day. Some hunts use 2-3 regular members and have a Saturday FM and a weekday FM who get to know their fixtures well.
HT’ing leading “by committee” just doesn’t work. Somebody has to step up and make a decision and the HT’s HAVE to catch up. It’s their responsibilties to the hunt whose staff is trying hard to provide fun & entertainment to you. You need to BE THERE!!
I find an extended trot is a good working gait for everybody. It’s good in bad footing. It settles upset horses where walking doesn’t. Keeps the horse/riders occupied. Keeps you moving forward and you’ll always catch up.
Always go to a high place (preferrably in the open) to stop/listen/catch your breath. You can't hear well in bottoms/valleys/low areas. Listen for a few minutes and ask your field to listen quietly with you and report anything THEY hear. Make catching up a group effort. If there's a horse not standing still and making noise preventing you from hearing?.....then as leader....ask your field to hold up a minute and ride away from the group for a minute to listen by yourself. Just 50 feet I mean can really help. Your field will be more sympathetic with the loss if you're trying hard or including them in solving the problem. Less criticism which can sometimes be unavoidable to learn that too!
When stopped & listening; ALWAYS confirm your sounds. Wait to hear it a second time before you move off. The wind and terrain can echo or carry sound in the wrong or even opposite direction from whence it came. Wait for someone else to hear it too. I can tell when hounds are running in covert (around here woods) or when they are in the open or the moment when they've left the covert. This will help you establish which direction they are going and you'll be able to INTERCEPT and not continue FOLLOWING BEHIND the draw. Sometimes catching up ain't possible just following unless you're going faster than they are. Unlikely so here's where knowing the country helps. Sometimes you can resort to tracking the first flight. Look/learn the signs on the ground.
And most of all; learn your hounds & huntsmans styles & ways. How does your huntsman think or want you to do in certain situations. Learn the horn blows. When you hear them blow "going home" = you better hoof it! Learn the hounds voices...Ex: a certain hounds voice is or isn't dependable so you shouldn't follow it. What does a lost hound call sound like=and don't follow that one! Don't follow hounds split off or on riot. When you don't know where the field is; follow hound sounds but beware to not interfere. If you see possible hunted game pass by you = freeze, wait for it to pass, then holler and the hunt may come to you! Here's where many hours spent with your huntsman listening pays off. You know how they think; what they'd want you to do and what your options are. Cooperation is priceless!!! :yes:
I could go on but really…patience & knowledge is the thing. HT’s are not supposed to be a burden to the hunt but provide good hunting “differently” for it’s field members. The field loves some good jokes & a humorous approach to what can be an embarassing or frustrating time. Never let them see you sweat!! :winkgrin:;)
Most of all…HAVE FUN OUT THERE!
Thanks, all - especially wateryglen, for taking the time to type that all out :yes:
One of the things I learned from tagging along with our founder and former MB was how to check which way the hounds are running and ride a chord across the arc, rather than following in their tracks. Fortunately, our jacks tend to run in big circles, so once you figure out which way they’re heading, it’s usually easy to plan an intersecting path (until they lose the scent and head off in another direction, of course 
And I agree with strawberry roan - even if you can’t find them, being out in the open on a horse beats being inside
RAR - we all got lost once - one of those runs where everything goes to hell in a handbasket. We finally found a whipper -in.
The whip had a radio for emergencies - so she used it to ask if the field had reassembled and if so - where.
The reply - at the white silo.
Oh - that was just peachy. We were smack dab in the middle of dairy country - silo’s everywhere.:lol:
We eventually regrouped but that was just too funny.
Oh, shoot, everybody gets thrown out at some point or other. Including not just field, but staff. More than once as whipper-in I was the only one with hounds for a longggg time (for example, quarry going away on ‘my side’ on a windy day, those on other side can’t even hear them!).
I will say that it’s very frustrating to the staff, to be enjoying an outstanding run with the pack, and look back and see the field is not there and is missing a fabulous show. But sometimes, stuff happens!
I guess your hunt meets start at the corner of walk/don’t walk…
[QUOTE=Alagirl;4680072]
I guess your hunt meets start at the corner of walk/don’t walk…[/QUOTE]:lol::lol::lol::lol:
That’s like saying, “We’re at that big saguaro at the top of the hill.”
I bet I would know our territory better if I weren’t always focused on survival
We start with - meet at where the old Johnson place used to be - not the house but the old shed. ( all burned down in 1902)
Or, when we discover downed trees and can’t get around or over… hack back to where such and such fell during that crazy run on a coyote (in 1982)
Don’t let these people give you directions to a gas station!
Landmarks names last forever even if the land mark is long gone. We have the “big oak tree” which is now a stump. Or the “red barn” that was painted white before most of us were born.
I know when I am leading the field, and we are not near the hounds, I’ll turn the radio up so field can hear the communications. When someone mentions a landmark I’ll try to point it out to them.
Hopefully your FM’s tolerate questions. That’s how I learned about the territory. I still ask the huntsman questions so I can learn better how he hunts.
Are we cheating? Our fieldmasters each have radios that allow them to communicate with the hunt master and find out where he and the huntsman, at least, if not the hounds and all the whips, are.
Depends on the territory
I think some hunts have much easier/harder territories to work in. For example we have some fixtures that have places only the huntsman is allowed. In this case it is very easy to lose the huntsman.
Also trappy, hill country with lots of woods it is also very easy to lose the huntsman. The huntsman may go straight through or down and the field has to go around and takes a risk of losing the huntsman. It is much harder to hear and see when you have trappy country. I have noticed this difference between hunting with Shawnee and Coal Valley, both much more wide open as compared to Bridlespur which has more hills and woods to deal with. I’ve also noted that in open country you have a lot more views of game.
Radio’s help but not entirely. We’ve gotten thrown out even with Radios. Our huntsman rides fast and often times will go through woods where there is no path and tell the field master to go around or wait. This makes it very difficult.
So territory makes a difference and hunting styles make a difference. It is also very important to have a knowledgeable fieldmaster on a good horse.
as painted noted but not just this huntsman but a previous one could take off like a bullet leaving the field lost. there were also times when our field master positioned us to watch first the game, the strike hounds, and the huntsman with the rest of the pack pass right in front of us.
the field master has a job and a half when the hounds are on a line.
both the huntsman and field master are trying to figure the route
some times the field master just keeps the huntsman in sight
and some times knows you can’t go there from here and the field must go around.
hmm often enough! Luckily my horses have very good ears! I generally just pause and them them try and find because 99% of the time I think the way they are going is wrong and it ends up being right! It helps when their ears are 10x bigger than ours!
I usually get lost on my own or a couple other people-we lose the field. But generally i know where I am and where safe places are so I won’t mess up any lines.
I must say, I’m glad to see that I’m not the only one wandering around lost out there
The few times a separation has happened on second flight it was related to a gate. Ya know, as soon as I would dismount (I normally deal with all the gates because both my horses are small) to open the gate the hounds would strike and off First Flight goes- Murphys Law or natures sense of humor to time it like that. The second flight scurries through, I drag the gate back across- worse if it is a Texas gate :o - hop back on and off we move. Mercifully our second flight FM’s know every inch of our territory so it’s only a matter of hearing something before we reconnect. As mentioned, due to wind or woods it may take some time to hear the hounds or find the Field but we always find them in the end.
This morning was HORRIBLE!!!
(Well, as horrible as a sunny day riding in the desert with good company can be… which, I suppose, is not very horrible at all :))
We were at a fixture down south of town. I don’t think I’ve ever hunted there before - went down there once, but hunting had been cancelled and ended up just trail riding.
FLAT as a pancake that’s been run over by a steamroller. And chock full of mesquite & creosote to block the view and absorb the sound.
I was riding with the woman who’s bringing along her greenish horse, so we were intentionally going slowly. But it was close to an hour before we caught up with the field - we had no idea which way they had gone.
I believe we saw them twice the whole 3+ hours we were out.
I’m thinking I won’t be hunting there again until we’re regularly keeping up with the field.
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