Fox Hunting Rules

Glossary of Foxhunting Terms

Details: Foxhunting 101; By Norman Fine

Foxhunting is an old sport replete with arcane terms and baffling expressions. Here are definitions for many. Foxhunting Life welcomes your comments and any suggested improvements or additions:

accounting for the quarry
Catching it or marking it to ground
all on
All hounds are present
as hounds ran
The total distance covered by hounds from the find (where the fox is found) to where the chase ends (not to be confused with the point)
babbler
A foxhound that speaks to a nonexistent line out of sheer excitement
bay
The quarry is said to be at bay when it ceases to run and turns to face the pack.
biddable
A hound that honors the commands of the huntsman and staff
billet
Fox droppings (also scat)
bitch
A female canine
blank
When a fox is not found in covert
brace of foxes
Two foxes
brush
Fox’s tail
burst
A short, fast run
bye day
An extra, unscheduled hunting day
cap or capping fee
A contribution to the upkeep of hounds paid by visitors and nonmembers for a day’s hunting (originally dropped into the outstretched cap of the field secretary)
carrying a good head
When front runners in the pack run tightly abreast to pick up changes in the fox’s direction (also running with a good head)
cast
A deployment of hounds trying to recover a lost line
cat foot
The round shape of the foot of the English-type foxhound as compared to the hare foot (elongated shaped foot) of the American-type foxhound
check
When hounds lose the line of the fox
chop
Hounds catch the fox quickly before it has a chance to run
clicketing
When foxes mate or pair up
closed season
Non-hunting season: late March through early August
coffee house
When members of the field chatter amongst themselves rather than pay attention to hounds
cold line
An old, faint scent from line of the fox
cold nose
Ability to detect very low levels of scent
couples
Two leather collars joined by a chain
course
When the hounds switch from hunting by scent to hunting by sight they are said to course (or to be coursing) the quarry.
covert
An area of scrub, brush, or woods where wild animals find protection
cry
The voice of hounds giving tongue (speaking) to the line of the quarry
cub
Young fox
cur dog
Any canine that is not a hound
draft
A hound that is cut from the pack
drag
The line the fox has traveled and left its scent during its perambulations
draw
Deployment of hounds when searching for a fox
dwell
An unwanted trait in a hound that is so enamored of the scent that it slows down to savor it, rather than driving forward after the quarry. Such a hound, as it speaks to the line, tends to pull the other hounds back to it, and hurts the progress of the hunt.
earth
Underground hole (den or burrow) where foxes lie for protection
earthstopping
Blocking entrances to fox earths at night while foxes are out hunting, so they cannot take refuge the next day. This practice is not followed in North America, where foxes are not so numerous as to require culling.
enter
When a young hound is added to the pack. The hound is said to be entered when the cubhunting season is finished.
fault
Foxhounds are said to be at fault when they lose the scent and check.
feather
When a hound finds scent and begins to wag its stern (tail)
flags
Hounds are displayed on the flags (flat pieces of flagstone) at hound shows (or in kennels) so as to stand squarely, evenly, and completely visibly for the judges (or visitors).
flesh
The carcass of domestic animals (cattle, horses, sheep, fowl) used to feed hounds in kennel
foil
Any scent that masks the line of the quarry, such as manure, cattle, sheep, fertilizer, or vehicle fumes
full cry
When the entire pack is speaking on the line of the fox
give tongue
When hounds speak to the line of the quarry
gone away
Hounds have left the covert and are running the line as a pack
gossamer
Filmy cobwebs on the grass or bushes; more noticeable when there is a dew
hack
A relaxed ride to or from the meet
hare foot
The elongated shape of the foot of the American-type foxhound as compared to the cat foot (round shaped foot) of the English-type foxhound
hark
When from the huntsman (usually pronounced, “hike”) it is a command to hounds to honor (go and help) another hound that has found the line. When from the Field Master, it is a command to field members to be quiet and listen.
headed
When the been fox has turned from its direction of travel by a car, person, or cur dog
headland
Usually a command from the Field Master (Headland, please!) to stay to the edges of the field and off the crops or grass.
heavy vixen
A female fox with cubs before whelping
heel line
The line of the fox opposite to the direction it is traveling
hill toppers
A group of field members that follow behind the first field, using the gates instead of jumping the fences
hireling
A rented horse for hunting
hold hard
The command to stop and stand still
holloa
Loud voice signal to huntsman and hounds that a fox has been viewed (pronounced holler)
honor
When hounds respect another hound’s find and rush to its assistance
hunting box
A small house or cottage used for lodging during the hunting season
hunt livery
The unique attire proscribed by the Master(s) for their hunt, including the color of the collar of the hunt coat, the color of the collar and facings of the formal tails, and the distinctive hunt buttons
in whelp
Pregnant
kennel huntsman
The hunt staff member responsible for the care of hounds in kennel and who whips-in to an amateur huntsman
lark
To gallop and jump for pleasure or diversion even though hounds are not running
leash of foxes
Three foxes
lieu in
Huntsman’s command to hounds to enter the covert and search for the fox
lifting hounds
When the huntsman calls hounds away from the line they are hunting and brings them forward to a view holloa or to where he believes the quarry to have gone
loss
Hounds are at a loss when they have lost the scent they were following
low scenting
Describes a hound that can detect very low levels of scent
marking
When hounds speak, dig, and/or scratch at the earth where the fox has gone to ground
mask
Fox’s head
mute
When a hound runs the line of the quarry silently, without giving tongue—an undesirable characteristic
nose
The ability to detect and follow the scent of the hunted quarry
open
When a hound utters its initial cry upon finding (detecting) the scent of the quarry, he is said to have opened.
own
When hounds are together and running the line well and easily, they are said to own the line.
pad
Fox’s foot
point
(As in a five-mile-point) is the straight line distance between the find (where the fox is found) and the end of the chase (not to be confused with as hounds ran).
Also, when a whipper-in stands watching the covert while the hounds are drawing, he or she is said to be on point.
pure
hound excrement
quarry
The hunted animal: legitimately fox, coyote, bobcat, and sometimes wild pig or boar in North America
ratcatcher
Informal hunting attire: customarily shirt, tie, tweed coat, and field boots
rate
When the huntsman or whipper-in scolds a hound
riot
When foxhounds hunt anything but acceptable quarry
roading
Exercising hounds on the road
running with a good head
When front runners in the pack spread out to pick up changes in the fox’s direction (also carrying a good head)
scat
Fox droppings (also billet)
sing
When hounds hold their heads up and make a wonderful noise, often when they are happy. They should never be stopped from singing and should be allowed to finish their anthem.
sink the wind
Heading downwind
skirting
When a hound cuts corners to get ahead, rather than follow the line of the fox, it is said to skirt or to be a skirter—an undesirable trait.
smeus
A path through a fence that may be used by fox, hare, rabbit, or other small animals
speak
When hounds give tongue to the line of the quarry
spinney
A small covert
steady
Refers to a hound that hunts acceptable quarry only, does not speak to or follow the line of riot, and ignores distractions and commotion
stern
Hound’s tail
strike hound
A hound that is often the first to find
stub-bred
Foxes born above ground
tail hounds
Refers to hounds running behind the main pack
tally-ho
A phrase indicating the quarry has been viewed
tally-ho, back
A phrase used when the quarry has been viewed going back into covert (pronounced tall-ho, bike)
tally-ho, over
A phrase used when the quarry is viewed crossing a trail or ride
thrown out
When the rider has missed the run due to any number of reasons, such as falling, getting lost, being unable to jump a fence, or coming across a locked gate
thruster
A member of the mounted field who is constantly crowding the Field Master and the hounds
top and tail
Cull from the front and back of the pack to keep the pack together and not strung out.
trace
A track or path that deer use
un-kenneled
When the quarry is roused from where it is lying
view holloa
The screech shouted when the quarry is viewed to let the huntsman know the quarry is afoot and to provide an audible beacon to which hounds may hark
visiting fox
Refers to a dog fox (male) that has traveled away from its home country during the mating season in search of a vixen. If found by hounds, the visitor will often make for its familiar country which can result in one of the longest runs of the season.
vixen
Female fox
walk
In spring and summer, hound puppies sent out of the kennels to live at members’ and supporters’ farms for socializing are said to be at walk. When destruction to yard, garden, and shrubs stretches the limits of the good puppy walkers’ tolerance, the hounds are returned to the kennels.
' ware
A contraction of “beware,” used to alert riders to potential hazards, as in “’Ware hole!” (Pronounced war)
whelp
(noun) A hound puppy
(verb) To give birth
whipper-in
Assists the huntsman (extra eyes and ears) with hounds during the hunting day by going on point, viewing the quarry away, watching and correcting (if necessary) hounds, bringing on the tail hounds. If an amateur, he or she is referred to as an honorary whipper-in.

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