📖 Hunting Terminology

Autumn Hunting – The early part of the hunting season, before the Opening Meet.

Cap – A daily charge for non-subscribers.

“Car Please” – Shouted to tell the Field to keep to the left and allow cars to pass on the road.

Cast – When the hounds are searching for the line. The Huntsman may “cast” the hounds toward where he believes they will pick it up.

Check – When the hounds lose the line.

Couples – Hounds are counted in couples (e.g. one hound, a couple, a couple and a half, two couples, etc.). “Couples” are also two collars linked on a chain, often seen hanging from the Hunt Staff’s saddles.

Field – The mounted followers.

Field Master – The person in charge of leading and controlling the Field.

“Gate Please” – Shouted backwards when going through a gate that must be closed.

“Good Night” – The traditional farewell at the end of the day, even if hunting ends before midday.

Harrier – A hound originally bred for hunting hares.

Heel – When hounds are said to be “hunting heel,” they are following the scent in the reverse direction.

“Hold Hard” – A command from the Field Master asking riders to stop.

Huntsman – The person who hunts the hounds. There is only one Huntsman in the field each day, and they have right of way at all times.

Hunt Staff – The people responsible for working the hounds, including the Huntsman and Whippers-in. They may be Masters, amateurs, or professionals.

“Headlands Please” – A signal to riders to keep to the fence line when crossing fields with crops or new seed.

Line – The scent left by the trail.

Master – May be a Joint Master. Masters are responsible for running the Hunt and have right of way at all times, second only to the Hunt Staff.

“Master / Huntsman / Whip / Hound Please” – A request to give way to those individuals, as they have a job to do. On roads or tracks, everyone should move to one side (not both), reducing the risk of horses kicking.

Opening Meet – The start of formal hunting.

Puppy – A hound that is new to hunting that season (though it will appear fully grown).

Scent – The smell, undetectable to the human nose, left by the trail layers. Hounds also use the scent of disturbed ground where the trail has been laid to stay on the line.

Speak / Speaking – Hounds do not “bark” — they “speak” or are “speaking” when they are on the line, hunting a scent.

Stern – A hound’s tail.

Walk (Puppy Walking) – When whelps (young hounds) are sent to private homes, usually in pairs, from around eight weeks old until they become too big and boisterous. They then return to kennels to learn to fit into the pack.

“Ware Hole / Wire / Glass” – A warning to riders about hazards. For example, “Ware hole!” means there’s a hole in the ground ahead; similarly, “Ware wire!” or “Ware glass!” warns of other dangers.

Whelp – A newborn hound, remaining a whelp until it returns from walk.

Whipper-In – The person who assists the Huntsman in controlling the hounds. The Whipper-In has right of way at all times and yields only to the Huntsman.