What We're About
Aims
To create a united network of hunting folk across Britain who want something done about this ludicrous Hunting Act 2004; to champion and help co-ordinate the work of Vote-OK; work in tandem with Countryside Alliance, MFHA, AMHB and the Council of Hunting Associations; remain stoic and positive with our magazine content to bolster morale, and help secure the future of hunting with hounds in Britain.
Objectives
A repeal of the Hunting Act 2004, and a swift return to hunting in its natural format; deliver a magazine worthy of the banner: ‘Seriously Focussed on Hunting’; emphasise the enormous contribution hunting delivers to Britain’s rural economy; widen our network by highlight the people and bonds between hunting and other equestrian sports, so that all those voices may be called upon for a united support on the future of hunting with hounds.
Agenda
Let us be quite clear from the outset. We at themastersvoice.co.uk are totally committed to the return of hunting a live quarry with hounds. Not just for the colourful mounted packs, but for all our comrades including those who hunt hounds on foot: from the fell packs in the north, to the game little beagles which sing their hearts out on the lower plains. All we hunters are in this crusade together.
We stand just as firmly behind the continuation of all other country sports our forebears handed down to us. They taught us the role of the countryside is not just food production: the whole diversity of our wildlife must be managed in tandem to effect a viable, working landscape. And those of us who truly understand the rural ways of this small island are thus challenged to bequeath Britain to the next generation: worthy and intact.
We do not force our opinions on others: we simply stand firm on our beliefs, and will not succumb to threats or bullying fascists who neither know nor care about the wildlife we country sportsmen protect and manage in such a balanced manner.
History can tell us much: my own grandfather died from gas poisoning in the Front Line trenches of World War I. He died fighting tyranny and oppression. Only 20 years after the guns of war fell silent on the Western Front in 1918 another fascist madman had the countries of Europe once more at each others throats: Hitler. One of the first things this psychopathic dictator did was ban foxhunting in Germany.
Let’s not be complacent about what we have lost. In line hunting you do not truly see a pack of hounds at work. There are no good hounds, no bad hounds: no real need for hounds at all, as they play a very small part in the day’s proceedings. Hounds are not called upon to show bravery in drawing a thorny covert, or wild bracken banks, or encouraged to quest widely on the open moorland. No dependable old hound needed to seek out that wily old fox crouching tight in a quiet corner of the rocks.
You will feel no tingling sensation as that first hound speaks: his spirit so pure, his voice so true. Nor will you witness the unforgettable sight of a dog fox rising to his feet and stretching himself in the warmth of the morning sunlight, before pointing his ears and nose to catch the wind. There’s no heart-stopping crash of music as more and more hounds rush to join his line, piling pressure on pressure - so forcing that fox to break covert or perish as a consequence.
Line hunting will have to do us for now. But if you’ve been brought up with the art of venery, keep on fighting this ban, for yours is another sport entirely.
Midge Todhunter