There it is in the title. Are there downsides to not joining? Benefits to not joining? I’m just curious.
Some Hunts don’t have the required number of Hounds!
Personally, I would never join an organization that would have some one like me for a member. 
Some don’t have the required land.
Some just don’t want to have to report anything to anyone.
One of the testy-ish issues is the MFHA’s “assignment” of territory to one hunt or another.
In order to be a member the hunt has to be inspected by somebody from the MFHA, agree to thier membership terms, and adhere to the code of conduct. Some folks don’t apply and some don’t come up to scratch.
Foxhunting is a highly organized sport. The Masters of Foxhounds Association, established in 1907, is a non-profit corporation formed to; set and maintain high sporting standards among its membership, encourage foxhunting, approve and register territories on official maps of foxhunting countries, settle disputes in regard to the same, register eligible foxhounds in a Foxhound Stud Book and improve the breed of foxhounds. To be a member of the Association a hunt must have the necessary number of qualified hounds, proper kennel facilities, a hunt country of sufficient size that does not conflict with another hunt and an established organization. Most importantly, member hunts must agree to abide by the rules and guidelines which include animal care and good sportsmanship as directed by the MFHA. The Association encourages membership as the best way to keep up the high sporting standards it insists upon
The Masters of Foxhound Association insists on compliance with its rules and standards in order to organize and supervise the conduct of the sport. Since the sport does not have the agricultural imperative to control the fox population, American foxhunting emphasizes the thrill of the chase in a beautiful natural setting. To ensure that the sport is conducted with respect for its quarry, the Masters of Foxhound Association of America recently published a booklet entitled The Code of Hunting Practices which emphasizes that foxes and coyotes must be hunted in their wild and natural state. Any other practice that does not give an animal a sporting chance is contrary to the best traditions of the sport and is strictly forbidden. All hunts, in both the United States and Canada, who are members of the Association must follow this code or lose their membership.
Your life must be singularly boring !
[QUOTE=Equibrit;4412879]
Your life must be singularly boring ![/QUOTE]
Yes, exactly like Groucho Marx!!!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Groucho_Marx
http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/g/groucho_marx.html
Touche`!
" I have a mind to join a club and beat you over the head with it. "
The “other” GM
