In November 1862, the Moscow Hunting Society was established replacing the Moscow Hunting Club. Its aim was to control gun or game keeper hunting and to prevent the threatening extermination of game in Russia.
The most popular kind of hunting in Moscow was a winter one, when the hunter with a gundog went for wolves and foxes. The gundogs were the dogs that helped to find prey. At the moment of the shot they were close to the hunter, being actually under the gun. The role of gundogs was played by pointer dogs who made a stand over the killed game, retrievers who brought the game, and spaniels who scared a hidden bird.
In the 19th century, hare or fox hunting with hounds was considered by many not to be exciting enough. Nevertheless, members of the Society decided to popularize it. They tried several times to get a public pack of hounds, but all their attempts failed to succeed. They had to use the packs of private owners.
In 1877, the Moscow Hunting Society split. Its several members left and established a new society — the Moscow Society of Amateur Hunters. However, the first society became known as the Imperial Society for Breeding Game and Proper Hunting named after Alexander II.
The membership card No.1 of the Alexander II Hunting Society belonged to Felix Yusupov Sr.: in the early 20th century, he was an honorary member and chairman of the Society. The Yusupovs often stayed for hunting in Rakitnoye, and for many years they came to their estate only during the hunting season. The estate in Graivoron District, Kursk Governorate, was the most extensive among their mansions.
Felix Yusupov Jr. wrote in his memoirs about hunting:
The most popular kind of hunting in Moscow was a winter one, when the hunter with a gundog went for wolves and foxes. The gundogs were the dogs that helped to find prey. At the moment of the shot they were close to the hunter, being actually under the gun. The role of gundogs was played by pointer dogs who made a stand over the killed game, retrievers who brought the game, and spaniels who scared a hidden bird.
In the 19th century, hare or fox hunting with hounds was considered by many not to be exciting enough. Nevertheless, members of the Society decided to popularize it. They tried several times to get a public pack of hounds, but all their attempts failed to succeed. They had to use the packs of private owners.
In 1877, the Moscow Hunting Society split. Its several members left and established a new society — the Moscow Society of Amateur Hunters. However, the first society became known as the Imperial Society for Breeding Game and Proper Hunting named after Alexander II.
The membership card No.1 of the Alexander II Hunting Society belonged to Felix Yusupov Sr.: in the early 20th century, he was an honorary member and chairman of the Society. The Yusupovs often stayed for hunting in Rakitnoye, and for many years they came to their estate only during the hunting season. The estate in Graivoron District, Kursk Governorate, was the most extensive among their mansions.
Felix Yusupov Jr. wrote in his memoirs about hunting:
