Falconry

[stabbing cat]

I wouldn't be surprised if there are a few falconers out there. I really hunt a lot and take game with my bird, and I have hunted with him for 7 years. Falconry is great in that you cannot just put it away on a shelf. You will have to stay involved in it and I hunt 2 -3 days a week, hiking at least 4 miles each day, from September to March. It is not uncommon for my bird and I to take our limit (5 rabbits) and I have some really cool hunting permission areas on private land that is otherwise restricted to the public. Anyone in Colorado or nearby who is interested let me know.

[Lost Arra]

Great sport and the most time-consuming form of hunting. You can't hang your bird on the wall like a bow or a gun. It's like having a child who requires constant care. Falconers have to be a dedicated breed.

My younger brother has been a falconer for over 25 years and it's always fun to go with him.

He has had similar experience from farmers who allow no hunters except for himself and his bird(s). Some farmers even call him when the prairie chickens were around.

Pardon my ignorance but is that a Harris hawk? My dad flew a Harris for a while that was a wicked hunter but also a comedian. Some of my greatest memories of my dad are him flying that Harris on jackrabbits. We called it a falconry rodeo.

[stabbing cat]

You are right he is a Harris Hawk. They are, ounce for ounce, the best falconry bird (my opinion) and the irony is they just became popular in the last 30 years.
You are right about the hunting permission, you tell some property owner "There are no firearms involved.", and it is like having the keys to the city.
There are some good falconers in Oklahoma. At our Colorado Hawking Club banquet this year the speaker was a guy from Oklahoma who flew golden eagles at jackrabbits.

[snakey2]

Looks like loads of fun. I thought about trying it but need to get out of the city and brush clogged Western Or. probably isn't too conducive to it.

[Brent13]

Awesome looking bird you have there. Must be incredible to watch him work...

Thanks,
Brent

[Smokepole]

Looks like a kick in the pants, very cool.

[stabbing cat]

Hey Brent send me a pm since you live in Colorado Springs if you want to come along some day this season. Rabbit season starts Sept. 1st. I do get to see a lot of flights and other stuff that is pretty incredible, so I like to take friends and guests along so someone else gets to see what I do not want to just take for granted.

[ExtremeBison]

Thats unreal, Love the pics such a great way to spend time in the field.

[Old Tree]

Beautiful bird and kudos to you on your commitment to the sport. I'm thinking that with the amount of time you must spend (to do it "right") that it's more a "lifestyle" than a hobby.
Thanks for sharing.

I have loads of quail and doves around my property. A Coopers Hawk blows thru here every few days and terrorizes the place. We refer to him as the "Stealth Killer".

[Bodark]

Stabbing Cat, wow the pictures of your Harris hawk bring back some great memories of my falconry days. I gave up my falconry permit when I moved here to CO from TX 20 years ago. I flew Harris and Red-tailed hawks along with having Federal and State rehab permits for all birds of prey.

Time is a huge factor in successful falconry and I was not able to give that here in CO so I gave up flying birds until another time. I have buddies still flying birds that got their permits when I did back in 1975. Some are flying falcons and others hawks. I have done enough work with eagles to know their temperament. Eagles should be flown to perches or staffs NOT gloves! They tend to get angry quick if they miss their prey and if they come back to a glove they will hit it HARD easily driving their talons into your arm! Don't ask how I would know that. :o

I think the Harris hawk is the perfect hawk for hunting cottontails. I had a Harris hawk that was so aggressive on rabbits she would actually try to crawl down into the rabbit holes after casing the rabbit into it. Hard to believe but I have watched it happen several times.

Thanks for the photos and keeping up the sport.

[flamingo 7]

Stabbing Cat...PM sent

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