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2018-19 Hawking Season

Posted: Sun Oct 07, 2018 12:00 am
by Greg
Sealed the deal on the little guy yesterday out in the country on the way back from a job. We’ve had to take the past two seasons off due to moving and life, but after a summer’s worth of construction to have the necessary housing facilities again and a small mountain of paperwork, we’re back at it!

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Re: 2018-19 Hawking Season

Posted: Mon Oct 08, 2018 3:00 am
by Straelbora
How does this even work? You see a hawk (and determine from its size or feathers that it is a juvenile?) and do a magic dance to make it come to you so that you can put a bag on its head and bind it? You drive aroun in a van that has 'free rabbit entrails' on the side?

Re: 2018-19 Hawking Season

Posted: Mon Oct 08, 2018 10:10 am
by Peter Remling
Straelbora wrote:How does this even work? You see a hawk (and determine from its size or feathers that it is a juvenile?) and do a magic dance to make it come to you so that you can put a bag on its head and bind it? You drive aroun in a van that has 'free rabbit entrails' on the side?
I remembered, Greg answered a lot of questions regarding hawking we all had in this thread:

http://middleearthrangers.org/forum/vie ... trap#p7864

Hope it helps !

Re: 2018-19 Hawking Season

Posted: Mon Oct 08, 2018 11:05 pm
by Straelbora
Peter Remling wrote:
Straelbora wrote:How does this even work? You see a hawk (and determine from its size or feathers that it is a juvenile?) and do a magic dance to make it come to you so that you can put a bag on its head and bind it? You drive aroun in a van that has 'free rabbit entrails' on the side?
I remembered, Greg answered a lot of questions regarding hawking we all had in this thread:

http://middleearthrangers.org/forum/vie ... trap#p7864

Hope it helps !
Thanks.

Re: 2018-19 Hawking Season

Posted: Tue Oct 09, 2018 7:39 pm
by Greg
Straelbora wrote:How does this even work? You see a hawk (and determine from its size or feathers that it is a juvenile?) and do a magic dance to make it come to you so that you can put a bag on its head and bind it? You drive aroun in a van that has 'free rabbit entrails' on the side?
You know...you aren’t TOO far off the mark!

Thanks Pete.

We’re marching along pretty well. He finally took a bit of food yesterday and again this morming. I’m going to sit with him awhile this afternoon/evening and see if we can’t get him to hop for it. Once that happens, it’s game on. On the very positive side, he’s the most accepting of the hood of all the birds I’ve ever had. Most basically never used it. This is a major bonus.

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Re: 2018-19 Hawking Season

Posted: Tue Oct 09, 2018 10:21 pm
by Taylor Steiner
Amazing stuff!

Re: 2018-19 Hawking Season

Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2018 7:40 pm
by Greg
One week down, and we’re starting to respond favorably to food.

Everyone, say hi to ‘Patch’!

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Re: 2018-19 Hawking Season

Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2018 8:31 pm
by Peter Remling
Pretty little guy, congrats !

Re: 2018-19 Hawking Season

Posted: Sun Oct 14, 2018 11:15 pm
by Elleth
Hi Patch!

So... you trap a raptor to hunt with, and (presumably) release them back into the wild at some point?
Do they get familiar / comfortable with people eventually? Or are they always wild in a way dogs and such aren't?

What a fascinating hobby!

Re: 2018-19 Hawking Season

Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2018 4:13 pm
by Greg
Tameness is always encouraged, but they aren’t domesticate-able...they don’t have enough parts of the brain to get past instinct. They get docile with time and handling, but like captive zoo animals, something can always go wrong. My first bird gave me scars on my right hand I still have today. Within ten days of release, even a 20-year Falconry bird reverts with ease to the wild.

Re: 2018-19 Hawking Season

Posted: Mon Oct 22, 2018 12:06 am
by Greg


Little guy’s doing well. Two weeks and two days. I expect we’ll be hunting by next weekend, and free-flying in a few days.

Re: 2018-19 Hawking Season

Posted: Mon Oct 22, 2018 11:51 pm
by Greg
I lied, sorta. He was doing so well today, I figured “What’s the point in waiting.” and unhooked his leash. Patch followed me beautifully all over the back and front yard, perching on everything from my kid’s play set to the deck railing. Best follower I’ve ever had. He is aggressive, quick, and VERY alert. We are in for a whirlwind of a season if we can put some bunnies under him. That’s all it’s down to, now...finding good local areas with consistent quarry to hone his skills on.

Re: 2018-19 Hawking Season

Posted: Tue Oct 23, 2018 12:14 am
by Taylor Steiner
Too awesome!

Re: 2018-19 Hawking Season

Posted: Tue Oct 23, 2018 7:12 pm
by Iodo
Agreed :P

Re: 2018-19 Hawking Season

Posted: Tue Dec 11, 2018 2:24 pm
by Greg
Well, it's been a frustrating several weeks. We're in a new area I've never hunted before, and Falconry is only really successful if you're able to put game under them consistently to give good opportunities (or 'slips') for them to chase.

BUT.

Finally sealed the deal and put ourselves on the board with Patch's first eastern cottontail yesterday. A great chase, and what a relief.

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