falconry

sirlampsalot

hi i,ve been thinking about getting into falconry,but dont no that much about it,was wondering could anyone point me in right direction,how i go about getting a bird and is there a course i have to do before i get one,and what bird would be suitable im looking something for fur and feather,any help much appreciated...

tiny-nioclas

i want one of these guys


http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=HVmN2yir8Qw

sirlampsalot

was thinking of something a bit smaller,i want something to work with my dog not eat it...

foxshooter243

google the Raptorco Falconry Centre in Ireland ..they run courses etc

whitser

i know nothing about it but would recommend you get in touch with some people involved and talk to them. im sure they'll help you out no problem.

NoNameRanger

Try the Irish Hawking Club, you need to get trained by a competent Falconer and then apply for a licence for a bird. The best to start with is a male Harris Hawk. You will need to have suitable accomodation for the bird and you premises will be inspected before you are granted a licnece by a Wildlife Ranger. It's a great sport but you need to be able to put the time into it.


Just google Irish Hawking club to find lads in your area.

Best of luck.

Grizzly 45

No name is right TIME is the huge question when working with raptors.
This is a lifestyle choice not a hobby.But fair dues to anyone who can train them to come back to you.
BTW the google video of the Golden Eagle takin a deer.That is a Roe deer yearling that it has taken.Quite a small critter. But can you imagine what one of the Sea Eagles[the Golden Eagles bigger brother] in Kerry could take.

ivanthehunter

OK i dont think you can use lamps while out with a short wing.;)
Sirlampsalot, you will be forced to start with a kestrel or a sparrow hawk for two years training after which time you might be able to proceed to a gos or a red tailed Harris hawk. The Goshawk is king no mater what you have heard.... peregrines are only tarts in comparison..
Griz is dead right-time will kill you. i only know one lad involved in this sport and he works at Dublin airport with his Harris hawk.:cool:, but does a love soon become a choir?
Where do you get kes from or sp-hawks for that matter. well you might be able to buy captive breed one but chances are they'll have been badly brought up and will have a tendency to scream all the time. or if you have your "grab a wild one license" ready well you should be able to pick one out of a nest about now.. but its a strictly licensed operation and a highly skilled task to even get to the bloody nest..
You'll spend a fair bit of time training and feeding is very important.. food cant be to rich and some times its washed to remove some of the goodness.
Old milk bottles and mouse traps were once used by some to catch small birds for the perfect wild food but this is prob restricted now. if your in Australia then pick up some kangaroo skin as it makes the best Jesse's and hoods..

NoNameRanger

Just a couple of holes in that Ivan. Sparrow Hawks and Kestrels are hard work for a beginner. The Harris Hawk is commonly known as the falconers labrador, very easy to train and handle because they are naturally a pack animal, they hunt in flocks in Mexico and have a hierarchy. The will run along beside you and hunt with you as their leader.
Sparrow hawks haven't even laid an egg yet Ivan.:) You do need a licence to get a bird from the wild, apply to NPWS. Only 5 peregrines can be taken for the 26 counties and its run as a lottery. Stay away from peregrines and goshawks till you get well experienced. Goshawk is King!:D

ivanthehunter

interesting, that bit about the harris hawks.
but did any body ever tell you that the Goshawk is King;)
Gos is king

NoNameRanger

ivanthehunter wrote: »

interesting, that bit about the harris hawks.
but did any body ever tell you that the Goshawk is King;)
Gos is king

Thats what i said, totally agree. Alot of falconers have said as much to me.

kowloon

You can buy a falconry ireland falcon day on gifts.ie

Try that out and see if you like it, a friend of mine has a sparrowhawk, the training takes an age and you need to be V. careful managing their weight or they dont come back.
Would love to take it up myself but i keep too many other types of bird that the sparrowhawk would go for.

sirlampsalot

thanks lads alot of info there,there,s a place in drogheda where they take you out hunting with a harris so i think im gonna try them and see wat it,s like,its something i,ve been wanting to get into for a long time now,but didn,t no where to start,i,ll keep you,s posted...

damo03

Im not too far from drogheda and dont know anything about falconry but seen a hawk of some description flying around with a bell on its leg. Saw it a few times over a couple of months must have been somones escapee:D But after putting in all the work id say you would be pretty p***ed of to lose one:(.

It wasn't me!

I'd say hunting muntjac with an eagle would be... strange, if nothing else, (:p) but probably pretty interesting.

Tackleberry.

hi i made a contact with a lad that flies and even breeds goshawks in waterford i was buyinga viszla pointer off him he had some set up so much so i wanted to buy a hawk before i left but i didnt i was just so impressed, he hunts over the viszla's tis some show.but as keen as i was he said a female harris was the bird to start with as the male would be smaller but that you i pay a little more also said it was importent how the bird was reared as this would determine how much the bird would scream said its worse than any barking dog if you get it wrong........i've yet to buy but will someday no rush.

sirlampsalot

Tackleberry. wrote: »

hi i made a contact with a lad that flies and even breeds goshawks in waterford i was buyinga viszla pointer off him he had some set up so much so i wanted to buy a hawk before i left but i didnt i was just so impressed, he hunts over the viszla's tis some show.but as keen as i was he said a female harris was the bird to start with as the male would be smaller but that you i pay a little more also said it was importent how the bird was reared as this would determine how much the bird would scream said its worse than any barking dog if you get it wrong........i've yet to buy but will someday no rush.

ye i read on another forum that a female harris was the best bird to start off with,as for the screaming i,ve 5 kids im well used to it:D