Falconry

dave999

I know this is a shooting forum (but I'm placing this thread in hunting for information only!), but anyone interested in Falconry can find a great deal of information on this fantastic 'hunting' sport on the International Falconry Fourum (IFF), its similar to boards, loads of opinions advice etc.

For anyone that knows me, I'm on the team at Bishops Mountain Club and my 'day job' is rescuing Birds of Prey and my real passion is hunting with my own hawk.

I bet this thread gets moved!

Dave.
PS Happy New Year to eveyone in the shooting fraternity.

stevoman

thanks dave i will check it out. falconry is fantastic hobby and i one that i bet takes up a lot of time. what is your main quarry of choice with your hawk?

dave999

stevoman wrote: »

thanks dave i will check it out. falconry is fantastic hobby and i one that i bet takes up a lot of time. what is your main quarry of choice with your hawk?

Hope you enjoy the insight, I fly a Female Harris Hawk (some say the easiest!) and she is 1st Class on the Rabbit (between me and another Dave close by we had 70+ last year). Apart from that she has had crow, Hare, stoat! and an empty can of guiness (blowing around in the wind!).

Currently she is into the rats (this in mainly due to Mixi around here in the rabbit population), which is a mightmare as she can carry them up tree's and then does not need me for food (also dodgy if poisoned as it can pass into her).

In case anyones interested, I use anything we catch (including crow) to feed the birds in re-hab as its part of the normal varied diet they get in the wild.

stevoman

dave999 wrote: »

Hope you enjoy the insight, I fly a Female Harris Hawk (some say the easiest!) and she is 1st Class on the Rabbit (between me and another Dave close by we had 70+ last year). Apart from that she has had crow, Hare, stoat! and an empty can of guiness (blowing around in the wind!).

Currently she is into the rats (this in mainly due to Mixi around here in the rabbit population), which is a mightmare as she can carry them up tree's and then does not need me for food (also dodgy if poisoned as it can pass into her).

In case anyones interested, I use anything we catch (including crow) to feed the birds in re-hab as its part of the normal varied diet they get in the wild.

great work. how much time do you devote to the hobby and caring of your hawk?

i have heard that if the hawk goes into the tree with its prey you could literally be there all night waiting for it to come down, is that really true?

thats's great work using the crows etc for the other hawks. are you rabbits edible?

sorry for all the questions, i am fascinated ny falconry so its nice to talk o somewhon who is involved in the sport.

shaywest

dave,
had some great days last year with a couple of guys from enniskerry flying hawks and falcons.
not sure im into the whole hunting lark more interested in the welfare and protection end of things.
do you ever re-home birds or are they all returned to the wild,

dave999

stevoman wrote: »

great work. how much time do you devote to the hobby and caring of your hawk?

i have heard that if the hawk goes into the tree with its prey you could literally be there all night waiting for it to come down, is that really true?

thats's great work using the crows etc for the other hawks. are you rabbits edible?

sorry for all the questions, i am fascinated ny falconry so its nice to talk o somewhon who is involved in the sport.

Time, well eh.... its more a case of fitting it in with the other day jobs. I'm lucky in that I run a re-hab centre www.birds.ie and can mix my time to suit. Only constraint is the hunting season where I do not fly her as she is a likely target for not very clever shooters (nearly lost her 2 seasons ago!).

Rabbits 100% good for the pot! Not sure why my wife goes out and buys it sometimes though!

As for tree hoping, yes, they do go contrary and fek off for days on end (even with telemetry), 04.30 - 19.30 was the longest myself and some friends spent getting her back (having whacked 5 rats out of her claws in the process). But dont let this put you off!

It realy is something else to see the glide to the hand for food and the fearless smack into the rear of running prey. Makes it all worthwhile.

Eibhin

Delighted to see a thread about Falconry here as I have just started to get involved myself. It's so exciting.

stevoman

dave999 wrote: »

Time, well eh.... its more a case of fitting it in with the other day jobs. I'm lucky in that I run a re-hab centre www.birds.ie and can mix my time to suit. Only constraint is the hunting season where I do not fly her as she is a likely target for not very clever shooters (nearly lost her 2 seasons ago!).

Rabbits 100% good for the pot! Not sure why my wife goes out and buys it sometimes though!

As for tree hoping, yes, they do go contrary and fek off for days on end (even with telemetry), 04.30 - 19.30 was the longest myself and some friends spent getting her back (having whacked 5 rats out of her claws in the process). But dont let this put you off!

It realy is something else to see the glide to the hand for food and the fearless smack into the rear of running prey. Makes it all worthwhile.

Iv seen you link. you do very good work and i bet its very rewarding. i have watched documentrys on men hunting with hawks in wales using a setter or pointer and hunting wild grouse. i have to say it was outstanding.

It is a pastime i have always liked to try. are there any books you could reccomend or any steps i could take to look into the hobby as i would like to research it a lot before i plunged into something so demanding as taking on a hawk.

i spend my winter shooting over my setter and enjoy fishing during summer but falconry would be something im would be very interested in, espeically in the summer months and the late evenings.

dave999

stevoman wrote: »

It is a pastime i have always liked to try. are there any books you could reccomend or any steps i could take to look into the hobby as i would like to research it a lot before i plunged into something so demanding as taking on a hawk.

There is a great deal of feedback on the International Falconry Forum (books, video's info on mentoring etc). Try there. I found 3 books very helpfull 1 - Understanding birds of Prey by Nick Fox, 2 - Falconry by Emma Ford and Falconry by Jemima Parry-Jones (all of these 3, I constantly refer to if I'm in doubt about something).

stevoman wrote: »

i spend my winter shooting over my setter and enjoy fishing during summer but falconry would be something im would be very interested in, espeically in the summer months and the late evenings.

There is much to learn and there are some great people around to help you on the way. If you IM me I can let you know some names and how to get hold of them. I have trained one lad and he basically served an 'apprentiship' with me for 9 months before I was satisfied he could own and look after a bird (similar stds to US based training). We now hunt our hawks together at every opportunity.
Dave

stevoman

dave999 wrote: »

There is a great deal of feedback on the International Falconry Forum (books, video's info on mentoring etc). Try there. I found 3 books very helpfull 1 - Understanding birds of Prey by Nick Fox, 2 - Falconry by Emma Ford and Falconry by Jemima Parry-Jones (all of these 3, I constantly refer to if I'm in doubt about something).



There is much to learn and there are some great people around to help you on the way. If you IM me I can let you know some names and how to get hold of them. I have trained one lad and he basically served an 'apprentiship' with me for 9 months before I was satisfied he could own and look after a bird (similar stds to US based training). We now hunt our hawks together at every opportunity.
Dave

thats great. i have no doubt i have a lot to learn and do before i could even consider taking on such a responability so any information or help would be great. i will Pm you thanks dave.

stevoman

PM sent

dublinbay

This looks like an interesting site.

www.dublinfalconry.com

dave999

dublinbay wrote: »

This looks like an interesting site.

www.dublinfalconry.com

Try Jack Smiths site:
www.falconryireland.com

David

dave999

shaywest wrote: »

dave,
had some great days last year with a couple of guys from enniskerry flying hawks and falcons.
not sure im into the whole hunting lark more interested in the welfare and protection end of things.
do you ever re-home birds or are they all returned to the wild,

Sorry not to have replied to you, but have been maxxed out last couple of weeks.

Try a day out with an experienced falconer, you'll soon see the buzz of the 'hunting lark', as with most hunting the stalking/finding of prey is the real deal, but watching a bird go for the prey is something else!

I fly my Female Harris Hawk most days (apart from the current hunting season) and at the right weight she will come to hand (for food!) and that is another great part of falconry, seeing them swoop in and land on the glove.

I run a re-hab sanctuary and in 2008 I have released 31 birds (Long eared Owls, Peregrines, Kestrels, sparrow hawks etc) and 'lost' another 30 through various problems (Road, poison & shoot gun injuries). Protection is a by product of education & raising awareness. I have been at it for about 10 years now and have seen fantastic results, still a massive amount to do if Ireland is to meet it's European obligations.

The reintroduction initiatives (Golden Eagle - Donegal, Red Kite - Wicklow, White Tailed Eagle - Kerry etc) are brilliant and worth the effort by the dedicated few.

I'm planning to be involved in helping with the Barn Owl preservation project. Yes it was me on the 'Late Late Show' last Feb, with 2 fantastic Female Barn Owls (who now have youngsters!!).

I hope this give a flavour of what is going on. If anyone is still interested, I can post some more information (or bore the crap out of you!!)

Take care all,
David

dave999

Eibhin wrote: »

Delighted to see a thread about Falconry here as I have just started to get involved myself. It's so exciting.

I also have a thread running on the International Falconry Forum (IFF) trying to find out the level of interest in Falconry in Ireland. The forum is a great place to get more info and I recommend it to anyone thats interested. We'll keep the thread running here as well if possible.

IFF: http://www.falconryforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=58499

David

Eibhin

I will check out that site Dave, thanks for that. I am off today to spend time with a serious falconer, which is what I have been doing for the last 3 months. I love it!
Where is your rehab sanctuary as I would love to call in and say hi. I understand it would not be a "drop in" kind of place but if you can PM me and I will reply.
Will let you know how I get on later today!

dave999

Eibhin wrote: »

I will check out that site Dave, thanks for that. I am off today to spend time with a serious falconer, which is what I have been doing for the last 3 months. I love it!
Where is your rehab sanctuary as I would love to call in and say hi. I understand it would not be a "drop in" kind of place but if you can PM me and I will reply.
Will let you know how I get on later today!

Hi Eibhin,
How did you get on with your day out? Just wondering if you managed to bag some prey whilst out.

I PM'd you other info.
David

Git101

Hi Guys

Anyone interested in falconry, especially in Ireland, should check out this website.

http://www.woodlandsfalconry.com/

dave999

Can anyone help with advising me how we can set up a dedicated thread about Falconry on boards.ie.

Having asked under the hunting thread, what sort of interest there is in Ireland (Nth & Sth), I have had loads of feedback and mails asking if we could have our own section on here.

Falconry is clearly not shooting related, but it is hunting, do we qualify for a separate section under the 'sports' tab or can we have one here?

Not sure how to go about setting up, do I go to a mod? At least one of you guys can point me in the right direction. I assume we would also need a mod to regulate etc etc..

Take care all...
David

dave999

dave999 wrote: »

Can anyone help with advising me how we can set up a dedicated thread about Falconry on boards.ie.

Having asked under the hunting thread, what sort of interest there is in Ireland (Nth & Sth), I have had loads of feedback and mails asking if we could have our own section on here.

Falconry is clearly not shooting related, but it is hunting, do we qualify for a separate section under the 'sports' tab or can we have one here?

Not sure how to go about setting up, do I go to a mod? At least one of you guys can point me in the right direction. I assume we would also need a mod to regulate etc etc..

Take care all...
David

Having left this thread for over a week now I was wondering if anyone could help me with this (or let me know who can so that I can email them).
Thanks
David

It wasn't me!

You can go to Sys > Forums and propose the creation of a forum, but falconry is such a minority interest (despite being an incredibly fascinating one) that I don't think you'd have the numerical support really. I'd say you're best to leave things as they are and post threads between Animals and Pet Issues, Nature and Birdwatching, and Hunting, depending on the nature of the thread.

dave999

It wasn't me! wrote: »

You can go to Sys > Forums and propose the creation of a forum, but falconry is such a minority interest (despite being an incredibly fascinating one) that I don't think you'd have the numerical support really. I'd say you're best to leave things as they are and post threads between Animals and Pet Issues, Nature and Birdwatching, and Hunting, depending on the nature of the thread.

Thanks IWM, I'll leave things as they are then and do as you suggest spread the info out.
David

Git101

dave999 wrote: »

Thanks IWM, I'll leave things as they are then and do as you suggest spread the info out.
David

Dave999
There is a forum on the woodlands Falconry site. http://forum.woodlandsfalconry.com/
I think that this could be a excellent resource for falconers. Maybe you could start a thread or two there to get falconers chatting.

redtail_hawker

I don't see it as a bad idea dave , i would check it out .
I am an accipiter and fly my birds as often as I can . I think thats the problem , most guys are out flying their birds and haven't time to compute.

Story Man

This may be of interest to falconers. It's the first time this team will be in the Republic.

http://www.irishcountryfair.com/arena.htm

SM

Harris

I went out yesterday for my first fly of a Harris Hawk (female).
I am hooked and lucky enough that a very experienced falconer has offered to train me (or take me under his wing:D!!)

It was just the best day I have had in a long time. I know all of you out there will understand!

Anyway I was only half dressed properly for the occasion - I had a great jacket, boots etc. but my legs were shredded through my jeans. I spent the night taking thorns out of my legs, not that I even noticed the pain at the time!

So any suggestions would be welcome - basically what type of trousers to wear? (I'm a girl by the way!):o

Thanks in advance

jwshooter

hi harris ,
a pair of waxed leggings .cilp on to your belt with studs up along the side there only about 20 euro .
i wear them game shooting at times ,there very good for heavy cover also you will not over heat in them .

easy roll up and carry when not required

redtail_hawker

Harris, there are loads of leg coverings you can get , however if you wanna wear jeans , cabela's an an american outfitter for all sorts of hunting/fishing stuff do jeans with corura overlay , these things are brilliant . i have a pair and they can help when you need to get through briars and gorse bushes ......and they look good too(most important)lol

Dusty87

dave999 wrote: »

Try Jack Smiths site:
www.falconryireland.com

David

Was thinking of going there. Have always been interested in it. Hope all goes well Dave999

greenpeter

Seen this today in the irish times, http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/health/2009/0317/1224242943267.html l'm delighted cause its not far from me so i think i'l give it a try:D