Post by Master Yarak on Sept 17, 2004 0:11:04 GMT -5
Well stupid me I had never built a lure before. My sponsor was not a great deal of help. The one I had first weighed 2.3 lbs it was filled with pea gravel and made of some thick cowhide. I had always served it in the air. She would knock the hell out of it and make a loud smacking noise. It had a tanned Racoon tail stitched to it. I lost it. She loved that thing and no matter how she hit it it never injured her. The one I have now is much smaller and could probably be carried. It has some steel bbs and leather shavings in it. I have never really had to address carrying so I dont really feel qualified to say much on it. Yarak
If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music he hears, however measured or far away
My sponsor is good friends with Frank Beebe and back in the early 70's Beebe gave my sponsor a few lure that he made... the are duck lures made for peregrines but to tell you the truth they are magnificent...these lures look so realistic and i was left speechles as to what this is what Beebe flys for his birds...talk about spoiled! they are like a 3 dimensional painting from DaVinci or something... i will have to get pictures and e-mail them out if anyone is interested...
Lures: We have a gentleman in our club who is reputed to be one of the best RT men in the states. I've been told by my sponsor and others that he knows more about RTs that any one. HE SAYS, there is really no need for a lure. Your bird should fly to the fist without hesitation before she is free flown anyway. If something happens and the bird doesn't come down, throw as frozen rabbit carcass (or squirrel, in deference to Yarak and Noel) in front of her and she'll come to that. This is in direct opposition to what Oakes teaches. I'm referring to his chapter on the "Insurance Policy".
I'll keep my "Insurance Policy". We were out last season and my sponsor's bird flew across a 100' wide river she came right back. At the end of a long day in the field and your bird is in the opposite direction of the truck..............
Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines "Give a man a fish, and you'll feed him for a day; give him a religion................ and he'll starve to death while praying for a fish."
Lures: We have a gentleman in our club who is reputed to be one of the best RT men in the states. I've been told by my sponsor and others that he knows more about RTs that any one. HE SAYS, there is really no need for a lure. Your bird should fly to the fist without hesitation before she is free flown anyway. If something happens and the bird doesn't come down, throw as frozen rabbit carcass (or squirrel, in deference to Yarak and Noel) in front of her and she'll come to that. This is in direct opposition to what Oakes teaches. I'm referring to his chapter on the "Insurance Policy".
What do you think?
I think... I'll stick with the lure. She's already associated it with a ton of food. Besides.. if she doesnt see it the first time I can give it a swing or two to get her attention. Quite frankly I dont want to keep picking up the same rabbit and tossing it. Besides.. what if there's tall weeds where ever you are?
Just throw it up in the air and catch it. She will see it.
I know a few falconers who do the same thing with cockerels (frozen day old chicks).
*EDIT* And i don't mean like Joe Montana throw it. Just a few feet above your head, then catch it. Its usually enough to get em moving. Not much of a dif between doing this and a lure though.
Just throw it up in the air and catch it. She will see it.
I know a few falconers who do the same thing with cockerels (frozen day old chicks).
*EDIT* And i don't mean like Joe Montana throw it. Just a few feet above your head, then catch it. Its usually enough to get em moving. Not much of a dif between doing this and a lure though.
Same principle, but not as controlled a situation. With the lure I can set the amount of food she receives. If I throw a rabbit in the air, It means I either have to crop her up or trade her off, in which case I still need the lure. This is just extra steps that in my book, are un-neccissary. When the time comes for me to sponsor an apprentice......They will be REQUIRED to use a lure and a hood on the bird. No sense in makeing things difficult.
Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines "Give a man a fish, and you'll feed him for a day; give him a religion................ and he'll starve to death while praying for a fish."
I think i'll stick with the lure. I like the Insurance policy. I'm not trying to ignore the advice of an expert with RTs but it seems that i'm with the majority. Truthfully, i've never seen any one fly their hawk without a lure on them... buteos, falcons and accipiters alike. I started marrying my bird to the lure already. If she keeps hitting it like she did last night, i'll free fly her this weekend.
Hoods: That's a bit more controversial. I have had several ppl tell me that hooding a RT is not only unnecessary, it can be detrimental. One published Falconer has conducted a study on this. He claims that his research indicates that hooding a RT leads to agression. I have seen his data, critiqued his study design or his methodology so i can't say how sound his study is. But he is a credible author. I'll copy this to the "hoods" thread for further comment.
I have read everything on this post, so I know what you all think of using a lure, what to use for a lure, etc. Thanks for the great info. But I still want to make a feathered lure for my bird. I have wings, I am good with leather, I like making things. So, can anyone tell me how to attach the wings to the leather? I have thought of different ways of sewing, and I'm just not sure any of them will work. And just tying the wings together would make the lure much too light. Thanks
Aurelia - General I ------------------------------------------- "It's not about the style of the flight; it's about the blood on the glove"