Post by ATCfalconry on Jan 1, 2005 21:57:08 GMT -5
Hello All
I am located here in Albuqerque NM and am in dire need to find a master falconer to apprentice for. I assure all of you that this is not a whim I have always wanted to hunt with a falcon and I do have the ability to focus and have patience in training a falcon. Please if anyone knows or are willing to take me as an apprentice I would greatly appreciate it.
Welcome to the board, Mike. First off, have you contacted the DEC and requested a falconry information pack? If not, do that. It will get you farmiliar with your state regulations if nothing else. If you have, just ignore that.
This site is a great place for information, but do not stop here. Go to other sites, read suggested books, try getting to field meets if you can get dates and places for them, try finding a raptor rehabilitation center near you and try to talk to people who have handled raptors before.
As to a sponser, I don't think there's anybody else for NM on here. If there is, post more information so we can see what you've done so far. What books have you read? What steps have you taken? Have you taken your falconry exam (if you can)? Also, this should go in the "Sponser Finder" section.
Post by ATCfalconry on Jan 2, 2005 19:32:38 GMT -5
Thank You Pixie
What is a DEC? is it the Division of Wildlife Law Enforcement. I am currently reading Falconry and Hawking by Phillip Glasier. I have been reading up on many separate sites on falcrony avidly for the past year. There is Hawks Aloft out here a rescue rehab and research facility but I have not conacted them since I feared that they would frown on falconry but I guess I would not know till I tried. . Should I go to my local fish and game to get an information packet and a study oackage to take the apprentice test?
Here we have the DEC (Department of Enviromental Conservation). It varies from state to state. If you have a Fish and Game Department near you, go there and ask for a packet. You can call them too and they'll mail it to you. The packet comes with a study guide (or it should). Read it, memorize it if you want to, but get a firm grasp on the questions and answers.
I don't know what the regs are in NM, but you might have to get a sponser before you can take the test. If that's the case, there's a list of falconers in your state included in the packet. Call the ones in your area, ask questions, see if you can go on hunts with some of them.
As for the rehab, find out if you can volunteer there, even if you're just cleaning out mews.
Post by ATCfalconry on Jan 2, 2005 22:39:44 GMT -5
Thank You again
i will do all this and more. i will keep you posted Pixie. Cleaning mews is nothing compared to what kind of dedication I am willing to do to become an apprentice ;D
Hey Mike....Sounds like you've got the fever for falconry. There are some great guys and gals in your state to hawk with as I talk to a few on another list. A few things I will reccomend to you to start on would be to buy the book "North American Falconry and Hunting Hawks" by Hal Webster and Frank Bebe. One other important book is called the California Apprentice study guide. These two books, read through several times at least, will make a big difference in the test and your knowledge of falconry. The book your on now is good, but remember that UK falconry is a very different un-regulated sport there. With the enthusiasm you have for this so far, I feel that you will have no problems getting throught the test and sponsor issues. Here is a link to a good site to buy a few books: www.westernsporting.com/Merchant/index.shtml
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."
If you go to the web and type in New Mexico Falconry Club I think you will come up with the info you need on the people in your state. Reading American falconry books will be as Weasel said, a lot better for you. The tests here in the US are made up from informations from those books. Right now you need direction from someone and not everyone so look for a general falconer or a master falconer to converse with. Welcome to the board and forum there is a lot of info here most of it is excellent// so of it well?? keep in touch some of the people on here have a lot of exsperience and some have sponsors they can go to for questions.
Post by ATCfalconry on Jan 3, 2005 23:47:22 GMT -5
Good News Guys and Gals I found a couple master Falconers today and called them we are going to meet on a duck hunt tommorrow morning I also got a hold of my local fish and game who are sending me an apprentice package. I gotta call into work and tell them I am a little sick to work though. it will be woth it.
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."
Post by ATCfalconry on Jan 4, 2005 22:09:24 GMT -5
Was worth calling in sick I watched a male and a female Gyr/Perrigrine Hybrid perform today. The Falconers told me the birds were a little heavy and they swooped at a few ducks but even that was exciting. Even though we were not able to get any ducks it was great watching the birds at work.
We are going out again on Thursday and they said that they would have the birds lighter so they would perform better. I am already learning so much from these two.
Hey guys, new to this whole forum thing...but i'm also an apprentice falconer living in Albuquerque...small world huh? i havent seeen any postings for awhile (jan was the last i think..) Anyway wanted to say hi....looking forward to next season, as i watched my first RT wing off to the mountains on a nice breeze