Post by squirrelnailer on Nov 13, 2009 12:43:26 GMT -5
I'm thinking on using a bigger pair of anklets, or should I say longer, resemble the chaps, I use medium soft leather that seems to work well to me. i've noticed that the anklets are nagged from some close encounters . Don't take me wrong I love my bird and her well been, but I find chaps a little bullky, thats why I'm using this option, on the other side, She's killing at 53 oZ. Shes a pretty big and strong bird.
And your right, my sponsor hunts rabbits only, he flies a MHH
And yes, I still think life is full of risks and its up to you if you take it or not, Its true we must provide the best for our birds and try to avoid unecessary problems. But I've heard stories of injured or killed birds stooping at grashoppers, or still wearing chaps. Theres no warranty nothing is going to happend
And yes, I still think life is full of risks and its up to you if you take it or not, Its true we must provide the best for our birds and try to avoid unecessary problems. But I've heard stories of injured or killed birds stooping at grashoppers, or still wearing chaps. Theres no warranty nothing is going to happend
I am NOT beating you up. There is NO guarantee that a pair of chaps will prevent every bite. If they prevent ONE then they are working. Yes with bells attached they are about 2oz. With a bird the size of yours the weight will be insignificant. I wish you could have seen what a pair my bird's chaps looked like at the end of hard season flying on those North Texas fox squirrels. They were covered in bite marks. Again no guarantee they would have hit the bird but I felt as though I was doing everything I could to mitigate the risk.
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
Post by harrishawker on Dec 17, 2009 15:39:56 GMT -5
I thought I would drag this one up again as an incident that happened over here. I have some Gary brewer chaps and they are very good too but a lad I know was flying with them on his HH in case of squirrel bites and his hawk took on a big rabbit, it had hold of the rabbits back and was being tossed and it just could not get to its head, he was dragged under a fence but the chap caught on the fence and was impaled on the underneath of the chap. The rabbit got away but it was not that which was the concern it was that a sharp piece of the wired fence (thankfully not barbed) had lodged between chap and leg. In the end to stop the stress from the bird he cut the chap off and the bird had a sliced leg. It healed quickly after a few weeks off. Like I said they are great to use but be vigilant as they can have a few hazards to look out for. I would still use them but only in heavy wooded squirrel country and not a mix!
In every conceivable manner, the family is link to our past, bridge to our future.
Hi Yarak, i know this an old thread but this a subject i am research at the moment. So you are saying i think from you old post. That a male RT would be ok in your opinion to fly greys? i am from the uk , we do have fox squirrels here only greys and reds and the reds are protected.
Thanks for the other titles i'll look them up. There aren't many austringers in the UK but the more i look into it the more exited i get. I may be in for a very exciting season ;D.
There aren't many austringers in the UK but the more i look into it the more exited i get. I may be in for a very exciting season ;D.
ATB Allan
You sure about that Allan??? I think there are more falconers in UK than in any other country that size (at least those who call themselves falconers).
Thanks for the other titles i'll look them up. There aren't many austringers in the UK but the more i look into it the more exited i get. I may be in for a very exciting season ;D.
ATB Allan
I have been told there are 15,000 falconer in the UK
He said not many austringers = one who flys accipiters, or true hawks. I wonder if they include red tails in that category in the UK.
They have one of the biggest breeders in the world breeding and flying goshawks . There are a good percentage , just like all short wing fanaticss, a bit crazy and lurk in the shadows.....
Try contacting Roy Lupton i'm sure he will point you in the right direction.
12 yrs of hunting squirrels and have never flown a Rt with chaps. Always flew my HH's with them. Have never had a MAJOR injury from a squirrel bite. racoons and opossums and fences....different story. I agree with yarak that the problem comes from handling the squirrel on the ground or while stuck in a tree. I have plenty of photos that illustrate the uselessness of chaps during the moment of contact. They absolutely ride up the leg when the bird extends its legs to catch. 99 percent of my experience is flyin on greys, a fox squirrel is much harder for a bird to handle and I would think that there would be many more opportunitites for chaps to be of great use. However!, I do not think the use of chaps to be a bad idea. I dont really see how they can hurt. Not convinced that they hurt the hawks foot/eye coordination, or hinder the hawks footing ability in any way, though I agree it could be possible. without a scientific test we will never know. Bottom line....if your hawk takes a nasty bite you must be prepared to ask yourself "would chaps have prevented this?" Personally my lack of a negative experience with greys has led me to be comfortable with flying RT's without chaps. However I believe I might change my routine and start flyin chaps. Dont think I want to have to answer the question above. I am going to experiment with different color chaps. I wonder if squirrels will be drawn to a bright color or if they just bite the first thing that touches their mouth.