SQUIRREL BITES

[AMY]

Need advise please. I have a male Red-tail that as turned in to the best squirrel hawk I could ever want.. He don't have to many slips his problem is that he keeps getting bit on his leg right above the joint.which is to high for the squirrel chaps or anklets to protect him from the bites.I know he is still learning but I don't like him sustaining the bites. He wouldn't even hunt squirrels when we first started hunting . he would just look at them, while they ran past him like how pretty are them squirrels ,I trained him to hunt squirrels by feeding him on them and by placing a frozen squirrels in the tree before we went out for our hunt. and when we would get to the spot where i had placed the frozen squrreil I would holler ho ho ho and pull the lure which was the squirrel from in the tree ,did this for about 2 weeks and he learned to hunt up in the trees and that squirrels were good to eat .since December we have taken 15 squirrels so if I could find a way to keep him from being bit we will be off to a good hunting season .I have thought of making a anklet that will protect his legs past the first joint by making them small enough so he can't get his foot out of them but open enough past the first joint so he will still have mobility with his legs . does any one think this will work and if so any ideas on how to make them so i can take them on and off before and after each hunt .OR ANY OTHER IDEAS,I think he will do great he just needs more time but want to help him with not being bit. His anklets now are 2 inches high with the tops and bottoms flared any advise will be greatly appreciated..

[Master Yarak]

Relax. Bites that high up are almost always superficial. There is quite a bit of tissue in that area as well as good blood supply. Clean them with Betadine and they will granulate nicely. He sounds like a real killer. As long as he is catching them he won't think anything about getting bit. In his mind it works out great. Just keep making in quick.
Fox squirrels and Cat squirrels are tough, they don't die quietly. My RT took over 600 and yeah she got some bites. Only one required vet care. He might acquire a new technique but don't bet on it.
Yarak

[AMY]

while Yarak thats a lot of squirrels. I hope next hunting season we have that many opportunity, here in GA where I LIVE the pines are in rows with 2 and 3 feet of high brush.and them dam squirrels have jumped straight out the top of the pine to hit the thicket, and almost every time it is impossible to find them,but next season their in for a surprise. I have bought me a Jack Russel and I am getting him ready for when they decide to take that leap of faith.Which ELE has learned to take the next tree over and get higher than the squirrel and just snatch it out the tree.Ilove squirrel hawking it is such a thrill in the chase. I took him to a clear oak grove last weekend and that was Paradise we caught 2 squirrels and had three slips all whiten about 2hours,the slips were from a hole being in a tree which was where all three of them ran...I hate it when they do that ..You have a beautiful bird thanks for the advise

[kenbro77]

Amy i know you said the bites were to high for chaps. Are you using chaps? The reason I ask is because sometimes the squirrel will bite the chap instead of the leg because it is more prominent especially if you put some bling on them to make them flash.

[porch]

Ditto the other guys, especially Kenbro. If you're using chaps put a shinny object on them - the squirrel tend to bite at that and/or the chaps. I have limited squirrel experience but that's what I've seen/heard.

[AMY]

I am not using the squirrel chaps asked a master falconer that had used them he said he only used his one time that he didn't really like them. He said my anklets cover what the squirrel chaps would but think i might buy a pair and see how they work out...

[Migisi]

Another good thing to carry in your vest is the new sprayable Neosporin. It's in a little flat container similar to breath freshener. Great for on-the-spot treating of wounds and bites in the field.

[AMY]

migisi
WHERE do you buy this spray at? I have not heard of it,but it sure should be something we all should have in our hawk bag.For us and the bird....

[Migisi]

Feb 12, 2009 13:00:57 GMT -5 AMY said:

migisi
WHERE do you buy this spray at? I have not heard of it,but it sure should be something we all should have in our hawk bag.For us and the bird....

It was advertised on TV a while ago, so I told my apprentice about it - her hawk's feet get bitten up by squirrels all the time. She bought it at Walgreens Pharmacy. Walmart should have it too.

She went hawking in Minnesota two weeks ago, and her hawk's talon got snagged by tree bark while diving down on a snowshoe. Ripped the talon off. She was happy she had the Neosporin with her, cuz she was miles from any town with a store. She uses it for the dog and herself too.

She says the container doesn't hold a lot (maybe 30 squirts), and it's not cheap - about $4-$7 depending on store. But she still thinks it's worth having on hand. So do I.

See "Neo to Go" here: www.neosporin.com/firstaid/neosporin.asp?sec=0&page=15

[AMY]

awsome thanks

[Master Yarak]

A good pair of chaps are must in my opinion. I hawked squirrels exclusively for 14 years. I would not hunt squirrels without them. They did NOT provide 100% protection but they sure took the vast majority of bites. Bane was a tough cookie she flew around 3 lbs. I can count on two hands how many squirrels how many squirrels escaped her feet. She simply would not let go.
Yarak