Post by harrishawker on Oct 28, 2009 12:49:02 GMT -5
Well I don’t want to start up another debate on HH on squirrels that is not was this post is about , it’s just a chance meeting I had today when flying her
She has been killing recently like I have never seen for an eyass HH with rabbits galore in the freezer. I have had HH’s be good hunters, average hunters and one which I think thought it was a butterfly! ;D
She tops it, in her first 2 weeks free she has had 6 rabbits, 2 pheasants and a squirrel. I have never ever had a HH that goes for squirrels and never heard of one killing one in its first 5 flights.
So there we were, she had been following on really well and for a good change she did not spot anything so it’s what I wanted, just good follow on fitness training.
Then she hung right back and I lost sight of her, she was in a tall tree, first of all I was amazed she had got that far up . She had what I thought was her eyes on a Trout Lake about half a mile away.
Then she just shot across to a branch on the tree next door, and then all I heard were ‘THUD’ and a flapping of wings and falling leaves coming my way soon after. The squirrel hit the deck and must have re bounded at least a foot back up in the air just as Cruella struck it. At this point I am going to tell you that I ‘Froze’, It all happened so quick from spotting her in the trees to a bouncing tree rat and my HH catching it on the bounce 6ft from me....I just froze with Mouth opened. Then after a few seconds I thawed out and with spike in hand went from a frozen statue to a bloodthirsty gladiator but there was no need she was thrown off and got a nip for her efforts too. It was not a full bite but it may have not been for the want of trying by the squirrel but a scratch with some blood.
It was an amazing scene to see and it was over so quick. I will never forget that thud six feet in front of me; it scared the life out of me!
I repeat again I have never ever known a HH in its first year go for squirrels...Incredible!
She has been killing recently like I have never seen for an eyass HH with rabbits galore in the freezer. I have had HH’s be good hunters, average hunters and one which I think thought it was a butterfly! ;D
She tops it, in her first 2 weeks free she has had 6 rabbits, 2 pheasants and a squirrel. I have never ever had a HH that goes for squirrels and never heard of one killing one in its first 5 flights.
So there we were, she had been following on really well and for a good change she did not spot anything so it’s what I wanted, just good follow on fitness training.
Then she hung right back and I lost sight of her, she was in a tall tree, first of all I was amazed she had got that far up . She had what I thought was her eyes on a Trout Lake about half a mile away.
Then she just shot across to a branch on the tree next door, and then all I heard were ‘THUD’ and a flapping of wings and falling leaves coming my way soon after. The squirrel hit the deck and must have re bounded at least a foot back up in the air just as Cruella struck it. At this point I am going to tell you that I ‘Froze’, It all happened so quick from spotting her in the trees to a bouncing tree rat and my HH catching it on the bounce 6ft from me....I just froze with Mouth opened. Then after a few seconds I thawed out and with spike in hand went from a frozen statue to a bloodthirsty gladiator but there was no need she was thrown off and got a nip for her efforts too. It was not a full bite but it may have not been for the want of trying by the squirrel but a scratch with some blood.
It was an amazing scene to see and it was over so quick. I will never forget that thud six feet in front of me; it scared the life out of me!
I repeat again I have never ever known a HH in its first year go for squirrels...Incredible!