Post by Falcon Boy on Oct 16, 2006 16:54:08 GMT -5
My birds been soaring great, if he gets farther than i want i yell "HEY!" and he starts back towards me at 40-60ft or so. Now if he will just chase some game...
Falcon Boy Apprentice Falconry Administrator
Ethics make the individual, not the other way around.
I'm using a t-perch with the new bird, he's still going to the trees sometimes but I'm calling him back and putting him on the perch before continuing. He's startng to take the hint and staying on the perch for the most part. Kurt
You wont get much better sport than flying off the fist at Rabbits ferreted out of the earths.......They aint hanging about. I think I read somewhere that ferreting is illegal in most US States though. Cheers.......... Allan. WHC....UK.
The US rabbits are above ground. No need for ferrets. The have forms under the scrub.
Post by harrishawker on Oct 20, 2006 1:56:21 GMT -5
Rabbits over here are most of the time in warrens, however in winter they can stray quite a long way from them to get food. I have seen a Rabbit touching 6lb caught. That over here is a small hare of which can go to over 12lb.
The only time i fly off the fist is ferreting warrens if there is not a good vantage point for the bird to see over the warren, only then do i use the fist.
IMO, Free flying is much better than on the Fist, more natural and gets the bird fitter. This opens a big can of Worms over here fist V Free flight, its an old age debate that's been going on for years.
In every conceivable manner, the family is link to our past, bridge to our future.
Post by jfneumann57 on Oct 20, 2006 10:28:13 GMT -5
Lol i just lookk at it as me being lazy few places I hunt are under 200 acres and i'll be damned if I'll walk around for hours with a hen rt on my glove. I mean if the conditions dictate it's in the best interest (like going after squirrels right now because still too many leaves in the trees) I have no problem calling her in and hunting from the fist when we get in the area.
08 season: 51squirrels 16 rabbits 43miscellaneous
I'm sorry, but you said "it's impossible" when you really meant "I don't know how yet".
Redtails due best with a bit of height I have seen some great flights off the fist but I think they are at there best advantage coming out the top of a big tree. If I didnt have trees I would use a pole perch I like the anvil dropping out the sky thing there is nothing better then hearing that thud.
I have a question what keeps your birds from catching the ferrets I am sure those warrrens have alot of entrance holes do you block them all off or what?
You have the bird(s) the opposite side to where you want the rabbits to run, and stand a little back and shut up, or the rabbits will get spooked by you outside and not bolt, it will prefer to take it's chnces with the ferret. This usually ends up with you having to dig out ferret and attatched dead rabbit.
Hopefully, the rabbit will jump out, see you and hawk, and head the other direction at full speed.
And there you have a basic guide to ferreting
When through the woods and forest glades I wander And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur And hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze
Post by harrishawker on Nov 10, 2006 22:51:02 GMT -5
Ferreting is great fun but only in a limited form. Mind you i know the terrain in some parts only dictates that this is the only way to hunt. I do ferret and have Ferrets but only use them onthe odd days.These are usually wet days or just after a wet spell as you will very rarely see a rabbit out of its warren in the rain.
My favorite hunting is free hunting through Forest and getting the bird to 'Follow on' whilst you are kicking up or beating. This to me is more natural and the bird can see a lot more. Although you may not always see the catch of the quarry to watch a Hawk zipping and flipping between tight branches is more amazing. You also can get all manner of quarry. In a warren 9/10 it will be a rabbit...Not always but most, in the forest its 'Lucky dip' time . As forest said......Hunting in the Forest is like a box of chocolates you never no quite which one your going to get' (SH!@t! That sounds awful sorry )
As i am proving also in Emma' Diary that a bird flown continue sly off the fist is nowhere near as fit as a free one but i do understand like i said in some terrain you have no choice.
In every conceivable manner, the family is link to our past, bridge to our future.
Post by profalconer on Dec 5, 2006 18:57:05 GMT -5
for those of you that have trained your bird to a t-perch can you please give me an idea of how you did that? my sponser told me to stand it up somewhere and cast her to it and call her down from it. she is still on the creance right now but free flight is close... pretty much as soon as i get my transmitter, and attach the tail mount.
Post by HawkingRage on Dec 5, 2006 21:19:37 GMT -5
i am thinking that i will do a t perch as well. durring creance training ill fly the bird to the perch with a tidbit on it. this should reinforce that the perch is a good place to be.
Instead of calling the bird to the fist for a tid-bit, place the tid-bit on the T perch....It's that easy. After a few repatitions, they get the idea. Then it is a question of getting up game under the bird while it is on the T perch to prove to the bird that it is an advantage. I have noted that RT's are a bit more reluctant to stay on them like a Harris, but I have seen RT's do well off of them.
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."