Squirrel Hawking

[Chris]

Does it count if the squirrel runs into your mew when you open the door? Because that almost happened yesterday when I was changing Marry's water. The squirrel was climbing the mesh along side the door to the mew and when I came out it almost ran into the mew. Now wouldn't have that been exciting.

[Master Yarak]

Mine has caught eleven that either entered the mew or were drug in. My last mew had claw marks on the outer wall where they resisted. But as I am sure you have heard resistance is futile. One was caught 2 days before our state meet. I do not feed in the mews ever, so getting her off of what was left seemed a daunting task. She is abnormally territorial. As of this writing she has brought to the ground eighteen wild RTs. Three of them in one three week period in Nov. 1999. Yes she has even taken on pairs. Stopped chasing a squirrel turned 90 degrees and took off after them with me in hot pursuit swinging the lure and blowing the call. She is twisted no doubt.

[Bob Dale]

I have GOT to meet that hawk!

If you dig back in these threads far enough you'll find a discussion between FB and myself regarding territorial hags and our birds. Attacks by hags sent us home several times. I didn't want to risk the all out war, so when i saw them coming, i'd call my bird and we'd exit... stage left!
Maybe you and your bird could come to Missouri for a little bunny hunt next season... Muuuah ha ha ha!!

[LadySquirrelHawker]

Twisted....and impressive- great squirrel record!!!
Enter at your own risk!!!

[Master Yarak]

More idosyncratic behavior. I trapped this hen with a tiercel on the BC. She was in a shallow soar he was on the pole. served him he came down quick as I turned the truck around. She saw him folded up and dove right at him. He saw her coming turned to leave but he was hung by a leg She hit him got one of her legs hung. I got there threw a towel over her released him turned back to her she had pulled the towel off drew her free foot back and tried to grab me. Most others I had trapped went kind of shocky not this one she fought the whole time. Five days with a live gerbil on the fist before she ate.I kept her up for twenty hours at a time, we slept four got up and did it again. Twenty one days she held her crest up. Asking Steve Layman about behavior changes toward other RTs he said " It was better to be the instigator in such and exchange. I named her Bane. Noel has got some pics maybe he will put them up I we ask

[Master Yarak]

BobDale said:

Squirrel hawking captured my fancy for the last few months. It seems that falconers polarize on this subject. They either like it or hate it. Sometimes it's hard to separate fact from pure bias. Thanks for the explainations.
How much did you get out of Gary's videos on squirrel hawking? Again, you get mixed reviews, usually from the non squirrel hunters vs. the squirrel hunters.

[Master Yarak]

What I have learned is that their are few animals we hunt that can seriously hurt or maim our birds. Fox squirrels are one of them. Because of this, few wish to pit their bird against such an animal. This quarry is not one to go at sporadically. Specilaized techniques need to be developed and honed to minimize the risk of injury. Consistency and lots of slips help teach the bird where to attack from as well as how to attack. Once your bird "learns" how to stalk a squirrel the risk is reduced, simply because it will push the squirrel to become exposed ,then putting the death grip on it. Chaps are a big deal, mine weigh over two oz total and every season they are covered with a few bites. As Noel has written making in is of the utmost importance this cannot be overstressed. Literally crashing into where the bird comes down and not causing it to be distracted by this, can be a difficult step to accomplish. She needs all her attention focused on the squirrel not what I am doing. Reaching in and not getting footed or worse her letting go of it must be avoided. The squirrel's hide is so tough that even the sharpest talons cannot puncture it. She can kill one without me, but it is through compression or suffocation, neither of which are expedient. Squirrel hawking is not for everyone that is certain. It demands a great deal from both hawk and hawkwer. IT IS NOT WITHOUT RISK. For me though it is a paragon of what a hen RT can do. I do not think another species of raptor (that is commonly available) can handle them with as much consistency and as safely as a HRT..... IMO!

[webdaemon]

squirrels are bloomin painful . i got bit on my arse and my god that hurt i had to get a tetnas shot but the bite was like bieng branded those frickin squirrels have some mighty bites my arse my poor arse

[alex2]

If you use a little imagination you can make a good hawking commercial outta that....







One mans Bite in the ass is another ones fortune ;D

[webdaemon]

oi every time i see the comercial ill cry

[Master Yarak]

The three dimensional considerations involved with hawking squirrels demonstrates the upper limits of cognitive and manuverabilty capabilites of the Red-Tailed hawk. Right?
Yarak.

[chris]

Well guys I don't know if this shows badlyapon my skills as a trainer but the squirrel was back. Only this time it sat on a fence post behind my hawk while it made it's first couple exersice flights. Now keep in mind that the squirrel was on Mary's blind side for the walk to the exercise perch and the squirrel was dead still on the returns to the perch. I don't know if this squirrel is suisidle or if i'm that bad as a trainer that the squirrel is that confedent about hanging around.
This said the squirrels here are small enough to easily be carried so I don't think I would want her to catch it anyway. But it is good for a laugh.

[Master Yarak]

What species of squirrel is it? They know when they are being stalked. They are smart like rats. Wild squirrels are taken on the ground. When they are exposed. Like crossing a fairway field or a clearing in the trees. Then the hawk has all the advantages. Gravity acceleraton and most importantly opportunity. He can stoop the squirrel hitting it with full force. Wild Red-Tails do not chase them through the trees. It is a waste of energy, no opportunity. Even if something did happen and the two animals came together I doubt your bird would carry it. Squirrels in the trees are very good at assessing threat. They know which one is being hunted. They use a different type of avoidance behavior in the trees each time. Most to good effect. The bird has to be relentless to catch many. It has little to do with your training. If your bird has not been exposed to many of them or does not eat them often she just does not care about them. If I am on the upper limits of my hawks weight range she flys them with alot less enthusiasm. They know every inch of their territory and where to go for safety. They make few mistakes and never panic. I have even seen them threaten my hawk as if trying to bluff it. I know that may work with a wild one. Smart, very smart. As a prey species they are probably the most cognitive quarry you can hunt.
Yarak

[chris]

Thanks Yarak I hadn't realy given much thought as to why she hadn't given chase, but what you said makes a lot of sence. Locally we have the small grey sqirrel and flying squirrels. There are also ground squirrels whiach get slightly more attention.Where ilive the forests are mostly pine and fur , these are not the most conducive to aireal chase as the branches tightly spaced and the growth is thick.locally we have no wild rabbits but we have snowshoe hare they also like the thick brush.Thus our family bought a cocker spannel hopefully he can handle the task of beloved pet and hunting partner. In the years to come we will learn.
Chris Foster.

[Master Yarak]

It is never too early to start with the dog. I bet it will be great fun.
Yarak
PS: Know your Enemy!!