Hey Noel and Yarak... I,ve just about completed my notes for my speech on Squirrel Hawking for next months meet. Will you guys give me more imformation on Chaps. I,ve used Gary,s East Texas type chaps which take me 41/2 hours to make,but I find the Hawk does better without them. Was he the first guy to use them.? Are there any guys over there that dont use them.? Any info appreciated....... Allan...WHC.UK.
There are quite a few folks that hunt squirrels without chaps, but I beleive that most of those guys are hunting the cat squirrels rather that the bigger foxes. I personally have seen too many bites to the chap that would of otherwise been on a toe to not use them, but opinions vary greatly weather they do any good or not.....I have seen what I beleive is a benifit so I will keep them on my birds.
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."
Post by Master Yarak on Dec 20, 2004 16:46:52 GMT -5
Very simply put squirrel bites can cripple a hawk. With or without Chaps. I want as much protection against them as possible. If my apprentices are hunting squirrels they are not optional equiptment. I will say this again I have never, not once seen a Chap interfere with footing or catching a squirrel. 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
(I have not yet taken a bird squirell hunting yet) I wondered if some one could tell me wheather buying chaps is better than making them or visa versa, in the subect of performance or durability.
So are what are your thoughts on Harris Hawks taking them. Falconers with HH's Crap themselves if their HH gets hold of one over here as they as you rightly said can give a vicious bite. If a RT struggles what chance has a MHH?
WHEN THE 'EAGLES' ARE SILENT THE 'PARROTS' BEGIN TO JABBER! SIR W.CHURCHILL
Post by Master Yarak on Sept 6, 2006 10:43:30 GMT -5
How large in size are the squirrels there? If you are flying in habitat that has them, and you know your bird will have a go at them, then put on some leg armor. It can only help. 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
Grappler Both my Harris hawks M&F hunt squirrels and I use chaps and would never fly with out them. I have never seen them get in the way or hinder the bird in any way. And yes the male takes them all the time.
Well.. I'll tell you the over here in Florida and Georgia a lot of falconers use Harris hens to hunt Grey squirrel. I have yet to see anyone fly a male on squirrel but have seen a few males with missing toes (that where from squirrel bites). Me personally I would try to discourage the use of Harris for squirrels. Not because they cant do it.. I've seen some awesome squirrel birds, but because they seem to have a harder time healing from squirrel bites compared to the Redtail. Some of the hens I have seen are missing a toe or have permanent swollen joints from being bitten too many times in the foot. Chaps are a great tool in preventing bites but aren't 100 percent effective. I will continue to use my traditional chaps even on my RTH due to the fact that it doesn't seem to effect performance. Now.. I have noticed that the full cuff did affect the performance due to the terrain(which is thick). They seemed to get hung up easier on the vines in the trees and thick foliage. I also believe that he received some bites due to the deflection of the cuff hitting foliage. I have used both and in my experience the tradition/barrel chaps have worked better for me and the bird seems to recieve less bites. -Zach
Last Edit: Sept 6, 2006 22:57:08 GMT -5 by Tiercel78
I used to think i knew some things. But i'm not so sure anymore.