Post by jondarp on Sept 10, 2004 11:46:04 GMT -5
Weasel,
Still trying to become one. We thought our regs were going to be approved by the feds in time for the 2004-05 hunting season, but I recently learned that the review was delayed. The regs proabbly won't be published in the U.S. F&WS Federal Register until March or April of 2005, which means no legal falconry in CT until the 2005-06 hunting season.
As I said in one of my earlier posts, I'm fortunate to have met a falconer in Rhode Island who I've been beating brush with for the last three seasons (number four coming up). He's a very good gamehawker and recently released his five times intermewed tiercel RT who had a couple hundred head of game to his credit. (That's actually a pretty decent number for the Northeast since the rabbit population is pretty small up here). It's been a great experience to get out in the field with him and get some exposure to the sport. He's got a hen RT and a Gos that he's flying this season. Should be fun!
I also try to hit a few local field meets and I went to Amarillo for the NAFA meet last year. You boys sure have one big state there! You could probably fit seven or eight Connecticuts (if not more) into Texas And I couldn't get over the jacks down there! The Texas falconers were great hosts and I had a lot of fun.
I even got the chance to meet and go trapping with Gary Brewer, the "Red-Tailed Hawk Guru." What a great guy! I learned more from a day and a half of trapping with him than I could have learned from years of just reading books! If I recall correctly, Gary Brewer was one of the guys who was instrumental in changing the law that allowed you guys to road trap. (Correct me if I'm wrong on that.)
I'm trying to learn as much as I can until the time we are totally legal here in CT. Falconry is a great sport and my son (12 years old) has gone out hawking with my buddy and I. I think it's good for kids to get out in the woods and fields and experience the thrill of the hunt. CT is not exactly a hunter-friendly state and (IMHO) it's important to expose kids to the natural world so they don't think all meat comes pre-packaged in styrofoam from the grocery store. :-)
- JonDarp
Still trying to become one. We thought our regs were going to be approved by the feds in time for the 2004-05 hunting season, but I recently learned that the review was delayed. The regs proabbly won't be published in the U.S. F&WS Federal Register until March or April of 2005, which means no legal falconry in CT until the 2005-06 hunting season.
As I said in one of my earlier posts, I'm fortunate to have met a falconer in Rhode Island who I've been beating brush with for the last three seasons (number four coming up). He's a very good gamehawker and recently released his five times intermewed tiercel RT who had a couple hundred head of game to his credit. (That's actually a pretty decent number for the Northeast since the rabbit population is pretty small up here). It's been a great experience to get out in the field with him and get some exposure to the sport. He's got a hen RT and a Gos that he's flying this season. Should be fun!
I also try to hit a few local field meets and I went to Amarillo for the NAFA meet last year. You boys sure have one big state there! You could probably fit seven or eight Connecticuts (if not more) into Texas And I couldn't get over the jacks down there! The Texas falconers were great hosts and I had a lot of fun.
I even got the chance to meet and go trapping with Gary Brewer, the "Red-Tailed Hawk Guru." What a great guy! I learned more from a day and a half of trapping with him than I could have learned from years of just reading books! If I recall correctly, Gary Brewer was one of the guys who was instrumental in changing the law that allowed you guys to road trap. (Correct me if I'm wrong on that.)
I'm trying to learn as much as I can until the time we are totally legal here in CT. Falconry is a great sport and my son (12 years old) has gone out hawking with my buddy and I. I think it's good for kids to get out in the woods and fields and experience the thrill of the hunt. CT is not exactly a hunter-friendly state and (IMHO) it's important to expose kids to the natural world so they don't think all meat comes pre-packaged in styrofoam from the grocery store. :-)
- JonDarp