unreliable out of sight.   The Germans breed them to kill ferrule cats and bring down deer.  Mine had a super temperament but one day attacked my Springer bitch leaving a large gash in her neck and my hand.  This is why I insist you join a club, to see what is best for you before you buy.

 

Ferrets for falconry

There are many strange stories and myths associated with ferrets and best forgotten.   The ferret’s history has mysterious missing parts and it is quite intriguing reading all the theories.  However, all you need to know that the ferret is the austringer’s best friend.   Yes, cheaper than a dog to feed and keep and a far more efficient hunter.  Unless you are

familiar with your hawk and ferret, it advisable to have a friend to help

you.

A pair of ferret hobs bought young and handled plenty will prove a good investment.  I prefer to use white gills myself but gills require mating when in season to prevent heath problems.  To prevent the gills having  young, a vasectomised hob can be used.   However, a pair of hobs kept together usually do well providing there are no gills around during the breeding season.

 

Lamps used in falconry

For reasons best known to themselves, this seems to be a contentious issue with some people.   It appears that those lacking the field skills acquired over many years, come up with excuses for not lamping with hawks at night and make it sound inappropriate.   As with all elements of hunting with hawks, one has to use common sense and be aware of

 The Falconers Web Index

danger areas and avoid them.   Unfortunately, the village where I live

has been enveloped into the city over the years.  The problem this presents on my hunting land is that of light pollution.  It is increasingly difficult to find a really dark night.   However, with plenty of cloud cover, no moon and enough breeze to making stalking possible, lamping is a productive way of keeping your hawk active and giving your hunting an added perspective.    I spend time every year hunting harris hawks and goshawks using lamps without injury to birds.

 

Telemetry   Loosing a hawk can be very easy for a beginner with little support and even the experienced falconer who may be flying in difficult terrain or circumstances.   A sensible person uses a radio tracking system which can seem an expensive investment, until the day your hawk is out of sight and you don’t have a clue where it may be.   There are many systems on the market but only a few reliable ones.   The weakness is usually at the transmitter end.   I use an expensive transmitter but a cheaper reliable receiver, thus striking a sensible compromise.  The chances are that your telemetry will cost more than your hawk, but you note I used the word investment when referring to telemetry.

A hawk that has fed-up and sitting in a tree can appear invisible to your eye and swinging the lure becomes pointless.   Therefore, buy telemetry and pick up the hawk before it finishes off it’s kill.  It’s far more comfortable in the pub on a Saturday evening in December, than sat under a tree waiting for day break.

 

The future   There are people who would view falconry as cruel and those such as myself who have a different perspective.   I see myself as a hunter, a natural part of the human that some would wish to suppress.  I view keeping domestic cats as promoting cruelty. Despite being fed their instincts drive them to hunt and kill, yet not eat their prey but play it into a painful death.  However, I would hope we will encourage education and lateral thinking as the way to resolve our differences and not the heavy handed methods of anti-hunting campaigners.

I like to look positively into the future and encourage our grey partridge to exist once again on the ground I hunt, and be a permanent part of our wildlife.   They are great quarry, testing falcons to the limit, but more importantly, they need to exist as they once did.    As a full time falconer, I also need to be aware of keeping my hawks flying as long as possible throughout the season and it helps by providing some extra game, thus taking the pressure off wildlife.

Decision time

I have of course been rather presumptuous about your cultural and geographical circumstances.  Living in England, where it is dark during the winter when most people go to work and also when they return

home, it is easy to forget that it does not apply to others.   However, the principles remain the same. 

I advise those that  contact me about starting up in falconry, to find a local club.    The next e-mail tells me there is no falconry club nearby. Unless you live in a very remote area, it is likely there is a falconry club near you.   It may not be publicised, but it is almost certainly there.    Bearing in mind that falconry is a minority sport, you may need to travel further than the nearest pub, but if you can not put yourself out to travel, you are unlikely to succeed.   “Near you.” is a relative term but falconers do not tend to meet every week in the UK, so it maybe twenty or thirty miles.

It is essential to read as much as you

can on the subjects of dogs, ferrets and hawks before embarking on your quest to learn more. 

You need to be able to sort out the reason for a practice before buying it.   I would not dream of considering myself an expert and those that do are often fools motivated by money.   Falconry and dog training is not rocket science nor is it for the idiot.   It requires a level headed approach and a sensible and realistic piece of planning.   If you are quite sure you have the appropriate support of a mentor, a realistic plan for housing, husbandry and training of dog and hawk, go ahead and good luck.

It is important to remember the kind farmers that allow you onto their land.  I found they enjoy an evening out together for a meal and a drink. I have a farmers feast every winter which we all enjoy.

 

In the past, I have invited those interested in taking up falconry, out for a days hawking prior to joining our local club.   Unfortunately, it has encouraged those that have no intention of taking up the sport to have a free and entertaining day out at my expense.   Needless to say, the free day out is no longer available.

If you are looking for an introduction to falconry you can contact my friend George on the link shown below, the venue is the West County—United Kingdom.