Falcon Boy

No it wouldn't! Firstly falconry is not about 'bagging up', its all about the drama and the style of hunting. Even an experienced hawk flown on ground with lots of game will struggle to catch in an entire season what a commercial shoot could kill in a single drive. The best way to find out would be to find an experienced falconer in your area and next season arrange to go out with them. Secondly, whilst either a male or a female harris is more than capable of catching a pheasant, most of the successful flights will be at pheasants running on the ground or followed in the air and then

It looks ok. A couple of suggestions: The aviary needs a double door set up so that you can enter and leave without the hawk having a direct route to freedom. It looks like you are planning on using wire mesh. It is far better to use verticle bars as wire can cut a hawks cere (the soft bit around the beak) if it flies into it and a hawk will hang onto wire mesh spreading out its feathers and pushing its wings and tail feathers into the wire which can lead to feather damage. You can get cheap plastic conduit piping that can do a good job, although it might need to be strengthened or sup

Whatever you do, don't pay any more attention to the idiot that told you to start with a barn owl, they have absolutely no idea what they are talking about! It is important to get a good foot up into falconry as it is too easy to under-estimate the amount you need to know before you are in a position to do justice to a decent hunting bird. This can be achieved by going on a GOOD course, and/or finding a local mentor who knows their stuff and has the time and patience to help you, and/or joining a local falconry club. The first question should really be, 'how do i find out more about fa

A brain dead rabbit will kick for a little while, its just nerves. Also, if you pick a rabbit up by the back legs soon after being shot you are stretching its leg muscles and there is a natural reflex due to stretch receptors in the muscle that will cause the muscles to kick. Again, this may feel like the rabbit is alive, but it is already dreaming of fields of fresh grass. The important thing is to ensure that it is brain dead. You have the tool for the job and your accuracy sounds like its up to it. Don't be tempted by the macho rubbish that causes people to boast about long range shots.

Bango, thank you for your PM response on this. I couldn't send a reply as your inbox is full. I am pretty sure that i was going with the thornhill and your response pretty much confirms it. As a falconer the detachable back pockets will work well for spare kit and it even has a tid bit pocket designed for dog trainers but also a very useful item for a falconer. My big concern was that i read somewhere that they just aren't very waterproof, although i find it hard to believe that anyone would produce a coat like this that leaked. Thanks again for your response.

Ok, the old wax barbour is now falling apart after over 12 years of sterling service. The dried out gunk in the seams looks like it is the only thing still keeping the front pocket from falling off and the number of holes all over it would make re-waxing a pointless exercise in waterproofing. Time to get a new one, but which one? So, its got to be waterproof (gortex or equivalent) and be relatively robust so that it doesn't fall to pieces the first time i back through a blackthorn bush. Ideally it will have a decent game pocket too. I've been considering either a Seeland Thornhill jack

Just a quick intro mail as i've just joined. I'm a falconer living on the Herts/Beds border. I also enjoy a bit of shooting when i can although a young family has meant that my free time has become much restricted in the last couple of years and my falcon always gets priority over my 12 bore for my time in the field. I also went deer stalking for the first time last year and have another stalk booked near farthers day (what other excuse could i have used!) this year. I love to hear about and discuss all aspects of field sports and look forward to meeting you all on here. Cheers,