Harris / hares

[jon b 0]

Recently I posted a reply to Hagrids question "Are female harris good on hares"....Well at the time I had a intermewed female who had taken two brown hares. AS a postscript to my story I have to tell you that I flew her at hares again on Friday before leaving her for the weekend with a very experienced mate, only to return on Monday to find that she had a badly shattered leg....she was put down the same night!!

The only explaination we could come upwith is that on the Friday she sustained a hairline fracture in a tussle with "puss" and over the weekend in strange surroundings she had bated and the hairline turned into a dramatic break just on the joint.....A sad end to a promising bird. I will be up and flying again by Christmas and hope that this time next year we will be out after "Sarah" again

[Hagrid 0]

sorry to hear about your bird mate.

[EskdaleHawks 8]

Recently I posted a reply to Hagrids question "Are female harris good on hares"....Well at the time I had a intermewed female who had taken two brown hares. AS a postscript to my story I have to tell you that I flew her at hares again on Friday before leaving her for the weekend with a very experienced mate, only to return on Monday to find that she had a badly shattered leg....she was put down the same night!!

The only explaination we could come upwith is that on the Friday she sustained a hairline fracture in a tussle with "puss" and over the weekend in strange surroundings she had bated and the hairline turned into a dramatic break just on the joint.....A sad end to a promising bird. I will be up and flying again by Christmas and hope that this time next year we will be out after "Sarah" again

 

Sorry! To hear about your bird, I think the leg could have been pinned by a good avian vet? Another thought is the bird could have bated at a funny angle and somehow got twisted causing the injury? This just reafirms what I said earlier. There is a very real risk of injury even death when you fly large powerful quarry such as Brown Hares. Hares are best left to birds that are well equipped to deal with them.

Either way good luck for the future. PS: Do you agree about size now?

Edited October 27, 2010 by EskdaleHawks

[gilly-93 31]

so sorry to hear that mate. liam

[jon b 0]

I didnt decide to put the bird down lightly....she was not a bird to have been bred from for other reasons and a life in a loft is NOT agood one for a Harris whos used to hunt four or five days a week!!!! It was abad break on a joint with bone through the muscule and skin. I dont think that Ill ever know exatly what happened that day but feel that the sinariow suggested is the best I can hope for under the curcumstances.

Possibly it dose prove my point in that if hawks/dogs arnt tested to the limit then we wont improve them. Maybe there was a weakness in that blood line, maybe it was just bad luck, maybe Im a barking loony!!!

I will think hard about flying hares,and take your comments on board. However if my next bird seems capable and willing this time next year after a season on rabbits I wont stop her trying.

Im going to have a look at a 14week old in the morning from a good hunting line with feild proven parents so hope to have that on the wind in a month or so...a pal is picking a female up begining of December....A cast of females is a possible ansewer 2lb 2oz is big enough tho....Ive had female spars hold hen pheasants and heard of Harris taking geese If Im wrong Ill post it up here for sure

Harris hawks are amasing birds and can and ,Im sure, do way more than just mug quarry in the bottom of a hedge or out of a car window... I want flights that take my breath away...not just a full bag. What kind of falconry/hawking do we want?????

[jasper65 6]

You did right Jon! Ok a vet could have pinned it or other methods but its not always guarranteed to be perfect afterwards! plus the bird goes through hell too! It could of been worth it but personaly I would have done what you did.

 

one of the tragedies in this sport! we take these birds up and put out heart and souls into them but at the end of the day we all the know the nature of the sport and injuries that can occure.

 

I feel for you jon! its a sad loss. been there a few times and been upset but at the end of the day we just have to brush ourselves down and move onto another bird.

[jon b 0]

Thankyou for that reply Jasper. Ive taken a bit of flak for my action, but still belive I was right!!

She was developing into quite a bird, taking partridge off the glove and off the soar not to mention pheasant on the rise out of the suagarbeet

The really good news is that a VERY VERY good friend has just presented me with a 12week old male because he to has been there and done that. At least I sharnt be compareing him to the female I lost or indeed trying him at a "Sarah".....but its definatly gonna be fun!!!!

[Guest bullterrier]

sorry to about your bird Jon and wish you all the best with your new bird mate get some pictures up and keep us posted on his manning and training as i will hopefully be getting a bird Harris next year .. ..john

[EskdaleHawks 8]

Hope you have a lot of fun with him Jon,I do with mine and about the only thing he won't tackle is 'Sarah'. He does the usual Rabbit thing but if it has feathers then it ain't safe. He nearly nailed a duck a couple of weeks ago and he is a bugger for pheasants and partridge, when he is really fit. Good luck and all the best.

[jon b 0]

Thanks for all the good wishes chaps, Ive been very impressed by all your replys.!!!

Ill start another thread and keep you updated with the little guys progress. At the moment hes just sitting on the glove hateing me...this will pass Im sure..hes only just out of the breeding loft.Ive a pal flying a cast of males so as soon as hes had a few on his own the plan is to get him up with them as make hawks.

Then "The skys the limit"

[jon b 0]

R.I.P. "The Wicked Witch of the East"