Countrymaids article by Adrian Hallgarth

[Fletcher 0]

Did anyone see the article about getting a hawk fit, at last they printed something of interest.

Basically it was saying the best way to get a hawk fit is to fly in the wind and rain, as the bird has to work harder when his feathers are wet. I have to agree with Adrian, I've never been one for shying away from flying a bad conditions, if did I would never get out, as I've said before I've recalled my bird into 29 mph wind and he coped with that no bother.

He was also talking about the pitfalls of jump ups and kite training etc, I've never done jump ups with my bird because I'd rather spend the time flying, what do you fella's do to get your birds fit and when do you know your bird has reach max fitness. Personally I don't think theres a max fitness, I think they're fitness keeps improving up until the moult, my bird put in a flight today after a flushed pheasant, he stayed on its tail for the length of a field, I really thought he was going to nail it, this is the fittest I've seen him.

[Guest game'dogs]

it might work for a hawk but certanly not for a falcon as for you would be serching for the bird all day once it had taken off lol hawks are a littil more loyal to man as for they dont have you rakeing all over the country side looking for them when they decide to stray they dont stray far ! the only way to get a hawk or falcon fit is to be confident in the bird and take it out every day and let it fly there is no rocket sience to it , you just need to get a insight into what a BOP does in the wild , and work from there ! some birds of prey in the wild will hunt and kill and have enough feed for three days before they hunt again , so what do you think they do in them three days that they dont need to hunt ? they sit a roost and play with the wind lol as i said it is no rocket sience , if it takes a man like holgarth to exsite you then you shouldnt be keeping BOP , if you look at it like this ! how meny BOP has holgarth got ? and how is it posable he can work with every one of them on a daly basis and give them what they need to a extent that they are as fit as they can be ? im sory to put a downer on yer thred but a true falconer or astringer isnt a guy called halgarth , this man might have a good insight to BOP but he sure dont practise what he preach .......

[Fletcher 0]

I never said Hallgarth excited me, I said at last they printed something interesting in the countryman's weekly and I agreed with his point. I also never mentioned falcons. Your right its not rocket science but people have different methods of getting their bird fit, and I was hoping to start a discussion on that subject as some people arn't able to fly everyday, so you haven't put a downer on the thread. You've obviously got issues with Mr Hallgarth.

[Foxgun Tom 75]

Game'dogs said quote "how meny BOP has holgarth got ? and how is it posable he can work with every one of them on a daly basis and give them what they need to a extent that they are as fit as they can be ? im sory to put a downer on yer thred but a true falconer or astringer isnt a guy called halgarth , this man might have a good insight to BOP but he sure dont practise what he preach ......." end quote

 

I'm certainly not a falconer!! but I do know A Hallgarth!! and he certainly does practice what he preaches, He is fanatical about the fitness and condition of the birds he keeps!!, Hallgarth himself!!, his wife and apprentice's under his control make sure that his birds at Braco are kept in the best of acommodation/condition and are under watch 24 hours a day!! he has a cctv system throughout his mews. How do I know?? I help look after the same birds!! while Adrian carries out his displays at various shows

 

Its obvious you have a dislike for the man!! he sometimes comes across as arrogant, rude, and has no interest in time waters, but you can't deny?? his passion/love of falconry and his birds!! the same birds whose welfare and well-being are paramount. As an associate of A Hallgarth I see the other side of his nature, his willingness to help the inexperienced falconer knows no bounds!! I would suggest unless you know what he's about, there's no point in attacking his reputation. I also suggest you visit his mews at Braco (Perth) before you make comments on the condition of his birds

 

Tom

Edited January 27, 2007 by Foxgun Tom

[SeanTheHawker 0]

Did anyone see the article about getting a hawk fit, at last they printed something of interest.

Basically it was saying the best way to get a hawk fit is to fly in the wind and rain, as the bird has to work harder when his feathers are wet. I have to agree with Adrian, I've never been one for shying away from flying a bad conditions, if did I would never get out, as I've said before I've recalled my bird into 29 mph wind and he coped with that no bother.

He was also talking about the pitfalls of jump ups and kite training etc, I've never done jump ups with my bird because I'd rather spend the time flying, what do you fella's do to get your birds fit and when do you know your bird has reach max fitness. Personally I don't think theres a max fitness, I think they're fitness keeps improving up until the moult, my bird put in a flight today after a flushed pheasant, he stayed on its tail for the length of a field, I really thought he was going to nail it, this is the fittest I've seen him.

fletcher, alot may disagree here, btu id stay the best way to get a bird very very fit is through lamping. you could get 50 flights a nightm if [bANNED TEXT] stayed out that long, all flights are from fist, and alot of twist and turns. id say a bird flown daily at night would be probually twice as fit as one flown daily in the day

[Fletcher 0]

That's fine if you got 50 rabbits to fly at. lol.

Edited January 27, 2007 by Fletcher

[SeanTheHawker 0]

ive seen pics of the land you fly on lol!

[Ruger8 0]

ive seen pics of the land you fly on lol!

 

Ive tried the jump ups, and even weighted flight on the creance....... etc It may well develop fitness and stregth in the bird, but i find it tedious for myself and it must be for the bird also, so no more

 

Im surprized people dont discuss the use of the lure more in fitness training with harris hawks, i use the lure regularly to make the hawk work for his food and it really gets him panting,(far more than with jump ups)timing his strike, and you can have a mad 15 mins in the rain and wind (as mentioned iin the article) then put the hawk away wet and panting. I open my back gate and do it in a small space without any problem, we both now the rutine now and its worth while and fun.

 

Lamping is another good way as you say sean and its the most visual and fun way to hunt, i love it. Im lucky to get about 10 flights in a night. However i love to see the hawk working in co-ordination with a dog by day, im not quite there yet as ive had a young dog and hawk at the same time, but its getting there.

 

Try the lure and see the bird pant. Make them have about half a dozen passes and if they dont beat you ad you can see them starting to pant give them a reward of a leg on the lure or a little more perhaps. Do this until you use your ration of food up. I also like to do this at the end of walks to give the bird a last workout if we havn't nailed anything. (obviously with the harris they normally land between each pass, on the floor or tree etc, but as their fitness improves the do regain height for another crack at the lure occasionally)

[Guest game'dogs]

Game'dogs said quote "how meny BOP has holgarth got ? and how is it posable he can work with every one of them on a daly basis and give them what they need to a extent that they are as fit as they can be ? im sory to put a downer on yer thred but a true falconer or astringer isnt a guy called halgarth , this man might have a good insight to BOP but he sure dont practise what he preach ......." end quote

 

I'm certainly not a falconer!! but I do know A Hallgarth!! and he certainly does practice what he preaches, He is fanatical about the fitness and condition of the birds he keeps!!, Hallgarth himself!!, his wife and apprentice's under his control make sure that his birds at Braco are kept in the best of acommodation/condition and are under watch 24 hours a day!! he has a cctv system throughout his mews. How do I know?? I help look after the same birds!! while Adrian carries out his displays at various shows

 

Its obvious you have a dislike for the man!! he sometimes comes across as arrogant, rude, and has no interest in time waters, but you can't deny?? his passion/love of falconry and his birds!! the same birds whose welfare and well-being are paramount. As an associate of A Hallgarth I see the other side of his nature, his willingness to help the inexperienced falconer knows no bounds!! I would suggest unless you know what he's about, there's no point in attacking his reputation. I also suggest you visit his mews at Braco (Perth) before you make comments on the condition of his birds

 

Tom

ok tom i wont argue with you over this its to onviouse that you are up the mans hole ....

[SeanTheHawker 0]

game dogs/hawkaholic/bull&terrieor, or whatever else you call yourself now, why do you still come on here just to wind people up after being banned umpteen times.