Need Some Advice

[Jobe Mason 1]

Iknow this may be a wrong time to ask due to the birds starting to moult but I am looking into getting my own harris hawk. I know a couple of falconors and have been out with them a several times and read a few books on it. But before getting a harris I want to go on a course. Any recommendations in or around the South Yorkshire area?

Thanks.

[youcanthide...BANG 1,051]

Get one of the people youve been out with to support you, courses will be a waste of money mate

[Jobe Mason 1]

They've already told me they will help me whenever I need it

[youcanthide...BANG 1,051]

Your all good then mate, i really wouldnt bother with a course, its impossible to collapse falconry into a day course.

[walnutwhip 12]

Get one of the people youve been out with to support you, courses will be a waste of money mate

Totally agree if you have support from others just go for it but remember a bird is for life!

 

Get all the equipment you need ready - scales leathers perches and have the mews ready...

If you have a dog and intend to use him to hunt with the hawk then introduce them slowly don't just shove them in the same area overnight and hope for the best it takes time!

 

Don't think because your mates have harrises that yours will be able to fly with them in a cast cos it wont happen!

[charlie caller 3,654]

And another thing often overlooked is, do you have some good land with suitable quarry to fly on? If not dont get a hawk until you do, and make sure you get the telemetry before the bird,at the very least get a tag on 173mhz then if you lose the bird someone with a receiver will be able to locate it for you, good luck mate, and dont rush into it and buy somebodys cast off on bird trader, get a parent reared bird @ 16 weeks and train it yourself, a female would be my advice.

Edited March 12, 2014 by charlie caller

[Jobe Mason 1]

Yeah I am lucky enough to have a fair bit of land to go on. Thanks for advice.

[charlie caller 3,654]

Well that is a major part of the battle won already then good land makes good hawks/dogs, use this summer to learn, learn, learn, ask as many questions as you like, good lads on here that will help you, might I suggest joining the yorkshire hawking club, they have monthly meetings in Doncaster and have training days/workshops, you will learn loads there, and they have lots of flying land.

[bullet 129]

invest in a telemetry set before you buy a bird, I know it will cost more than the bird but it will be there as long as you look after it, if your mates have a receiver then you could just get a transmitter for the time being like I did, then got my own

[pointer 543]

I wonder how many fly a Harris without telemetry, more than would admit it on here or IFF I'd bet. Mine bent the feather the mount was on and it was hanging down so I didn't get to fly her yesterday as I had to wait for our lass to help me put another mount on in the afternoon. By then it was too windy.

I won't risk flying without it even if I've never really needed it. Peace of mind I suppose.

[youcanthide...BANG 1,051]

First time you would have flown without it you would have lost her.

[arcticgun 4,548]

flown mine a few times without this year after loosign my tag , not the feather just the blody tags bells and mount, however she bombproof still had a couple of track downs to make though, wiont be doing it again without tag next season though, Id wager more use them without than use them, same with most birds

[Accip74 7,112]

I have done it when I lost the cap to a Marshall scout & I've left the receiver in the van plenty of times...........wouldn't recommend it though....... Flying without bells is really weird :-)

[pointer 543]

First time you would have flown without it you would have lost her.

I won't fly without it, it's the hawk that could suffer if lost. She could end up injured or into areas where she would be shot. I'd rather not fly her, I wouldn't have deliberately put a terrier to ground without a locator when I had them so I won't do the same with a hawk.